What is the Difference Between Coastal and Rainbow Trout?

Rainbow Trout are native to Pacific coast streams from Alaska south to Baja California. Unfortunately, their populations have suffered declines over time due to drought and habitat destruction caused by humans.

In addition to spawning in streams, some Coastal Rainbow Trout migrate into large marine lakes or oceans (Steelhead Trout) and return for breeding. These Steelhead Trout are larger and stronger than freshwater Coastal Rainbow Trout that live in streams.

Coastal Rainbow Trout

Coastal rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are a widely sought-after game fish throughout their range from Southern California to Alaska. They have been stocked around the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, South Africa, Hawaii, Europe, and Central America.

These species of aquatic amphibian are native to watersheds that drain into the northern Pacific Ocean. Previously restricted to rivers on either side of the Rocky Mountains in North America and along the east shoreline of Bering Sea in eastern Asia, they have now spread across much of their original home range.

Coastal Rainbow Trout are typically stream resident populations that remain in their natal streams throughout life. As they migrate upstream towards rivers where salmon spawn, these fish can grow to impressive sizes by feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects as well as small fish.

Stream residents tend to have less growth potential than anadromous life history types due to the nutrient-poor environment they inhabit. As such, they tend to be smaller than their anadromous cousins who have the genetic predisposition to live in the ocean and then return to freshwater to spawn.

Steelhead are anadromous fish that spend two to three years in the ocean before returning to their natal streams to spawn. During this period, these fish typically weigh 5-25 pounds.

These larger anadromous trout are popular sport fish and contribute to local and regional economies by providing food subsidies for other fish species. Furthermore, these fish provide jobs and livelihood for many people living in coastal communities.

However, despite their abundance and widespread appeal, many coastal rainbow trout populations are threatened by dams and other human-caused obstacles that restrict their habitat. These may include landslides or waterfalls, but can also be the result of human disturbance to spawning streams that would otherwise support salmon.

Recent research has identified various chromosome markers for Coastal Rainbow Trout/Steelhead to facilitate study and identification of these populations. Some markers show fixed differences that can help determine hybrid status, while others possess frequency distinctions, making them valuable species markers.

Anadromous Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are salmonid species with a diverse life history, allowing them to adapt to various landscape conditions and water bodies and stream courses. Some fish spend their entire lives in freshwater rivers or brackish estuaries, while others migrate between freshwater and salty marine waters.

Rainbow trout are mostly found in freshwater streams and lakes, though some species, known as anadromous, spend their entire lives migrating between freshwater and saline marine water before returning to freshwater for spawning purposes.

Rainbow trout are typically dark-olive in color, shading to silvery white on the underside with heavily speckled bodies and pink or red stripes running along their sides. They have a pointed head and grow much larger than rainbow trout found in freshwater environments.

Rainbow trout migrate to lakes and oceans during spring and summer to feed on small invertebrates like clams, oysters, mussels, caddisflies, and mayflies. After they spawn, they return to the lake where they lay their eggs in gravel.

Once the eggs have hatched, it takes four to seven weeks for them to absorb the yolk sac before taking flight as free-swimming fish. After this stage is complete, they spawn again in another lake or salty ocean and continue their migration until maturity.

When fishing for anadromous rainbow trout, a Steelhead Report Card is necessary in anadromous waters (California Code of Regulations Title 14 section 5.88). You can also utilize flies to target these populations.

Anadromous rainbow trout are easily caught with swinging flies on sink tip lines or by nymphing, though they may also be caught using dry flies depending on weather and conditions. Fly rods make these fish a popular target, and recreational fishermen have had great success with them in the past.

In addition to rainbow trout, anadromous species such as steelhead and sturgeon exist. Sturgeon are typically smaller than rainbow trout but can grow up to 40 pounds; they inhabit the Snake River and lower Columbia River basins.

Freshwater Rainbow Trout

Freshwater rainbow trout are one of the world’s most beloved and widely fished species. Native to North America, they can be found throughout its streams, rivers, and lakes. Furthermore, these fish have been bred in captivity and introduced into many parts of the world.

They are highly adaptable species that can exhibit a variety of life history strategies. For instance, one river system may support year-round stream residents, lake residents, and sea-run fish that migrate to and from the ocean at different times of the year.

Rainbow trout are highly iteroparous, meaning they spawn multiple times. Females excavate gravel nests (redds) to bury eggs in and cover them with gravel; males then compete for position alongside the female while she lays her eggs.

These fish typically range in color from dark olive to blue-green, shading to silvery white on the underside. Their body and belly are heavily speckled with black spots; additionally they have pink or red stripes running from the tail to their head and a light yellowish belly.

These fish feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects that drift in the water column. They also consume small invertebrate worms and larvae on some rivers’ bottoms, Threadfin shad and other migratory fish species.

Rainbow trout are born and spend their early years in freshwater streams before being encouraged to leave them behind and venture out into open water – this process is known as smoltification. As they lose weight and change shape to adapt to saltwater conditions, the fish lose weight and adapt.

Once at sea, fish can take advantage of all the new saltwater prey opportunities available to them. As a result, they often grow much larger than when they were hatching in the river.

On their journey out to sea, steelhead typically changes colors from dark olive or blue-green to silvery, brassy, or chrome in hue. They will also retain any black spots on their back. However, returning home to their river of origin, they usually revert to their original darker body tone.

Beardslee Trout

Beardslee trout are an endemic species to Lake Crescent in Washington. They spawn during late winter and early spring at a single location along the Lyre River near its outlet, and their population has drastically declined in recent years due to human interference.

Beardslee rainbow trout are currently protected by stringent fishing regulations that prohibit the use of more than one rod, a single-point barbless hook, no bait, and weights greater than 2 oz. These measures have been put in place to safeguard the broodstock that spawns only in a limited area along the Lyre River.

Fish are an integral part of the ecosystem on the Olympic Peninsula and have become threatened under federal law. They have been listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service and may serve as potential indicators for acute freshwater toxicity testing.

Rainbow trout are native to freshwater rivers and lakes throughout North America. As omnivores, they feed on a variety of foods like insects, aquatic plants, and other fish. Furthermore, rainbow trout have saltwater tolerance which allows them to survive in both salty rivers as well as freshwater streams.

They can grow to over three feet long and weigh up to eight pounds, making them a highly sought-after gamefish.

Rainbow trout are omnivores and live in freshwater worldwide. While they eat a variety of different food items, rainbow trout prefer bugs and other small creatures to larger fish.

Brown trout are freshwater species found in cold waters across North America and Canada. Like rainbow trout, these fish feature dark spots on their backs and sides for added visual interest.

These trout are a popular sport fish in the United States and Canada. Although they can be more challenging to catch than rainbow trout, if you have the right equipment and knowledge, the rewards can be great.

Blueback trout are an endemic subspecies of rainbow trout native to North America with a distinctive color pattern. These bright fish can grow quite large and are popular fishing targets due to their impressive reputation.