What did I Catch?

[MBell]

Hey guys, never done the lake trout salmon thing so I don't know what I caught.  They were busting bait on the surface all around one of my reefs a few weeks ago.  Caught this one on a fluke in 30 feet.  So, what is it?
-Matt

[McCarter]

Could be a king.  i caught one a few years ago in an All Star anglers tournament on erie.  6 feet of water on a lucky craft pointer 100.  i thought it broke my line because i felt the hit and set the hook and there was nothing there.  i started reeling in my line and after about 10 seconds of winding and thinking i was just reeling in broken line, i caught up to the fish.  it about took the rod out of my hand for real.  he had hit the bait about 50 ft away from ther boat and hauled ass back under the boat and was just sitting somewhere behind me with it. 

It was funny watching my partner with the net thinking i had a state record smallmouth or at least big fish for the tournament.  I told him there was no way it was a bass.

I fought it for a long time and finally got it tired and started pulling towards the boat.  Once i saw it i thought it was a giant walleye.  But then we got it right to the boat and i couldnt believe it.  strange.

Anyway, it could be a king or a steelhead.  hard to tell cuz i cant really see the markings on it that well.

McCarter himself

[motocross269]

It looks like a Steelhead, but I am no expert either...

[dashaver63]

My guess would be a steelhead.

[fowlmouth]

yeah, it's a steelie. square tail, white mouth

[MBell]

Thanks.  I didn't think it was a laker, i've caught those before.  Heading back out there tomorrow, maybe I'll need a trout stamp now.  BTW the day before I caught this was the best day for smallmouths this year on this paticular reef.  They were up on top busting bait all day, and some big fish too 5lb+.  The next day they were completely gone and I guess the steel head pushed them out, they were everywhere.  It was very unusual for bass to leave this reef in the fall.
-Matt

[Bloomer]

I would have to agree and say it was a steelhead...

[Waterfoul]

Steelhead for sure!

[csfishslayer]

that is for sure a steel head .