Is it a Rainbow or a Steely?

[Fish On! Guide Service]

Ok, I've heard many stories about when a Rainbow trout becomes a steelhead. Can someone who know for sure set me straight? This has been buggin the bejesus oughta me.

Thanks much,

Stephen

[JAR JAR]

A steel head is a rainbow that spends it's summer in the lake or ocean and runs up a river in the fall to spawn in the spring they will winter in the rivers.
rainbow trout are usually found year round in the lakes

[NoodleSalad]

A steelhead is a lake/ocean run rainbow. They live in open water and run up a river to spawn. There are many strains of steelhead. Pound for pound, a wild steelhead is the toughest fish around. They become a steelhead when they hatch, although they mature somewhat in the river before heading out. The river they matured in is now programmed. People wait for thier return with flies, spawnsacs and spoons. Catch them at the mouths of the rivers (where they stack-up) before the right temp and rainflo allow them to make a run. I look forward to steelies on the fly- all year long! -NS-

[Guest]

I live around 75 miles south of Erie PA. I make the trip north as much as I can. I consider myself a well rounded fisherman. I come to your state of MN to ice fish every year, I bass fish back here quit a bit, and trout fish occasionaly. Nothing, I mean nothing fights like a fresh run chromer! Noodle rods and 4 lb test. Incredible. I am trying to get my fishing partner from MN to cmoe back her during the fall or winter to try it.

[Fish On! Guide Service]

Well thanks for the replys. One more quick question which appears to answered already. Now on Superior there are steely's, right? So these poor guys run the guantlet from Mn, through the St. Lawrence seaway, out to Atlantic and back again?

Stephen

[Gonzo]

I don't think the steelhead in MN/WI/MI go all the way to the Atlantic. As I understand it, they stay in Superior, and four or five years later, they run back up the exact river they were spawned in.

[Guest]

Fish On,

No, the Steelhead in all of the Great Lakes are resident, stocked fish from several Ocean-run strains. They don't leave the fresh water.

The only "True" Steelhead are the ocean-run fish, we have the fresh water equivalent.

The MN DNR has abandoned their stocking efforts for the Steelhead for the most part. The Lake Superior Steelhead Assn. has done much to try to preserve the remaining resource and manage the streams along the North Shore to help aid in their spawning efforts.

If you want to fish the North Shore for Rainbows, try the Kamloops 'Bows along the river inlets on Superior--they fight almost as good as a Steelie.

FYI--Atlantic Salmon are Ocean-Run Brown Trout--same scenario for them as with the Steelhead, only they run in the Atlantic rather than the Pacific where the Steelhead is Native.

Good Luck!

[JAR JAR]

I fish the Brule River in No. Wisconsin and in the springit has a fairly good run. Nothing like a good chromer on 6lb test on a 7-8 wt fly rod.

Oooooh come on spring!!!!!

Jar Jar

[Surface Tension]

Steelhead in the great lakes where originaly stocked from the west coast steelhead. One way to tell them apart is there torpedo shape. Steelhead roam open water. They are a rainbow. We also have the kamloops rainbow and they also run up the rivers to spawn in the spring but they are not a Steelhead. Kamloops are shorter and fatter then a Steelhead and prefer warmer waters and cruise the shoreline more. The Kamloops are popular with shore anglers for that reason.
Kamloops are also not a hardy as a steelhead.

[This message has been edited by Surface Tension (edited 01-16-2003).]

[Lowe]

ST's got it right on the steelie/rainbow thing. Chells, I'm not sure where you got your info but an Atlantic salmon is not a brown trout. Two different species. Maybe they call 'em ocean run browns but they're still a salmon. Maybe the similiar X-marks on the two fish is the source of confusion - a ocean/lake-run brown can be pretty similar to an Atlantic. (Atlantics have gotten pretty scarce in Superior, but there's still a pretty good population of browns, especially along the South Shore)

[Guest]

Wow, I learned a lot already today. I better go home Thanks guys, Scott Steil

[upnorth]

If you want to get real technical, they are only TRUE Steelhead if they run to the Ocean, Lake Superior is not an Ocean. They do behave as Steelhead do and run to an inland sea, so they are called Steelhead. I figure them to be Steelhead since they look and behave the same way as the real McCoy.

[Guest]

Lowe,

I stand corrected--thanks!

Next time, I'll check my resources better...