steelhead
Species Facts

Science Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss
Other Names: rainbow trout,bow, redsides, red-band trout, silver trout, steelhead, kamloops
Ideal Temp: 55 to 70
World Record: 42 lbs. 2 ounces, Alaska
Environment: lake, stream, coastal
Techniques: Light tackle, light tackle fly
Description

The average length of a rainbow trout is 12-18 inches and the steelhead is 20-30 inches. A mature steelhead usually weighs 8-9 pounds but has been known to reach 36 pounds. The body is somewhat compressed with a rounded snout and a large mouth. The spawning male experiences minor changes to its head, mouth and color. Stream residents and spawners are darker with more intense coloring and lake residents are lighter, brighter and more silvery. They range from steel-blue, blue-green, yellow-green to almost brown. Steelhead tend to be more silvery. All have a number of small black spots. The coloring chamges drastically over the whole of its range.

The native range of this species is the eastern Pacific Ocean and the fresh water mainly west of the Rocky Mountains. It has also been introduced into New Zealand, Australia, South America, Africa, Japan, southern Asia, Europe and Hawaii.

This species spawns from March to August in smaller streams. The female digs and spawns in several nests depositing 800-1000 eggs in each redd. These eggs usually hatch 4-7 weeks later. The life expectancy can be as low as 3-4 years but generally the steelhead lives 6-8 years. They first feed on plankton then insects and as they grow older, crustaceans and other fish.

Rainbows prefer cool, clear streams and lakes. They also live in warm water lakes only if clear, oxygenated water is available. Steelheads found in open waters (i.e large larkes and at sea) are reputed to roam very long distances

Rainbows eat insects, crustaceans, fish eggs, and plankton. They also eat some smaller fish, but not as commonly as other trout.

Their meat can vary in color from red to white depending on each fish's diet. Rainbow trout taste excellent either smoked or served fresh, and can often be found in fine restaurants.

Tips for Fishing

Most steelhead trout caught in Lake Erie are caught while trolling deep running crankbaits and spoons for walleye. In the early fall, however, shore anglers east of Cleveland begin catching steelhead using spoons or jigs tipped with maggots. After fish begin moving upstream later in the fall, spawn bags, salmon eggs, flies, minnows, and worms can be productive. The best locations for steelhead are pools with deep water (2 feet or more) with some current. Steelhead prefer slower moving water in the winter, but move into shallower, swifter water in the spring where they are often caught on flies, spinners, minnow-shaped crankbaits, and jigs with maggots.