Winter or Summer Stealy?

silverhead · 11-12-2003, 10:20 PM

I went fishing up at Mciver on the clack today hoping to find some steallies in the rapids below the dam. I hooked what I thought might have been a salmon I would have to cut off. Then I noticed it had a lot of pep and strangely was making a big run up the current to me and not down against me. Well I got a good look and it was a very nice steally. It had one to many fins but it was about 30" and nice color with red sides and red cheeks. It seemed fat and girthy. Any ideas whether it was a large summer or an early winter. Last year was my first year fishing for stealhead, caught 4 and felt very lucky.

steelhead22 · 11-12-2003, 10:29 PM

Sounds like a big summer to me. It would be a VERY early winter if it was. I think the red on the sides and the red gill plate is a give away, that fish has been in the system for a little while, typical of a summer at this time. You should feel VERY, VERY fortunate to have caught a steelhead out of the Clack. This year was a total bust for summer steelhead, the numbers just weren't there. Congrats! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

sparkleboy · 11-12-2003, 10:37 PM

That was a summer steelhead you got. Pretty with the red, ain't they?

Twitchs_Tackle · 11-12-2003, 10:41 PM

You're off to a great start. It takes some people years before they get into their first fish, especially on rivers that see a lot of use. Woudl have to agree with steelhead and sparkle, it is in fact a summer. good job!

rob allen · 11-12-2003, 11:35 PM

ANY!!!!! color at all it's a summer

Uglygreen · 11-13-2003, 05:51 AM

Sounds like a summer to me as well, considering the timing and the color, but the sexual maturity of the fish (eggs or gonads) is the only way to tell for sure.

Not suggesting that you kill the fish, but Winter fish are Ocean maturing and will have mature eggs / milt sacks versus Summer fish which are stream maturing and would (even now) have immature eggs / milt sacks. Not very often, but I have caught fresh steelhead in tidewater with sealice that have some red in the cheeks / sides.

UG

rola76 · 11-13-2003, 07:36 AM

Aren't they beauties? Great picture fish!! Definitely a summer fish.

Mad Mikey · 11-13-2003, 08:04 AM

>>>This year was a total bust for summer steelhead<<<

Don't be too sure about that........

DriftR · 11-13-2003, 08:27 AM

Let me tell you how I learned to tell if the steelie was a "Winter" or "Summer". I was showed this simple techinque by a very good fisherman many, many years ago. I still can't believe that any and all so called Steelhead fisherman don't know the difference. I have shown this identification technique to many people over the years. I think that most people, after learning this easy technique are so taken aback by its overall simplicity that they feel foolish sharing it with others. So for all you so called steelhead fisherman here it is. Pay close attention so that you can pass this on to your fishing friends.
Step #1: Hook and land your supposed steelhead.
Step #2: Now after landing the steelhead carefully dip you hands in water then cradle the steelhead in both hands.
Step #3. Make sure that the eyes are pointed down(this assures that the steelhead is still alive).
Step #4. Now turn the freshly caught, alive and kicking steelie over so its belly is pointing straight up.
Step #5. Look very closely at the area on the belly area between the gill plates.
Now pay close attention, this is where it really gets very interesting.
Step #6. Looking carefully at this area (between gills on stomach bottom) look closer now. You will see one of two letters: One will be either a "W" telling you it is a winter steelhead or an "S" telling you that it is a summer steelhead. Now wasn't that the easiest way you have ever found to identify that steelhead. Go out and educate your friends and amaze them all with your current knowledge. Go forth sportsperson and lecture this techinque to all.

steelhead22 · 11-13-2003, 09:38 AM

MM-

If you got into summer steelhead this year I would be VERY surprised. I'm not saying there wasn't a run at all, but it just seemed like it was no where near the runs I've been seeing these past couple years. I checked it periodically throughout the summer, and it was WEAK to say the least. Didn't really matter though, I just switched over to the Sandy and we killed 'em this year. What's another 10 minute drive if you know your gonna catch fish. Anyway, a huge CONGRATS to you if you caught fish consistently on the Clack this year, I believe that was a HUGE accomplishment this past summer.

Lil' Corkie · 11-13-2003, 09:51 AM

Sounds like a nice Summer Run. It is way to early for winter steelhead. Congrats!

Mad Mikey · 11-13-2003, 10:06 AM

SH22,
IMO, the last two years we got spoiled with HUGE runs, it was down right goofy.
We went from that to a substandard, yet still existant run this season.
BTW check your mail...........

steelhead22 · 11-13-2003, 11:01 PM

MM- You got mail too.

SHOUGALNITE · 12-07-2003, 12:05 PM

summer

Navigator · 12-07-2003, 09:10 PM

Drifter. Good one. LOL.

DriftR · 12-08-2003, 08:13 AM

Navigator,
Thank you for that response. I hope you understand the technique and like me, now can share this too with your buddies. IT IS SO SIMPLE!!!!!