Rainbow Trout (Stealhead)

ENVIRONMENT YUKON

Rainbow Trout (Steelhead) - Oncorhynchus Mykiss

rainbow trout (stealhead)

A typically trout like body, rounded snout, large mouth and black spots on the back, dorsal, adipose and tail fins identify the rainbow trout.
The back is bluish green to brown with white or dusky sides and underparts. Usually a light pink to vivid red distinct lateral stripe is visible.
In lake populations with good food sources (generally stocked lakes in the Yukon) rainbows can reach 15 pounds in weight, but native stream fish typically weigh less than 3 pounds.
Their flesh ranges from bright orange to pale pink and is very delicious.

Adult trout feed mainly on crustaceans (freshwater shrimp), aquatic insect larvae (caddis and black fly), mollusks and the occasional small fish.
The steelhead is a sea-going form of rainbow trout. When in the sea, the body is mainly silvery, with a blue back.
At spawning time a band of red colour develops along each side of the body.
After spawning, many adult steelhead go back to the sea and some, although usually not a high proportion, return to fresh water after recuperation to spawn a second time.
Females survive more often than males.
The young fish live for one or two full years in freshwater before travelling to the sea as smolts from 4-10" in length.
This migration takes place in the spring.
Steelheads have been reported from Alsek-Tatshenshini River system in the southwest corner of the territory.
They are often confused with the native trout which also exist in this watershed. However, steelhead are much larger fish, averaging better than 5 pounds.