stomach contents

[buzzerbaby]

While cleaning a fresh winter fish yeasterday I noticed that its stomach was full. Inside there were 5 feathers identical in length/color etc., a whole sand shrimp (fish was caught on eggs), three 4 inch twigs and a 1/2 to 3/4 inch stickleback. Just curious if anyone else has found this kind of variety before.

[OneLastCast]

This should be an interesting topic BuzzerBaby.

I would say that approximately 95% of the winter steelhead I have caught have had empty stomachs. I have caught some that had eggs, shrimp or pogies but that seems to be rare for me. I once fed a steelhead 3 shrimp off of my hook before I finally hooked him with the fourth one. He had all three in his stomach.
Stomach contents are something that I have always checked and would be interested what you guides have found.

OneLastCast

[WildHawg]

I guess fish are kinda like people. Some will eat anything, while others are more selective. I caught a Chinook one time that had a poptab from a beer or popcan in it's stomach years ago. Also found a purple hoochie skirt that I later caught a wad of silvers with in another chinook. As for Steelhead, just the occasional shrimp, eggs,a few larvae as well as adult insects, and other debris, and then only on rare occasions. This I do know. Whether or not they are really eating something, Steelys will hold onto bait for a long time on occasion if you dont set the hook. A friend of mine, who taught me to sight fish, and I used to play "lookie". Cast to a fish you can see, watch it bite, and see how many times you can say "lookie" before you either can't stand it anymore, or the fish tires of the game and spits it out. The record, believe it or not is 26 times (albeit fast). Second place was a paltry 18. Summer run fish will roll on their sides in anticipation of a bait sometimes, chomping their teeth together till the bait comes to them. Others run at it and attack, while some just stop it. I reckon if they suck on it long enough, some of it will end up in their stomach whether they are eating or not.

[buzzerbaby]

It kind of makes you wonder just how important it really is to have the "ideal" bait or lure on with some of these fish.