Port Clinton Steelhead????

[Trophy]

Gentlemen/Ladies

I have a question which has been driving me nuts for a week now. Last Friday, I took the kids swimming/tubing off the beach in Port Clinton. On the way back to Catawba we passed a floater about a mile and a half off shore. We doubled back got out the net and pulled the fish in. It turned out to be a 27" Steelhead. The fish hadn't been dead long because the gills were still good, and red, and the fishes colors had not faded yet from decomposition. We threw the fish back in and went on to dock. Saturday we were walking the beach at Port Clinton behind Frisch's and I found another Steelhead. This one was only about 18-20" long though. My question is has anybody been catching Steelhead in the Port Clinton area, and if so how consistant are they being caught?

It's quite possible the one you saw floating was hooked & lost at the net. We have lost some steelhead and doubled back around and scooped them up, as sometimes they will fight themselves to death. As far as getting them around Port Clinton I don't know.

Gulliver:

The real question I was asking is if people are consistantly catching them around the Port Clinton area. Thanks for the tip though. I'll remember that if I have one come off at the net.

[Jess]

consistantly, not at all. There a a couple here an there cought but nothing more than that. The ones you saw were probebly lost like mentioned or were released after being netted.

[Rick]

Trophy, There was a fishing tournament held last Saturday from the Chagrin River in Eastlake. Two Steelhead were brought in with the left pectoral fin clipped. These fish were both 23 inches long. I asked someone at the GLFC which state does this as I know Ohio hasn't for a while. The reply was that Michigan finclipped fish that should have been that size, but they were stocked in Lake Huron. It is very possible that quite a few steelhead are passing through the island area from the Detroit River heading east and these may be what are being caught in that area. Did you notice if any fins were clipped ?

[Trophy]

No I didn't look at the fins. But man what an impressive looking fish. Now I know why they call them Silver Bullets. They sure are built for power, and speed.