Wish I had a camera

[Trick]

I spent the day with a freind hitting some spots I had not fished in a decade. I was suprised to hook and land 4 native coho and one native hen steelhead.

I'm not a dead-on guesser on fish weight but I landed a monster silver in the 20-25lb range. I didn't have my digital camera that I got for Christmas or my tape measure that broke a few months ago that hung off my vest. I caught a few silvers this year in the mid-teens (scaled) and this brute stunted them. Luckily I had an eyewitness with me because I hardly believed the size of this fish.

My buddy landed one that was in the high teens. It was a great day and we had alot of fun.

What is with these late silvers? Most of the fish were in excellent shape. They fought as hard as the steelhead. All were native, which is very nice to see.

As soon as I get a waterproof jacket for the camera I plan to start carrying it. Burned up two cell phones fishing this year and can't afford to destroy my new toy. A picture would have been worth a thousand words.

[Rock Stick or Fish]

Learn from my Dad(Unskunked) and buy the extended warranty on the camera. Then you can drop it in the river all you want, and they will give you a new one...

RSF

[lovetofish]

I agree! I've also caught and seen some
really big cohos this year. I just hooked a
kinda-bright one today.

Let's hope that all these coho are a sign that
nature has her timing a little late and that
steelhead are still coming!

--steve

[fishing is life]

silver silver that late? care to share where? just curious.

[Jim]

I don't fish the oregon rivers much but there are at least two coastal rivers here that get great runs of big, late Silvers.

Jim

[Jennie@ifish]

We have a surprising amount of fresh dead silvers on our river beach. ??? That's weird too, as the Kilchis doesn't usually get many silvers...
One really, really pretty one right now, in full color. I'll have to take a pic.
You know, I love to take pictures of dead fish on the beach lately, since I can't hook anything fresh, anyway.

Jen

[Trick]

I have never caught a December silver in any shape. It just shocked me to see fish that big and in that good of shape. The fish I caught were located in the deep pools and not on redds. They were fungus free, fat and full of energy. All were in full spawn colors.

These fish were healthy and I'd wager some of them will probally still be kicking into late January or February.

The fish were caught on a north coast river. Three of the silvers and the steelhead fell to a #35 metallic blue hotshot and one silver took a #5 brass bladed spinner. My buddy got his on a red tadpolly looking thing?

I would be more specific but some folk would kill me if I divulge much more info.

[fishing is life]

thanks for the info. i understand if you have to respect a buddys hotspots. way to go!

[Dragfreedrift]

A friend and I caught a few silvers well over 15 pounds in mid-November. We were amazed at the size and the fight of these fish!

HC

[David Johnson]

I've caught chrome bright silvers in the Clackamas up until this late in the year. One time my dad hooked one in full spawning colors in the middle of February.

[catchmydrift]

Hey Trick,
Being a die hard biker as well, I've had to work on keeping things dry. (everything gets soaked when you ride in the rain!) A good cheap solution until you get your jacket is to use Ziplock freezer bags. Keep your camera in there until you need it. Should see you through temporarily.

Cheers,
Brent

[Trick]

Yeah, I'm inclined to double bag it in zip-lock bags after I priced the jacket.....over $200 BUCKS :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: .

Little steep for me.....maybe next x-mas I'll ask for that.

None of them were chrome bright, but one was a light pink and I figured he wasn't in freshwater too long. I'd imagine that there might have been a bright one or two.

I'm just jazzed to see such healthy wild fish populations.....hope it isn't a short term thing.