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Steelhead Trout Information
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Thank you for visiting Steelhead Trout Information. We try to provide you with the most complete information we can about fish and fishing. We update our sources constantly. Please scroll down to learn more.

American Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
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DescriptionThe Steelhead is a native American Rainbow trout that has spent a part of its life in the sea. There are no major physical differences between Rainbow and Steelhead trout except that their differing lifestyles has resulted in subtle differences in color, shape, and general appearance.

Like all trout the Steelhead differs from the various salmon species by having eight to twelve rays in the anal fin. The Rainbow/Steelhead group differ from Brook, Lake trout and Dolly Varden by the complete absence of teeth at the base of the tongue.

Generally speaking, Steelhead are more slender and streamlined than resident Rainbow. Like Rainbow, the coloration on the back is basically blue-green to olive with black, regularly spaced spots. The black spots also cover both lobes of the tail. The black coloration fades over the lateral line to a silver white coloration blending more to white on the stomach.

Steelhead from the ocean are much more silver than the resident Rainbow. On Steelhead the typical colors and spots of the trout appear to be coming from beneath a dominant silvery sheen. The silvery sheen gradually fades in fresh water, and Steelhead becomes difficult to differentiate from resident Rainbow trout as the spawning period approaches.

Spawning Steelhead and Rainbow develop a distinct pink to red strip-like coloration that blends along the side, both above and below the lateral line. On Steelhead, the Rainbow trout coloration gradually fades following spawning to the more characteristic silvery color that the fish display during their ocean journey.

Young Steelhead are identical to Rainbow trout until the period prior to their ocean migrations. Young trout and stunted adults have eight to thirteen parr marks on their sides. There are five to ten parr marks between the head and dorsal fin. Prior to migrating to the sea, juvenile Steelhead become very silvery and resemble miniature adults. They are called smolt during this life phase.

Prevalence Steelhead are found in the coastal streams of Alaska. Large numbers are intercepted in high seas fisheries. Steelhead migrate to areas west of the Aleutian Islands and are routinely caught in net fisheries off the coast of Japan.

Lifestyle
Steelhead lead a very complicated and dangerous life. Each spring thousands of 6-inch Steelhead smolt leave the streams to begin their ocean journeys. For every 100 smolt that reach the sea, only five to ten will return as a first-spawning adult. During their life at sea Alaska Steelhead will move hundreds of miles from the parent stream. Some populations return to the home stream as early in the year as July. Fall run adult Steelhead are much more common.

Reproduction
Spawning commences about mid-April and usually occurs throughout May and early June. A male may spawn with several females, and more males than females die during the spawning period. Steelhead commonly spawn more than once, and fish over 28 inches are almost always repeat spawners. The ragged and spent spawners move slowly downstream to the sea where they return to regain their health.

The eggs which were deposited deep in the gravel during the spring quickly develop into alevins or "sac-fry". These tiny fish gradually absorb the yolk sac and work their way to the surface. By mid-summer fry emerge from the gravel, minus the yolk sac, and seek refuge along stream margins and in protected areas. Young Steelhead will remain in the parent stream for about three years before migrating to salt water.

Sporting Fish
Steelhead are great fighters. They like fast, deep, running water. Fish the deep holes in the stream. Fish the white water areas and behind rocks and log jams. They make the best "smoked Trout" of any other variety.

How to fish
Steelhead like colorful flies such as the Russian River coho, hair skyhomish, skyhomish sunrise, red rascal, and polar shrimp. Try egg imitations. A single hook with a tuft or strand of orange yarn is often just the ticket for Steelhead. Hardware works too, and small spoons to large spinners will catch Steelhead.

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