Nice fish.

I thought a char had lighter spotting on a darker background? But very nice fish!

nice fish bro

Thanks Guys. CnR

It's a dandy fish but it doesn't have the X markings that Atlantics have on their back ect. Look at the jaw parts. Doesn't look like an Atlantic. Go on-line and kick in Brown trout and then Atlantic salmon. To me it looks like a chrome bright brown trout based on spot shape, lack of distinctive spots on the tail and jaw shape. Another thing and it doesn't show well in your pic is that the front pectoral fisn on Atlantics are like,,,,well almost like Ling cod pectorals as they are so large,,actually huge for their size. That's to hold them down behind rocks in fast moving fresh water as smolt. Sorry, but I think you caught a Chrome brownie, Certainly a beauty.

I've caught alot of browns but never a chrome one. They always seem to have some color at least around the halos
check out the bronze back. Weird stuff no pink or crimson spots either the jaw went past the eye and the tail was definetly
forked un like the browns maybe a cross breed? Brown or Atlantic shes still swimming.

Thanks Growler I went to Google and now I'm sure its an Atlantic
I tried to find a chrome brown trout but they all looked yellow to brown
googled landlocked Atlantic Salmon.

I've always been up to a challenge and spent too much time on-line on this one. Retired, so I've got the time. Morbid curiosity. I found chrome brownies from Patagonia but they were sea-run critters and some were of course brown but some bright. I have fly caught some chrome brownies back in the 70's at Dry Falls Lake. Then decided to see what I could dredge up from WDFW on the web. They dropped all mention of Atlantic salmon in lakes (like hot lead) when the saltwater pens had problems. I know that Charlia lakes in the Olympics had Atlantics in the late 70's ( big ones too), also Quail lake in Eastern WA. , then they kind of dropped the program. Their listing of lake plants doesn't help either. Only bows in Pass lake and lots of reports missing. That would negate any insitu spawning or cross-breeding. Humm! I suggest, if you want to follow up on the Pass Lake beast, try contacting a Fish Bio at Region 4 WDFW and send that person a pic of what you caught. Be very interested in what shakes out. Certainly unusual. If you follow-up, post it as I'd love to see a Fish Bio take on it. Of course depending what the Fish Bio says you may or may not be disappointed. Feeling Lucky?
G

Growler I really appreciate the interest. I guess its one of the many things that keeps us fishing, you never
know what your gonna catch. I'm happy either way. Ive lived here by the lake for about thirty years and have
always heard stories of Atlantics being caught but I had never seen one landed. One guy said he had caught
quite a few. But I have seen people get species mixed up. I think I might try sending it to WDFW just for kicks
Ill keep you posted and if you find any thing let me know. Thanks Again G

Coming into this conversation a few days late. Very nice fish. The markings remind me of a brown trout but in this fish, without the colors that a brown trout has, but I'm far from the expert. Great fish, great lake.

I have been following this conversation for a couple days as well. I did some looking and really couldn't find anything either way. I would really like to know the outcome as well. I really hope it is not an Atlantic salmon because they are voracious predators. I would really like to know what you find out!

That is a real nice looking fish though and I bet it put up a hell of a fight!

Thanks Fatbuds, If you look at the info on Pass lake (skagit county) In the freshwater reports on this site. You'll find they claim
that species available include: Atlantic Salmon, Rainbows, Browns, cutthroat, and I have seen Bass and Bluegill
I will report anything new I find.

On 12-20-07 I was at the Marysville Costco and I noticed they had Atlantic salmon for sale. Its markings and color were identical to the fish you caught at Pass Lake. I believe you actually did catch an Atlantic land locked salmon. I thought you might like to know. Nicely done.

Carl,

Until about 3 years ago, I was catching an occasional Atlantic Salmon in Pass Lake. I'd say it amounted to about 1% of my catch and was almost always in deeper water that I don't usually fish-- usually in foul weather while rushing from one side of the lake to another, fly in fast troll just in case. The interesting thing is that they haven't planted them in there since, I think, '94 or '96, and the ones I was catching as recently as '04 were under 24 inches in length. This would imply to me that they must be spawning, which seems beyond unlikely. I discussed this with WDFW and they acted like I was reporting a Sasquatch sighting or something (again). I have no doubt what I was catching was Atlantics. One of Pass Lakes mysteries I guess.

BTW, my favorite confirmation of an Atlantic Salmon is that they almost invariably go airborn immediately and dance on the surface until the bitter end. Not a Brown Trout trait, that's for sure.

Now, as for your fish, I've caught a few of these too in the past few years. What are they? The caudal peduncle, mouth and overall color scheme say Atlantic Salmon, while the excessive number and density of spots, particularly on the tail, and the dorsal fin say Brown Trout. I've never heard of a cross between these two fish-- could it be? I hope you contact WDFW with this as my ichthyology courses are so distant in the past that I just can't say. I'd ask them myself but they'll act like I'm reporting (another) alien abduction.

Regardless of what it is-- nice fish! Good going.

See you on the lake,
Brian

According to Robert J. Behnke's book, Trout and Salmon of North America, it looks like and has the markings of an Atlantic Salmon. They apparently can live up to 13 years.

According to Behnke, the relationship between the Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon is close enough that hybrids have been documented and the hybrids have some degree of fertility. (Pg 249)