Giant Devils Lake Coastal Cutthroat

RRSmith

RRSmith

Life of the Party
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I know this photo is cringe worthy but I thought I would share. My neighbor caught this enormous Devils Lake coastal cutthroat a few days ago off a local dock. It's unfortunate it was manhandled - he didn't even know it was a cutthroat or wild (wild fish must be released in Devil's Lake). It was released - I hope it survives.

Devils Lake is located near LIncoln City on the Oregon Coast. It's connected to the ocean via the D River and it's main tributary (Rock Creek) supports a decent coho salmon run along with a few steelhead. It's possible that it is a sea run but I'm guessing this fish was/is living it's best lacustrine life - likely gorging on juvenile yellow perch. I have caught several coastal cutts in D Lake without really trying - all the standard 13"-15" in length. I need to get out and try... once it stops raining and blowing.

giantdlakecutthroat.jpg
 
troutpocket said:
Looks like it broke the handle off the net!
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It for sure broke his net! He said it was 24” long.

During the later part of my career, part of my kingdom included California’s North Coast Wildlife Area Complex. The complex included Lake Earl and Big Lagoon - both coastal lagoons which occasionally breached and connected to the ocean. Both held very large, mostly lacustrine coastal cutthroat. A local that was a seasonal for us trophy fished Lake Earl for big cutties. He showed me photos of fish that he claimed weighed five pounds. If they weren’t - they were close.
 
RRSmith said:
It for sure broke his net! He said it was 24” long.

During the later part of my career, part of my kingdom included California’s North Coast Wildlife Area Complex. The complex included Lake Earl and Big Lagoon - both coastal lagoons which occasionally breached and connected to the ocean. Both held very large, mostly lacustrine coastal cutthroat. A local that was a seasonal for us trophy fished Lake Earl for big cutties. He showed me photos of fish that he claimed weighed five pounds. If they weren’t - they were close.
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They can definitely get that big. If I recall correctly the Washington State Record for a coasral cutthroat was a little over 5lbs and caught near Cutts Island.
 
RRSmith said:
It for sure broke his net! He said it was 24” long.

During the later part of my career, part of my kingdom included California’s North Coast Wildlife Area Complex. The complex included Lake Earl and Big Lagoon - both coastal lagoons which occasionally breached and connected to the ocean. Both held very large, mostly lacustrine coastal cutthroat. A local that was a seasonal for us trophy fished Lake Earl for big cutties. He showed me photos of fish that he claimed weighed five pounds. If they weren’t - they were close.
Click to expand...
Stone Lagoon definitely has some dandy cutthroat in it, I can confirm that! That can be such a frustrating place to fish but when it's on nothing beats it
 
J Watrous said:
They can definitely get that big. If I recall correctly the Washington State Record for a coasral cutthroat was a little over 5lbs and caught near Cutts Island.
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6 lbs for the searun cutt and 12 lbs for resident coastal cutt. The old resort on the lake where the 12 lber came from used to have wood cutouts of big cutts caught there all over the walls.
I’ve never seen a picture of that record searun cutt, but would sure like to.
82 years ago dinner was likely more important then a picture.

Paige said:
I'm pretty sure the record is bigger than 5#. a lot more!

This one was over 10# if I recall
View attachment 146387
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Brian,
If I recall correctly when that was originally posted on PP they said that one went 14 lbs which would have been a new state record for resident coastal cutthroat.

mcswny said:
Sounds like a typical Tuesday for @Stonedfish
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Lol, I wish. 😂
I’ve never caught a searun cutt close to that size, though anything over 20” is a true trophy in my mind.
SF
 
6 lb Cutts are just a typical day on the Canal....
Read it on PP...was right next to a blurry moon pic and a dead possum.
🤣
 
Trolling possum parts under a blurry moon on a Tuesday...
😅
 
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