need opinions on what a mountable rainbow?

[stealth3350]

hello i went to lake michigan over the weekend and caught my first king salmon and rainbows.. my salmon went 17.5lbs that was a nice fish.. but i allso caught a rainbow or steelhead.. i dont know wich one u would call it if it was from lake michigan. but it was 30 inches.. didnt weight it..is that a respectable mount .. i need opinions as i have never caught a rainbow before

[grate8]

if youe feeling it u should mount it

that is all that matters. sounds like your feeling it

[gooty]

nice fish! like grate8 said, if you want to, go for it. I know they get very big in michigan tho, 36+

[stealth3350]

thats just it. i dont really know how big they get in there.. ill be fishing it again a few times. i would hate to catch something bigger.. i know a 30 walleye is nice but i have seen them up to 34 inch. but most guys dont get the 34inch just 30inch.. thats all i dont want to mount something that is not worth mounting.. i dont know a whole lot about trout

[so haaad]

A 30" steelie is a decent fish, but not uncommon from the Great Lakes. It's really up to you. Did you take pictures? Another option is to put your fish on the grill and feast on the rewards. Then frame and/or blow up a picture of you holding your fish and engrave the measurements, weight, etc.

[Nate McVey]

If I caught a 30" steelhead out of the Brule or Northshore rivers, I would have a replica on my wall in a heartbeat! Not sure what it would take for me to mount one out of Lake Michigan as I have never fished it. It comes down to what YOU want to do and if you feel it deserves to be on the wall.

[stealth3350]

lol yeah i have pics.. the fish is actually at the smokehouse along with some salmon.i didnt know if i should have a replica made.. how big to lake michigan steels get? the guys i were fishing with said nice rainbow now throw it in the box, and get that line back down there.. Honestly i had no idea how much work it is fishing salmon with having all those lines out for 4 guys,, checking,and rebaiting,realing in fish and off course untangling!!

[Greybeard53]

I've only fished Lake Michigan twice, but in those two trips I've taken a 28", two 30" and a 33".

I'm doing a replica of the 33" not entirely because of the size, but because it was beautifully colored, and a great memory, through the ice on 6# test.

A 30"er is a good solid fish, and would make a beautiful reproduction. But everyone has their own reasons.

[leakywaders]

I caught a wild (not of hatchery origin) male steelhead out of the Pere Marquette that went 35". Biggest fish I've ever caught. Very deep bodied and thick. Would have mounted it if I'd have had the money.

Brian

[mainbutter]

30'' trout runs roughly 6-8lbs depending on girth, from my experience with lake trout and salmon in particular.

I personally wouldn't mount a steelhead that was under 10lbs, but then again a fish doesn't have to be of unusual size to become beautiful artwork.

[mainbutter]

A 30" steelie is a decent fish, but not uncommon from the Great Lakes. It's really up to you. Did you take pictures? Another option is to put your fish on the grill and feast on the rewards. Then frame and/or blow up a picture of you holding your fish and engrave the measurements, weight, etc.

This is what I'd do, at least the eating part Why waste a good fish on some trophy when they're so tasty.

[kingfish689]

I mounted a 30" walleye and then later released a 34" and have no regrets. The fun was the fact that I caught them and have pics. I have released many fish over 28" and those are the days I go home feeling the best. IMO there is no better feeling then being able to release a big fish.

[lakerunner]

A 30" is very common for Lk MI. If it came out of a river, full of log jams, and a 20 minute battle, then a 33-35" fish is mountable. But, out of the Lake, 5-6# fish are common. A "trophy" out of Lk MI usually starts at 15#. But of course it is up to you and seeing as how you live aways from the big lake, I would mount it for memories sake.