Life expectancy for Great Lakes steelhead is four to six years. While adult Great Lakes steelhead can reach 36 inches in length and up to 20 pounds in weight, the average adult size for steelhead is 6 to 7 pounds. After going to sea, their color changes, including loss of the red. Most Great Lakes steelhead reach sexual maturity after spending 2 to 3 years in the lake. Steelhead are exactly the same species as Rainbow Trout. In conditions of good growth, they may reach smolting size in one year, but in sterile conditions they may stay in the stream for up to three years. Young steelhead need to grow to approximately 8 inches before they migrate or "smolt" out to the big lake. Steelhead eggs hatch in four to seven weeks, depending on water temperature. Most rainbow trout return home to spawn in the stream in which they were born or stocked. Steelhead don't necessarily die after spawning they may live to reproduce several times. Spawning takes place in a bed of fine gravel, usually in a riffle above a pool. The superior freshness of New York Steelhead gives it a super clean, mild flavor, slightly more firm and less oily than salmon. The fall-run fish are typically the first to spawn, often in March, followed by the spring run fish in April. Although many steelhead enter the rivers in the fall and overwinter there, spawning does not occur until spring. Lake steelhead enter their spawning streams from late October to early May. These areas, called "scumlines", attract insects and baitfish, which then attract the steelhead. In early summer, they can often be found near the surface among thermal bars of mixing water temperatures. Although they feed primarily in mid-depths, they do occasionally take surface insects. Review Fishing Guide for current rules and regulations » Diet:ĭuring the lake-dwelling part of their life cycle, they primarily feed on baitfish like alewives or rainbow smelt, although at times they will feed on insects and other aquatic life. This is an unbeatable combination that makes them one of Michigan's most popular sport fish! Great Lakes steelhead are highly migratory, roaming large areas of the open lakes. Steelhead make great table fare and their fillets can be smoked, grilled, broiled or fried. They also provide an exciting river fishery in many Great Lakes tributary streams. They are pursued by Great Lakes trollers, pier anglers and surf anglers.
Steelhead are known fighters, making them a very popular species for sport fishing.
Steelhead is a name given to migratory rainbow trout that are born in rivers but spend most of their lives in the ocean or the Great Lakes. (Non-Native Fish) Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, mouth and gums are light, small spots along rays on entire tail, 10-12 rays in anal fin. Learn more about identifying Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow (steelhead) trout and brown trout. Oncorhynchus mykiss - scientific name Identification:
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