Steelhead trout are anadromous, meaning they spend part of their lives migrating to, from, and within the ocean. Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead may spawn several times before they die.
Young steelhead feed primarily on zooplankton. Adults feed on insects, mollusks and crustaceans, fish eggs and small fish including trout. Some steelhead will stay in freshwater and never migrate to the ocean. Sometimes offspring of resident trout become steelhead and head to the ocean! They are an important food for many animals such as birds, bears, river otters, raccoons, and even seals, sea lions and orcas.
Dams without a way for fish to swim around them, block steelhead from reaching spawning grounds. Poor timber harvest or agricultural practices may raise water temperatures, pollute waterways, and reduce water flows steelhead need to survive.
Figure 1. Today, the Pacific Salmon Foundation still lists steelhead alongside the salmon species it works to conserve, calling the steelhead's classification a "hotly debated" topic. Even the province, which is responsible for managing sport fishing regulations for steelhead, straddles the line somewhat.
That same email, however, goes on to acknowledge that steelhead are indeed the ocean-going version of rainbow trout. But Brian Braidwood worries that all of this academic discussion about nomenclature might soon become moot if the threats to steelhead aren't addressed — things like commercial salmon fisheries and changing ocean conditions.
It's time for these governments to get serious about their jobs. Bethany Lindsay is a B. Questions or news tips? Get in touch at bethany. Salmon or trout: What the heck is a steelhead, anyway? Ian Forbes Sr. Small children, the occasional cat or dog, and the big, black and purple Intruder I was soaking. Found a piece of purple wax about the size of a quarter once. I don't know if wax breaks down in fish or not, could of been there awhile.
Of the few fish I have bonked, i have found mainly single eggs, a pink worm, a gooey bob, and lots of pebbles presumably from eating singles However, i have seen steelhead eat my float, split shots, blue fox laying motionless on the bottom in a foot of water after releasing it, etc. I have had two hatchery steelies with memorable stomach contents. The first was on the Capilano, back in the 80's, which was a bar pf chrome.
Member Offline Posts: Poach the poacher! Question for Dave. You say when a steelhead enters fresh water it loses the ability to digest food! Just living on fat reserves, Really?
0コメント