Eels Spring Goblins?

[Divad]

Anybody else noticing the first round of Eels Spring ~5lbers looking like zombies?

I don’t remember last years covid crop of trophy tank fatties looking as rough as this, so no blaming that. Three lakes and so many with one or multiple conditions of blotched, beaten, flippers mangled and/or internals spewing out.

I get it they aren’t suppose to be perfect, but dam does this years fish look like the tank size was cut in half and they’re experimenting with raising pike in the same cage.

 

[BCO]

OK, you’ve piqued my interest. What and where is this zombie invasion occurring?

 

[Cowlitz Bottomfeeder]

I caught one a couple of years ago with no tail in that general area. Couldn’t figure out why it didn’t fight until I got it in the net.

 

[Starman77]

Anybody else noticing the first round of Eels Spring ~5lbers looking like zombies?

I don’t remember last years covid crop of trophy tank fatties looking as rough as this, so no blaming that. Three lakes and so many with one or multiple conditions of blotched, beaten, flippers mangled and/or internals spewing out.

I get it they aren’t suppose to be perfect, but dam does this years fish look like the tank size was cut in half and they’re experimenting with raising pike in the same cage.

I agree... Those 4 to 5 pounders from that Eells Springs hatchery were mostly dark, red and have white marks on their nose or fins, and at least last Friday at one of those lakes those broodstock fish didn't seem to be in much of a biting mood. This one had good girth, but didn't fight very well:



It could also be that those fish have been C&R so many times that they are worn out, as one of my friends said that he caught a few on the afternoon of the day they were planted and thought that the ones he hooked then fought decently.

The cutthroats that were planted in that lake are also quite disappointing, as they are very thin and snake-like, dark and don't fight very much, like this one.



Of the 10 fish I landed on Friday, only one 16 incher looked good and fought well:



Rex

 

[Ron McNeal]

The three I caught in Mason County on 2/12 sure didn't fight like Zombies. And, the two fairly obvious plants (of 1/27) didn't look any different from recent years...... Maybe I was just lucky............?

 

[Divad]

I agree... Those 4 to 5 pounders from that Eells Springs hatchery were mostly dark, red and have white marks on their nose or fins, and at least last Friday at one of those lakes those broodstock fish didn't seem to be in much of a biting mood. This one had good girth, but didn't fight very well:

View attachment 6443

It could also be that those fish have been C&R so many times that they are worn out, as one of my friends said that he caught a few on the afternoon of the day they were planted and thought that the ones he hooked then fought decently.

The cutthroats that were planted in that lake are also quite disappointing, as they are very thin and snake-like, dark and don't fight very much, like this one.

View attachment 6445

Of the 10 fish I landed on Friday, only one 16 incher looked good and fought well:

View attachment 6447

Rex

We may have been on the same lake Friday. The many 5lbsers I site fished make yours look like a gem. But all of them from the three lakes I’ve caught them this month (Thurston, Thurston, Mason) don’t fight and have issues. And the 100 or so between the lakes of the 5lbers I site fish I see so many marks/issues.

Last year I remember April plants for grays harbor taking deep runs from Eels. And bright nice looking fish.

 

[Divad]

The three I caught in Mason County on 2/12 sure didn't fight like Zombies. And, the two fairly obvious plants (of 1/27) didn't look any different from recent years...... Maybe I was just lucky............?

I think you got lucky. I do theorize that they probably FIFO these fish (first in first out) so the earliest plants might look the shittiest? That’s the only thing I can think of.

 

[Divad]

Circling back on this as I’ve landed a good couple dozen of this years jumbo trout and can confirm the first round of Eels spring were TRASH. I’ve never seen such a large amount of fish with damage.

I don’t ever photo on the tube but had to as this is the regular looking trophy from both Aberdeen and Sop Springs. All chrome, bright and haven’t even caught a single one with a sore. They’re gorgeous fish.

Audit Eels Spring.