Freezing tip and hatchery clip

[nwkiller]

We hit the Umpqua today, hoping to lock into some of those steelies that have been getting hooked. The day started crazy....friend jumped in the boat and snapped one of my tipe...oh well......then as soon as the sun came up, the tempriture dropped probably around 5 degrees, freezing everything in sight...includin tackle backs.. the boat...even eyelits....just setting your rod down to rebait would produce this....
..
.had too break it off every few cast. cold, cold, cold........after drifting some roe just like everyone else, I decided to do my own thing, there were some fish rolling in an area no one was working.....so I threw on the old trusty Bluefox and got slammed probably the tenth cast by this beautiful boy.....

and wouldnt you guess it...CLIPPER!!!! merry X-mas to me.....the craziest thing though, the fish was missing both its pectoral fins, nothing but nubs....a wise older guy said that some hatcheries run a thing where they clip 1 front fin to show what hatchery in came from....this one had both clipped.....just another reason why these fish are determined to survive!!!!. moved up river after seeing a few lost.....buddy released a big 13# coho fire truck, should have some video of it later. great day, steelies already eatin, got to take him to his last dinner party!

 

[plumb2fish]

WOW, ^That is one heck of a Christmas present. I think I would go buy a lottery ticket. Not many of those clippers been caught that I've heard of.....(yours is the first from well over 100 fish that I have heard of)I did see a pic of the first 20+ of the season that I know of.....

 

[steelhead_stalkers]

Nice fish!

On a side note the new nanofil fishing line does not freeze.

 

[billfisher]

Merry Chrismas! :clap: Thats a beauty!

 

[nwkiller]

WOW, ^That is one heck of a Christmas present. I think I would go buy a lottery ticket. Not many of those clippers been caught that I've heard of.....(yours is the first from well over 100 fish that I have heard of)I did see a pic of the first 20+ of the season that I know of.....

thanks thats what i was hearing down there....super fortunate.........where is this 20+ lb pic....please post....please please please

 

[nwkiller]

Nice fish!

On a side note the new nanofil fishing line does not freeze.

tthanks man, that is very good news, ill have to check into it

thanks billfisher

 

[TTFishon]

Sweet fish NWK!!!

 

[plumb2fish]

Here it is 40.5x20.25

 

[nwkiller]

holy F$$$in S$$$.......that is so rediculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! awesome fish

 

[nwkiller]

thanks TT i was super pumped!!

 

[Raincatcher]

Way to tough it out! Makes a beauty like that worth even more. Thanks for the porn,too!

 

[nwkiller]

thanks Barb!

 

[waco]

A beauty even made it to the featured reports!!

 

[nwkiller]

thanks waco! as soon as it started fighting I was almost certain that it was a hatchy...and wallla

 

[waco]

How did you know it was a hatchery before landing it?

 

[plumb2fish]

Probably cause it fought like a wet sock.....

 

[nwkiller]

in a nut shell yes.....most of the winters i get are hands down the best fights ever...cause there native.....then a good ol wet sock latches on!....lol

 

[TTFishon]

But at least you get to take the wet sock home.

 

[nwkiller]

thats for sure....no wet sock complaints here