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The Marathon Mercury
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Castlegar Nets the Big One
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Cambridge Bay reels in
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The Sportsman Channel
magazine January 2007 edition
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Dimestore Fishermen show
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| Scientific Name |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
| Alternative Names |
Kamloops Trout, Gerrard Trout, Silver Trout, Redband Trout and Steelhead |
| Distribution |
Rainbow Trout are found naturally along the Eastern Pacific region from Alaska to Mexico. It is one of the most widely introduced fish in the world. It is considered to have a global distribution. |
| Size |
Max. Length - 120 cm (Approx. 47.25")
Max. Weight - 25 Kg (Approx. 55.1 Lbs) |
| Habitat |
Rainbows can be found in large rivers and lakes of lower valleys, streams and small lakes at mid-elevation as well as streams and lakes in high altitude areas.
Rainbow trout found in streams are usually found in small to medium, shallow rivers with gravel bottoms and pools. Lake residents are found in deep, cool lakes with shallows and plant-life to allow for ample food production. A gravel tributary stream to the lake with good water flow for spawning is required for lake Rainbows.
Rainbow trout eat crustaceans, mollusks, leeches, insects and other fish. They will also eat salmon eggs when available. It is generally the sea-run fish and the fish that eat other fish that grow to the largest size. |
| What do they Look Like? |
Rainbow trout will vary in appearance, based upon several factors including location, age, environment and sexual condition. Generally, they will have small heads with teeth on the roof of the mouth. They will not have teeth at the base of the tongue. They have a small, soft, fleshy fin on the back behind the dorsal fin (adipose fin). Black spots are present on the sides, back and fins. Their colour is silvery overall, often with a pink to red band along the lateral line. The tail is slightly forked.
Stream resident fish and spawning fish are darker with more vibrant colours. Lake resident fish tend to have lighter, brighter colours and a more silvery appearance.
When spawning, the red stripe on their sides becomes more pronounced and their bodies darken. |
| What Works |
Rainbows readily rise to a dry fly floated downstream with the current. They will also take wet flies bounced down through a run to a pool. Spinners, plugs, salmon egg baits, yarn flies and live baits like earthworms, minnows, grasshoppers and grubs can also be used. |
| Life Cycle |
Rainbow trout usually mature in three or four years. In the larger fish, maturity is delayed. If factors are appropriate, they will spawn every year. They spawn in streams in the spring. The female creates redds (gravel nests) to lay her eggs in. Eggs hatch in four to seven weeks, depending on water temperature. Free-swimming fry will emerge from the gravel in the summer.
Fry from Lake resident fish may move into the lake immediately or, if there is a good stream flow, fry may spend up to three years in the stream. |
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