Monster Salmon Carcass CA my old Battle Cr. pics added 12/12

Matthewc · 12-10-2008, 01:49 PM

This is kinda cool, I hunted the battle creek basin growing up and even did some trout fishing their as a teenager. I ran across this out of the blue searching for something else. I took the photos from the California Dept of Fish and Wildlife site linked below at the bottom.

Doug Killam, DFG Biologist, 530-527-8893
Harry Morse, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8911

One of the biggest Chinook salmon ever recorded in California was found dead of natural causes in lower Battle Creek near Red Bluff last month. Department of Fish and Game (DFG) biologists measured to estimate what the live weight of the dead fish would have been. A standard size-to-weight formula was used to determine approximate live weight. Based on measurements of the fish (51 inches long), it could have surpassed the current state angling record for a Chinook salmon. It was estimated to have been between five and six years of age.
“I have counted tens of thousands of salmon during my career and this is the biggest I have ever seen,” said Doug Killam DFG Associate Fisheries Biologist. “When alive, it could have weighed more than the largest Chinook officially recorded in California, an 88-pound fish caught in the Sacramento River.”
The monster salmon was found during a routine fall-run Chinook salmon survey conducted by DFG biologists. Biologists walk through the spawning reach on lower Battle Creek on a weekly basis, recording numbers of spawned-out salmon. Most of the salmon they find weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. The size of this salmon literally stopped them in their tracks. Killam was called and made a special trip to the site with camera in hand to record the size of the fish.
Because Pacific Chinook salmon die after spawning, surveys counting dead carcasses are commonly used throughout the Central Valley to estimate the number of salmon spawning in each stream. These monitoring surveys provide vital information on the number of salmon returning to specific areas, baseline information for establishing sport and recreational fishing seasons, evaluating hatchery programs, and evaluating habitat restoration and improvement projects.
Killam supervises a crew of employees that work year-round monitoring fish populations throughout the Upper Sacramento River Basin. The monitoring projects use state-of-the-art under water video monitoring techniques and traditional walking surveys to gather information. These surveys are cooperative efforts. They involve a number of different state resource agencies along with federal entities and non-profit groups and organizations. Four distinct runs of salmon are surveyed: winter, spring, fall and late fall-run Chinook salmon, and steelhead. The winter and spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead are listed under the state and federal endangered species acts making information on their population size vital in recovery efforts and for state and federal water management activities.
“Hopefully this fish was entirely successful in passing on its superior genetic potential,” said Killam. “This is one of the few bright spots this year for one of California’s great sport fish, the Chinook salmon.”
A photograph of this enormous fish may be seen at www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news08/images/giant-salmon.

veilside180sx · 12-10-2008, 01:50 PM

Psst...it's been posted here a couple of times.=)

FlieFreak · 12-10-2008, 01:51 PM

How many times is this going to come up.............

Matthewc · 12-10-2008, 01:57 PM

Sorry, I wish I had the time : )

Maybe someone new will enjoy it

Jacks Tackle · 12-10-2008, 02:00 PM

Still dont get tired of seeing this thing! It was a hog!

RB

GasMoney · 12-10-2008, 02:14 PM

Old news!

CoonersShrimpboat · 12-10-2008, 02:30 PM

WOW look at the Head on that

Matthewc · 12-10-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks Tackle

Still dont get tired of seeing this thing! It was a hog!

RB

Lets hope it got to spawn before it croaked, looks to be good genes..

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasMoney

Old news!

Hey, I resemble that remark...

chromerdome · 12-10-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthewc

Lets hope it got to spawn before it croaked, looks to be good genes..

Hey, I resemble that remark...

chromerdome · 12-10-2008, 03:53 PM

I enjoy anything mathewc post !

P8ntballrman · 12-10-2008, 05:09 PM

ohh yeah...... just the way I like them.......Knock the seagulls off and throw into the smoker. MMMMMMmmmmmm.

rowmanholiday · 12-10-2008, 05:54 PM

I too hope it was able to spawn, before it died.

I wonder how big of a Kwik fish you would use on that thing! Maybe a K-30!!!

greeneD76 · 12-10-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P8ntballrman

ohh yeah...... just the way I like them.......Knock the seagulls off and throw into the smoker. MMMMMMmmmmmm.

Oh man not right after dinner

quik-fish · 12-10-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthewc

Sorry, I wish I had the time : )

Maybe someone new will enjoy it

Dont be sorry. Being that Im a person that cant spend all day on the computer, I may have missed this if you hadnt have put it up there. Thanks

Matthewc · 12-10-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P8ntballrman

ohh yeah...... just the way I like them.......Knock the seagulls off and throw into the smoker. MMMMMMmmmmmm.

I will break out the pressure canner, if we dont like the taste we can use it for sturgeon bait.....like a floater

Friendly Fisher · 12-10-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P8ntballrman

ohh yeah...... just the way I like them.......Knock the seagulls off and throw into the smoker. MMMMMMmmmmmm.

Thanks for the laugh! FF

nioocharles · 12-10-2008, 07:03 PM

So it has been posted before, don't read it then, like my Mom always said." if you don't have something nice to say don't say it".

I enjoy seeing that fish a second time.

Charles

Maddie'sDaddy · 12-10-2008, 07:06 PM

Hey Matthewc Im really wanting to see a new movie, got any in the works?

MD

Fried Oyster · 12-10-2008, 07:15 PM

I bet that guy stank pretty bad after that.

Penobscot · 12-10-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromerdome

I enjoy anything mathewc post !

I agree

fish4brains · 12-10-2008, 07:27 PM

It'll smoke up good. Pre-brined.

ampersat · 12-10-2008, 07:28 PM

Hey Matthew: it's cool to see your old stompin' grounds in the news, isn't it? Back in the day when you were chasing trout, you never thought a fish that big was in there I'll bet.

seamslayer · 12-10-2008, 07:40 PM

Interesting how quickly people are to jump on positive posts. I am starting to think that somepeople have waaaay to much time to spend aimlessly scanning forums. Matt, nice post; long live the fisherman, who would rather fish than sit around posting all day.

Matthewc · 12-10-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampersat

Hey Matthew: it's cool to see your old stompin' grounds in the news, isn't it? Back in the day when you were chasing trout, you never thought a fish that big was in there I'll bet.

Totaly, that was what caught my attention, a place I do miss very much from my childhood.

There is a canyon that runs through a private ranch land between Red Bluff and MT Lassen. My family belonged to a hunting club that leased the land. In the after noons we would ride motorcycles down into this canyon and fish for trout. One of the finest wild streams I ever fished in. At the time was totaly untapped. I never knew it had salmon but my guess is that I was never there during the run to have noticed and giant fish swimming around that would have surely caught my eyes as a youth.

Anywho : )

Ginny Ross · 12-10-2008, 08:19 PM

Matthew,

I don't mind seeing this Blutto Hog more than once but what I can't bear is seeing that guy hold it up without even wearing gloves! EEEEWWWWWW! I can hardly stand to look...!

But it is a pretty spectacular beast.

GR

SandyRiverFisher · 12-10-2008, 08:24 PM

I wonder if that poor guy knows how famous he is now here in oregon. I bet Id recognize him if I saw him on the street, probably be able to smell him coming from around the corner.

Thanks for posting it Mathew, first time Ive seen the bottom photo. Why did he touch it in the first place if he had the hook right there???

djb · 12-10-2008, 09:01 PM

Ive read this same post 4 times and I still like looking at that picture.

Kokonuts · 12-10-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djb

Ive read this same post 4 times and I still like looking at that picture.

I am a newbe so this is the 1st time for me....THANKS!!!!

Matthewc · 12-10-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginny Ross

Matthew,

I don't mind seeing this Blutto Hog more than once but what I can't bear is seeing that guy hold it up without even wearing gloves! EEEEWWWWWW! I can hardly stand to look...!

But it is a pretty spectacular beast.

GR

Whats grosser than gross eh?

IMagine if he had tried to pick it up in just a few more days : P

bluehewes · 12-11-2008, 12:52 AM

I wish we could get a few of those into the CR!

Fishin Pflueger · 12-11-2008, 08:03 AM

I haven't seen that yet. Definately cool.

GOLFISH · 12-11-2008, 08:36 AM

Always amazes me. I second the question on the upcoming videos. I have watched most of them many times and learn something each and everytime. Great work on the films Matthewc!

I can never get enough knowledge and education on this way of life called fishing.

triggergk · 12-11-2008, 09:24 AM

I've never seen that hog, nice post matthew. What a stinky hog!!!

Matthewc · 12-12-2008, 02:19 PM

I cant believe this, I was going through 2 of my oldest photo books from growing up fishing around the west and I found super old pics of battle creek in the the books I forgot about. These offcourse are scanned and touched up, they had seen better days...just glad I took pics every place we fished. So not the best pics in the world but here they are, from 1982

Battle Creek hatchery

Looking downstream from hatchery

Chinook salmon stacked below hatchery

Chinook salmon spawning in battle creek at a bridge crossing point down river.

I bet my parents just loved paying to develop all the pics I took growing up....

12-10-2008, 01:49 PM	#1
Matthewc Ifish Nate Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Oregon Posts: 2,368	Monster Salmon Carcass CA my old Battle Cr. pics added 12/12 This is kinda cool, I hunted the battle creek basin growing up and even did some trout fishing their as a teenager. I ran across this out of the blue searching for something else. I took the photos from the California Dept of Fish and Wildlife site linked below at the bottom. Doug Killam, DFG Biologist, 530-527-8893 Harry Morse, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8911 One of the biggest Chinook salmon ever recorded in California was found dead of natural causes in lower Battle Creek near Red Bluff last month. Department of Fish and Game (DFG) biologists measured to estimate what the live weight of the dead fish would have been. A standard size-to-weight formula was used to determine approximate live weight. Based on measurements of the fish (51 inches long), it could have surpassed the current state angling record for a Chinook salmon. It was estimated to have been between five and six years of age. “I have counted tens of thousands of salmon during my career and this is the biggest I have ever seen,” said Doug Killam DFG Associate Fisheries Biologist. “When alive, it could have weighed more than the largest Chinook officially recorded in California, an 88-pound fish caught in the Sacramento River.” The monster salmon was found during a routine fall-run Chinook salmon survey conducted by DFG biologists. Biologists walk through the spawning reach on lower Battle Creek on a weekly basis, recording numbers of spawned-out salmon. Most of the salmon they find weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. The size of this salmon literally stopped them in their tracks. Killam was called and made a special trip to the site with camera in hand to record the size of the fish. Because Pacific Chinook salmon die after spawning, surveys counting dead carcasses are commonly used throughout the Central Valley to estimate the number of salmon spawning in each stream. These monitoring surveys provide vital information on the number of salmon returning to specific areas, baseline information for establishing sport and recreational fishing seasons, evaluating hatchery programs, and evaluating habitat restoration and improvement projects. Killam supervises a crew of employees that work year-round monitoring fish populations throughout the Upper Sacramento River Basin. The monitoring projects use state-of-the-art under water video monitoring techniques and traditional walking surveys to gather information. These surveys are cooperative efforts. They involve a number of different state resource agencies along with federal entities and non-profit groups and organizations. Four distinct runs of salmon are surveyed: winter, spring, fall and late fall-run Chinook salmon, and steelhead. The winter and spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead are listed under the state and federal endangered species acts making information on their population size vital in recovery efforts and for state and federal water management activities. “Hopefully this fish was entirely successful in passing on its superior genetic potential,” said Killam. “This is one of the few bright spots this year for one of California’s great sport fish, the Chinook salmon.” A photograph of this enormous fish may be seen at www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news08/images/giant-salmon. __________________ Matthew Clark Fighting over the fish will only serve to divert us from our common goal. Team SSSF Team Lamiglas R&B Lure Co. Pro Staff

12-10-2008, 01:50 PM	#2
veilside180sx Tuna! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hillsboro, OR Posts: 1,436	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Psst...it's been posted here a couple of times.=)

12-10-2008, 01:51 PM	#3
FlieFreak Steelhead Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: By the Mckenzie Posts: 145	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA How many times is this going to come up.............

12-10-2008, 01:57 PM	#4
Matthewc Ifish Nate Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Oregon Posts: 2,368	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Sorry, I wish I had the time : ) Maybe someone new will enjoy it __________________ Matthew Clark Fighting over the fish will only serve to divert us from our common goal. Team SSSF Team Lamiglas R&B Lure Co. Pro Staff

12-10-2008, 02:00 PM	#5
Jacks Tackle Tuna! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Troutdale, OR Posts: 1,791	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Still dont get tired of seeing this thing! It was a hog! RB __________________ *503-665-2257* *NorthWest Made Spoons, Spinners and Components!* *www.randblures.com or www.jackssnackandtackle.com*

12-10-2008, 02:14 PM	#6
GasMoney Steelhead Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland Posts: 108	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Old news!

12-10-2008, 02:30 PM	#7
CoonersShrimpboat Chromer Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 529	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA WOW look at the Head on that

12-10-2008, 03:53 PM	#10
chromerdome Steelhead Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: milwaukie ore Posts: 166	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I enjoy anything mathewc post ! __________________ Team Chrome Militia Out

12-10-2008, 05:09 PM	#11
P8ntballrman Tuna! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,355	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA ohh yeah...... just the way I like them.......Knock the seagulls off and throw into the smoker. MMMMMMmmmmmm. __________________ If you can't stand behind our troops please feel free to stand in front of them!!!

12-10-2008, 05:54 PM	#12
rowmanholiday Ifish Nate Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 2,194	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I too hope it was able to spawn, before it died. I wonder how big of a Kwik fish you would use on that thing! Maybe a K-30!!!

12-10-2008, 07:03 PM	#17
nioocharles Steelhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Damascus Posts: 233	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA So it has been posted before, don't read it then, like my Mom always said." if you don't have something nice to say don't say it". I enjoy seeing that fish a second time. Charles

12-10-2008, 07:06 PM	#18
Maddie'sDaddy Ifish Nate Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hillsboro Posts: 3,059	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Hey Matthewc Im really wanting to see a new movie, got any in the works? MD __________________ Love Hard Play Hard Die Happy

12-10-2008, 07:15 PM	#19
Fried Oyster Chromer Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 911	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I bet that guy stank pretty bad after that. __________________ "Red Bull" -- the drink of idiots.

12-10-2008, 07:27 PM	#21
fish4brains Steelhead Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Olympia Posts: 135	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA It'll smoke up good. Pre-brined.

12-10-2008, 07:28 PM	#22
ampersat King Salmon Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: under the hat Posts: 11,228	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Hey Matthew: it's cool to see your old stompin' grounds in the news, isn't it? Back in the day when you were chasing trout, you never thought a fish that big was in there I'll bet. __________________ The days are long but the years are short We can't stay young forever, but we can stay young for the rest of our days.

12-10-2008, 07:40 PM	#23
seamslayer Steelhead Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 115	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Interesting how quickly people are to jump on positive posts. I am starting to think that somepeople have waaaay to much time to spend aimlessly scanning forums. Matt, nice post; long live the fisherman, who would rather fish than sit around posting all day.

12-10-2008, 08:19 PM	#25
Ginny Ross Tuna! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SW Burbs Posts: 1,630	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Matthew, I don't mind seeing this Blutto Hog more than once but what I can't bear is seeing that guy hold it up without even wearing gloves! EEEEWWWWWW! I can hardly stand to look...! But it is a pretty spectacular beast. GR __________________ GillnetsKill.com

12-10-2008, 08:24 PM	#26
SandyRiverFisher Tuna! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bend Posts: 1,288	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I wonder if that poor guy knows how famous he is now here in oregon. I bet Id recognize him if I saw him on the street, probably be able to smell him coming from around the corner. Thanks for posting it Mathew, first time Ive seen the bottom photo. Why did he touch it in the first place if he had the hook right there???

12-10-2008, 09:01 PM	#27
djb Chromer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Beaverton Posts: 916	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Ive read this same post 4 times and I still like looking at that picture.

12-11-2008, 12:52 AM	#30
bluehewes Chromer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Washougal Posts: 978	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I wish we could get a few of those into the CR! __________________ "It's very hard to trust a man who wants to borrow your pick-lock,sir!"Cooper said,handing the officer his tool set.

12-11-2008, 08:03 AM	#31
Fishin Pflueger Coho Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Longview,Wa. Posts: 53	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I haven't seen that yet. Definately cool.

12-11-2008, 08:36 AM	#32
GOLFISH Steelhead Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sherwood, OR Posts: 221	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA Always amazes me. I second the question on the upcoming videos. I have watched most of them many times and learn something each and everytime. Great work on the films Matthewc! I can never get enough knowledge and education on this way of life called fishing. Last edited by GOLFISH; 12-11-2008 at 08:37 AM.

12-11-2008, 09:24 AM	#33
triggergk Coho Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: mIlWaUkIe Posts: 57	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I've never seen that hog, nice post matthew. What a stinky hog!!!

12-12-2008, 02:19 PM	#34
Matthewc Ifish Nate Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Oregon Posts: 2,368	Re: Monster Salmon Carcass Found in Battle Creek CA I cant believe this, I was going through 2 of my oldest photo books from growing up fishing around the west and I found super old pics of battle creek in the the books I forgot about. These offcourse are scanned and touched up, they had seen better days...just glad I took pics every place we fished. So not the best pics in the world but here they are, from 1982 Battle Creek hatchery Looking downstream from hatchery Chinook salmon stacked below hatchery Chinook salmon spawning in battle creek at a bridge crossing point down river. I bet my parents just loved paying to develop all the pics I took growing up.... __________________ Matthew Clark Fighting over the fish will only serve to divert us from our common goal. Team SSSF Team Lamiglas R&B Lure Co. Pro Staff

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