First Coast Spring Chinook

Grant Scheele · 01-24-2004, 08:48 PM

Well, since all you guys seem so intent on hearing about that first Willamette Spring Chinook I went out and found the first Coastal Spring Chinook. Boy was she early. These fish are a surprise in January on Steelhead gear.

This fish was caught Jan 22nd, 2004. Do I get a prize? :grin: :grin:

Danderson · 01-24-2004, 08:53 PM

Yes!!! The prize is you get to take me fishing on Thursday :smile:

Derek

rock bottom · 01-24-2004, 08:55 PM

WOW what a great fish. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Mikeymoto · 01-24-2004, 09:03 PM

Nice fish Grant. BTW that sure looks like Joe Mendazona.
MM

Grant Scheele · 01-24-2004, 09:10 PM

Mikeymoto, you must be mistaken. This guys name was Josesh Mendazona. :grin: You know, they say everybody out there has a twin. Maybe this is Joe's.....I need to go to bed. I am getting very silly. Grant

Ty · 01-24-2004, 09:14 PM

Grant,

Sorry to break the news, but that is a winter chinook. The vent is swollen and u can see the ribs in the beely that indicates large mature eggs.

[img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

Salmonator · 01-24-2004, 09:18 PM

regardless, it's better than some of the skanker steelhead pics I've seen around here lately....

[img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

Chris Nordling · 01-24-2004, 10:45 PM

Those pesky nooks :grin: .

Do you ever give those salmon a break Grant?

Or do you have a specialized chinook whistle that you can whip out year round to call the chromers in?

:tongue:

Nice job

Can I have my eggs now? LOL .

Chris

Thumper · 01-25-2004, 04:58 AM

Tell us about the ripeness of the egg skeins.

rebell · 01-25-2004, 05:22 AM

Winter chinook.

I have seen them as late as Feb, 3rd.

Phishin Phool · 01-25-2004, 08:36 AM

Or do you have a specialized chinook whistle that you can whip out year round to call the chromers in?

Grant, Nice Fish!

Make sure you bring that Whistle when we go on Tuesday.
See ya then

--Russ

Salmonator · 01-25-2004, 08:39 AM

Thumper, you'll have to root around in a tail-out to find out how ripe those eggs are [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

Jennie@ifish · 01-25-2004, 12:13 PM

Yip, that's a dandy fall chinook!

If you win a prize, then I win first, cuz I caught one shiny and chrome... in fact, THAT'S THE SAME DANG ONE!-- a week earlier on a pink and white jig! :smile:

Dang, you had me going! By the way, she'll be spawning in the next week-- if you'd put her down! :smile:

Remember, on the coast, or at least the Wilson, Trask, Nestucca and Tillamook you may not retain a chinook until April 1st. I'm surprised there are so many around, still. That's great! Now, put her back! :grin:

Jen

[ 01-25-2004, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

Grant Scheele · 01-25-2004, 05:15 PM

Jennie, we did put her back as soon as we snapped a quick picture. Her eggs were not loose yet but she was not far off from spawning. This was a very rare fish for the river that we were fishing so it was really special to let her go.

Hey Ty and all of the other guys that didn't catch the big wink in start of my thread, here is another Springer that we caught the next day. It must have been one of those real Springers that you were talking about because it definately didn't have any loose or mature eggs in her. :grin: :grin:

Ty · 01-25-2004, 11:40 PM

Don't get me wrong guys, bueatiful fish Grant!

Just thought I would clearify that is was a winter chinook.

If you can see the rib bones in the side of a fish it has large and maybe even loose eggs regardless of color. Also, the vent is very swollen, so that fish is not going to make it to August to spwan w/ all the other "springers", I woudl say that this fish is going to spawn in the next month.

Salminator, I have posted so dark fish that I have been releasing. So, what is wrong w/ that? At least I don't keep dark fish?
:whazzup: :shocked: :whazzup: [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

NR Maverick · 01-26-2004, 07:07 PM

Grant, are you sure thats not a Goodyear or a Uniroyal ?

iwanttofish · 01-26-2004, 07:11 PM

Hey that is a nice fish anyway

Gun Rod Bow · 01-26-2004, 07:27 PM

HEY!!!! Don't squeeze the eggs out of her!!!

Oh, looks like it's too late

That's a beaut! (French for boot)

Fishin Magician · 01-26-2004, 08:11 PM

Grant, some people just dont get it and have to be alarmists........ :grin:

SPAZZ · 01-26-2004, 08:43 PM

FINALY THE SPRINGS HAVE COME BACK, [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Now it's time to fish for the best fish in the sea.

Silver Willie · 01-27-2004, 09:42 AM

Give the guy a break, it's easy to confuse a spring chinook of that caliber with an eel. Careful it doesn't sting you.

BUBBA911 · 01-27-2004, 07:54 PM

The past 2 years we have landed winter chinook on a few of the coastal rivers .. The latest was feb 17, 2002 it was 35 pounds on steelhead gear. It was part of a double on plugs.. it made my 6 lb metalhead seem like a smolt. Ask rich h from salem he caught it and has the pictures to prove it... keep it up there is still 3 weeks left till mid feb and chinooks can be found if you are lucky.

Braden