Coho or Steelhead?

[Tiderunner]

I say coho. whatdya think? (If I'm wrong it wouldn't be the first time!) they seem to get confused a lot early on...
http://www.trophy-angler.com/spring_hole_steel_05.jpg

[Craydaddy]

LMFAO!! I just saw that and said the same thing. It looks like a coho to me. Look at it's nose!

[Tiderunner]

yea, I figured he'd know the difference. oh well. :D

[gman2153]

I am trying to remember, but isn't the gum line and inside of mouth black on a Coho??

Resident expert Cray - help me out on this one.

[Craydaddy]

I am no expert but you are correct on the gums. The picture isn't good so who knows. Could be a steelhead.

[floatfisher]

Glad to know I was not the only one to think it looked like a coho!!! Maybe it is a steelie, that silver, who knows from the pic?!?!

[JStreamside]

Judging from the picture, I'd say "HO". The head is a bit too blunt and rounded...gumline will be greyish with some black. Only way to be sure is to check the anal fin and the tail unless somebody is good at autopsy work.

I had a limit of 3 fresh hen cohos on the stringer about 8-years back similar to that...and then these "dudes" come walkin' down the shoreline and start one big time commotion and want to know who's catching and killing all the "steelhead". Next thing I know I've got 15 guys arguing over my fish as to what they are and who caught them.

DEC even showed up to quiet things down as some guys just wouldn't let the issue go when I told them I was 1000% positive they were coho...one even told me he wasn't going to let me leave until I let at least 2 of the "steelhead" go!!! ECO came over and made the proper ID confirmation and asked the trouble-maker for HIS license...which he couldn't produce...so he got a nice fat ticket!!! My friends and I laughed so freakin' hard I pee'd my waders (which I no longer have)!!!! :D :D :D

Moral of the story: if you ever want to lure in one of the "know-it-alls" on the water for potential DEC "paperwork"...just catch a bunch of hen coho (errr..."false steelhead" :D ) and put 'em on a rope where they can be seen...sooner or later somebody decides they need to teach "SR Iychtheology Dumb 01"...ya' gotta' love it!!! As a matter of fact, just last weekend Salmonfan, TOPGUN & I had some "River Rocket Rambo" tell me my 5 lb hen brownie was an Atlantic :eek: :eek: :eek: !!! I can see people confusing the juveniles, but no way on the adults. Should have put a $100 bet on it and ran the fish up to the hatchery for good measure!!!

[drifter]

Im thinking Coho on that one.

[fluke]

I upped the resolution on the pick and that mouth is black as coal has to be a coho

[Tiderunner]

Problem is, The judging committee doesn't agree.
http://www.fatchicksinpartyhats.com/images/fathat241.jpg
"steelhead! STEELHEAD!!!"

Speaking of, here's an actual steelhead from the same page
http://www.trophy-angler.com/MikeR-4.jpg

[keukakatch&release]

Coho, if ya ask me, but it seems like everyone else agrees...

[FT. DRUM GUY]

I thought that Coho had an all white mouth. I also understood that a Coho will have spots on only the top half of it's tail fin. The edge of it's mouth should not pass the eye.

[gman2153]

you are right about the spots, bu tthe coho have black mouth with white gums...

This link will help you out...

http://www.great-lakes.org/fishid.html

[FT. DRUM GUY]

Nice site....for a minute I thought I grilled a state record!:eek:

[ecsteelheader]

Yepper that be a COHO,,no ho like a coho>))>

[Salmonfan]

Hey JS, DON'T GET CAUGHT KEEPING THAT ATLANTIC!! , LOOK AT THE TAIL, AND YA GOTTA CHECK THE MOUTH TOO!! LMFAO

[Ditchrat]

I am no expert but you are correct on the gums. The picture isn't good so who knows. Could be a steelhead.

White mouth/black gums coho. Black mouth king.


Its a coho

[flyguy]

Ditch: Gman was correct. Cohos have white gums and a black tongue.