The catch is a possible record-breaker for Peter Harrison, who caught the 29- to 30-pound steelie on 8kg tippet on Feb. 20. The current IGFA record for steelhead/rainbow trout on that size tippet is 28 pounds, set by Chuck Stephens on the Skeena River nearly a quarter century ago.
Harrison’s catch came on a double-handed rod, which is popular for steelhead fishing in Washington state. The catch was also greeted with cheers and jeers since he kept the massive silver bullet.
Harrison reportedly kept the fish because it was bleeding heavily.
Still, many believe he should have released the fish given the state of West Coast steelhead fisheries.
Either way, “the catch” is a notable one, no matter what side of the fence you stand on.
I personally have a hard time keeping trophy fish these days, but that was one for the record books.
A couple years ago, I caught what was a possible lake record largemouth bass at Lopez Lake, Calif., but released the fish immediately because it was obviously full of eggs. I felt guilty just landing the fish, knowing it was in the middle of the spawning cycle ... and let me tell you, seeing that fish swim off without a problem was as good a feeling as when I landed it.
But I digress. Read more about the IGFA’s list of rainbow trout records, the largest rainbow trout ever caught, fly fishing for steelhead tips, and how to properly release a rainbow trout when you catch your record fish.
