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Fish Species - Details

RAINBOW TROUT/STEELHEAD (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Other Common Names 'Bow, rainbow, steelhead, Kamloop trout Identifying Characteristics Coloring varies with environment in which the fish lives. The migratory, lake-dwelling variety (steelhead) tend to be silver and are often confused with coho salmon. The lateral color line of pink or red is often very faint in the lake-dwelling fish. Stream-dwelling fish have many small, dark spots on body and upper fins, especially on the tail. Body color varies from bluish silver to brown to olive green. Lateral line of pink or red can be very pronounced, especially during the spawning season. The mouth is white. The tail is square. There are 10 to 12 rays in the anal fin. Habits and Habitat Preferred temperature range is 50 to 65 degrees; 60 degrees is ideal. Prefers moving water. Spawns from late winter through spring. Some fish will enter streams in the late fall. Can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. Often found near piers, rocky points, sharp drop-offs, and thermal breaks. Stream and small pond rainbows feed on worms, crayfish, and insects; lake-run fish feed on alewives and smelt. Tackle and Techniques Use light to ultra-light spinning or fly-fishing tackle for stream fish, and medium- to heavy- weight tackle for lake fish. Troll fast using large plugs or fluorescent spoons for lake-run rainbows/steelhead. Natural baits such as worms and crayfish work well for stream fish. Spoons and spinners are good in the fast water of streams and rivers. Egg sacs are very effective when the lake-run fish are spawning in streams. Current State Record 26 pounds, 15 ounce; caught by Gerald B. Szmania on Lake Ontario on May 22, 1985.