Steelhead
name: Steelhead
other names: Kamchatka Salmon Trout, Coastal Rainbow Trout, Silver Trout, Salmon Trout, Steelie, Hardhead and Ironhead.
In salt water, the fish have silvery-blue backs, small black spots on back and most fins. The sides that darken as they migrate into fresh water to spawn. It is therefore easy to tell how fresh these fish are. Another indicator is fresh run fish tend to have their fair share of fish lice, that drops off as they are exposed to fresh water. Most weigh between 8 and 11 pounds, but they can grow to 40 pounds.
Steelheads rely on streams, rivers, estuaries and marine habitat during their lifecycle. In freshwater and estuarine habitats, steelhead feed on small crustaceans, insects and small fishes. Eggs are laid in small and medium gravel and need good water flow (to supply oxygen) to survive. After emerging from the red (nest) they remain in streams and rivers for 1 to 4 years before migrating through the estuaries to the ocean.
Steelhead's diet usually consists of pinfish, ocean perch, shiner, mullet, small crustaceans, and shrimp thus making it a carnivore. Occasionally they will even eat other smaller steel heed.
Female Steelhead grow mush faster, reach larger sizes, and live longer then the males. Most males do not live longer than 5 years. On the other hand, females tend to live for many years more. Hatching from eggs laid in river gravel, young fish migrate to ocean waters in one to three years. At about four or five years, they return to their home streams to spawn. Unlike salmon, steelhead can spawn more than once before they die. Unlike salmon, steelheads migrate individually rather than in schools. Steelheads spend a additional 1 to 5 years at sea before returning to natal streams or rivers.
Fishermen spend a lot of time taking fishing trips around the world in pursuit of rainbow trout. But you can also use spinners, wobbling spoons, streamer flies, are all especially effective. Usually people use large lures and baits to catch the bigger fish.
