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[doja]

So the springs I've been getting lately have been dark.

I know a bright silver fish is good but was wondering how quickly they degrade and what is the difference between a keeper and a non-keeper?

Is color the best and only way to tell freshness?

I gave some of my springs a squeeze and was surprised at how soft they were. My worst pink was better than all I caught.

Does the squeeze test work with springs too?

Obviously I know what a boot is and if it is dark but how dark till it's a no keep, or just silver fish?

Do springs have soft/firm meat

Thanks,

Doja

[HOOK]

with springs i find that if they still have a chrome look to them then the meat will be tough still. what i mean by this is if the fish looks grey but is still nice and shiny then its only starting to get grey and is infact just barely turning. alot of the springs i have been seeing lately are getting grey but still shiny. I hooked a couple the other day that were chrome flashing around in the water but when landed they had a bit of grey to them  remember that fish will colour slightly from the stress of the battle especially when it takes a bit to land which springs tend to take LOL

Yes the squeeze test can work with every species, i find it tougher on springs because their meat is just so thick that it takes a really hard squeeze to check them which i will not do to an alive fish. its best to just use other ways of telling like i stated already.

I mean in all seriousness if you want to take fish then use your own judgement for them. If you land it and dont like the look the let it go and keep fishing for a brighter one. We have all done this, I remember weeding through countless coho just to get bright ones, i must have caught a good 50 of them just for the 2 chromers i took home that day.

[Fish Assassin]

White chin and white belly.

[Froodogga]

It should look like this imo if you wanna keep one...

This one was let go to swim another day 

[kodiak]

I agree with fish assassin you don't want to see any color on the underside.

[IronNoggin]

Never ever keep them from any river. Not saying that is the way to go for everyone. Works for me!
I find them sooooo much better from the chuck, no comparison whatsoever actually.
And that there is the reason I don't keep them once they reach the fresh water.

Cheers,
Nog - Spoiled Rotten by the Mistress Pacific! 

[CohoMan]

Any hint of darkness on the belly means it will go black within minutes of killing it.

It has to be nickel chrome otherwise it goes back.