Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Floater on November 23, 2010, 01:25:33 PM

Title: Late chrome!
Post by: Floater on November 23, 2010, 01:25:33 PM
This year i did not produce any coho during the reg season, but last year i was rewarded with a mirror chrome wild buck on the last day of November. I will never forget that day, 6 hours of fishing in super cold temp to produce one chrome beauty. Worth every moment!
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: DionJL on November 23, 2010, 01:46:42 PM
There are a couple rivers that get a very late run of, what my friends and I call, "Chameleon Coho." The are there well into January and appear to be chrome when you catch them, however if you decide to retain one, then it will quickly turn black. The meat quality is also very poor.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: alwaysfishn on November 23, 2010, 02:06:23 PM
I have a picture of a 10lb+ silver coho I caught in the Chehalis several years back at the end of January.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Matt on November 23, 2010, 02:10:35 PM
I've caught dark coho (still not red yet) mid January.  Latest chrome fish was mid November.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Spoonman on November 23, 2010, 07:58:50 PM
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r79/Spoonman_05/scan0005.jpg)  Jan 6-08 while hunting steel; did not fade to black/meat was red
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: koko on November 23, 2010, 09:14:49 PM
Good job, look like a very small reel you have, what kind is that?
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Novabonker on November 24, 2010, 06:03:08 AM
I have a picture of a 10lb+ silver coho I caught in the Chehalis several years back at the end of January.

LOL - I took one on the Chehalis just after Christmas, shining silver. I placed it behind me and was blown away by the boot it turned into.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Kype on November 24, 2010, 09:21:06 AM
Why not just enjoy the sport then place them back in the water carefully and let them get on with spawning (and dont drag any fish up the bank - respect)! 

Have we not all got freezers full of Sockeye & Springs!?!?  ::)
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: DragonSpeed on November 24, 2010, 09:28:53 AM
Why not just enjoy the sport then place them back in the water carefully and let them get on with spawning (and dont drag any fish up the bank - respect)! 

Have we not all got freezers full of Sockeye & Springs!?!?  ::)
Perhaps because the reason these fish are in the river is to be retained?  ::)  The wild ones go back to their home.  The hatch ones go to your home.  It's the way the system is designed.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Kype on November 24, 2010, 09:31:16 AM
Except to say when the fish are no good to eat as 99% now are not  ;D
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: DragonSpeed on November 24, 2010, 09:41:59 AM
Except to say when the fish are no good to eat as 99% now are not  ;D
While you, myself, and the guy next to might not, there's nothing that says that Joe down the street doesn't have the same discerning palate and is more than happy to keep a mushy fish. 

Whether it's killed early in its life or later... it's still dead.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: alwaysfishn on November 24, 2010, 10:42:57 AM
LOL - I took one on the Chehalis just after Christmas, shining silver. I placed it behind me and was blown away by the boot it turned into.

While most of the silver coho turn dark shortly after they are taken out of the water this time of year, there is the odd exception.

The picture I have of the late January silver coho is in my kitchen 8 hours later.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Rodney on November 24, 2010, 10:51:18 AM
This one was completely chrome in the water while I fought it but instantly turned into that when my hands touched it. It must have same magical colour changing gene that Stave River chum salmon have. ;D

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2139&g2_serialNumber=1)
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Kype on November 24, 2010, 12:01:17 PM
PS.  Dont want to come across as 'high and mighty' either - we both love to eat Trout & Salmon.  But we also want as many fish to reach the spawning redds as possible to do their thing and keep the cycle going!!  8)
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Floater on November 24, 2010, 03:43:20 PM
This one was completely chrome in the water while I fought it but instantly turned into that when my hands touched it. It must have same magical colour changing gene that Stave River chum salmon have. ;D

(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2139&g2_serialNumber=1)
How did it smoke up rod  ::)
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Spoonman on November 24, 2010, 06:58:44 PM
Good job, look like a very small reel you have, what kind is that?
      4.5" Raven Classic - must look small  'cause it's not laying flat and my Lami has big cork.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: alwaysfishn on November 24, 2010, 08:55:54 PM
      4.5" Raven Classic - must look small  'cause it's not laying flat and my Lami has big cork.

I've always been led to believe that size does not matter, as long as you've got the skill to use it.   ;D
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Tee on November 24, 2010, 09:12:58 PM
I caught one on boxing days several years ago. She was as chrome as the fresh fish could be. That day was a great day fishing for coho, hooking into many fish.
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Easywater on November 25, 2010, 09:17:15 AM
Saw an interesting related post on another board in regards to keeping fish for mounting:

If possible, keep the fish on a stringer in the water, a fish that dies and is exposed to air, will turn very dark and usually have to be whited out.
A fish that dies and stays in the water, seems to bleach out and turns very light.

Ontario - SalmonCrazy.com
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Robbie on November 25, 2010, 10:53:01 AM
I brought in a chrome bright Coho on the Norrish on Jan 6 about 3 years ago.  It was as a beautiful clean fish in the water, and as black as can be on the shore.  Flesh was mushy and I could almost push my finger right though it.  Another angler told me Coca cola would brighten it up for the photo. 
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: Toprod on November 26, 2010, 04:23:26 PM
Caught a chameleon coho on the vedder a few years back, it was sillver with greyish undertones and turned boot black. Soft yellow meat, no good!
Title: Re: Late chrome!
Post by: anejo676 on November 27, 2010, 04:01:21 PM
On the Skagit River in Washington State I've gotten chrome bright sea lice fish well into late December with bright red meat.  I've even seen wild Coho in to mid to late January.  Although not seeing as many the last many years as Washington State is all about tribe and cowboy harvesting any potential "extra" fish.  :(