facts about rainbow trout
By zteve t evans
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykissare), members of the salmon family and are also called redband trout, or steelheads. They are native to the lakes and rivers between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains on the North American continent.
Fly-fishermen admire their spirit
They are very sought after by fly-fishermen who admire their fighting spirit finding them challenging opponents. When hooked they can leap out of the water spectacularly and perform long powerful runs attempting to break free. They can leap three or four times their body length with ease and can accelerate to a speed of 23 mph in about 1 second from a dead start.
They are also bred commercially for their nutritional value in trout farms. This, and for sport, has led to them be transplanted to cold water streams, rivers and lakes across the USA as well as Europe, South America, New Zealand and Australia.
Attractive fish
They are extremely attractive fish. Their backs are bluish or yellowish-green and sprinkled with black spots. They have a white underbelly and their sides have pink, or reddish, stripes along the length of their sides, from gill plates to tail.
Generally they grow in proportion to the size of the water they live in, with the average length between 20 to 30 inches, though they have been known to reach 4 foot. They weigh on average about 8 pounds though the record catch for a rainbow trout is 57 pounds with the fish estimated to be 11 years old, where as the average age is 4 to 6 years.
They are very sought after by fly-fishermen who admire their fighting spirit finding them challenging opponents. When hooked they can leap out of the water spectacularly and perform long powerful runs attempting to break free. They can leap three or four times their body length with ease and can accelerate to a speed of 23 mph in about 1 second from a dead start.
They are also bred commercially for their nutritional value in trout farms. This, and for sport, has led to them be transplanted to cold water streams, rivers and lakes across the USA as well as Europe, South America, New Zealand and Australia.
Attractive fish
They are extremely attractive fish. Their backs are bluish or yellowish-green and sprinkled with black spots. They have a white underbelly and their sides have pink, or reddish, stripes along the length of their sides, from gill plates to tail.
Generally they grow in proportion to the size of the water they live in, with the average length between 20 to 30 inches, though they have been known to reach 4 foot. They weigh on average about 8 pounds though the record catch for a rainbow trout is 57 pounds with the fish estimated to be 11 years old, where as the average age is 4 to 6 years.
Carnivorous predators
Rainbow trout are carnivorous predators eating small fish, insects and crustaceans, small crayfish and just about anything else they can catch.
In lakes with still waters they may feed off plankton, while in flowing rivers and streams they will eat the eggs and fry of other fish such as salmon, and even scavenge the carcasses of dead fish.
Steelheads return to the waters they hatched in
They are mostly freshwater fish preferring clean streams, rivers and lakes. However, some adult rainbow trout do take to migrating and follow rivers downstream to the sea. They form silver markings on their bodies and head and become known as steelheads. Steelheads are anadromous, returning to the waters where they hatched after spending several years at sea. When they have spawned they rejuvenate returning to the ocean starting the anadromous cycle once more.
In the USA the numbers of the ocean going steelhead has declined due to human activity such as the building of dams, pollution, and urbanization and are on the U.S. Endangered Species List. In some areas around the world where they have been introduced they have caused problems for native species by eating them or transmitting disease.
© 31/08/2009 zteve t evans
Rainbow trout are carnivorous predators eating small fish, insects and crustaceans, small crayfish and just about anything else they can catch.
In lakes with still waters they may feed off plankton, while in flowing rivers and streams they will eat the eggs and fry of other fish such as salmon, and even scavenge the carcasses of dead fish.
Steelheads return to the waters they hatched in
They are mostly freshwater fish preferring clean streams, rivers and lakes. However, some adult rainbow trout do take to migrating and follow rivers downstream to the sea. They form silver markings on their bodies and head and become known as steelheads. Steelheads are anadromous, returning to the waters where they hatched after spending several years at sea. When they have spawned they rejuvenate returning to the ocean starting the anadromous cycle once more.
In the USA the numbers of the ocean going steelhead has declined due to human activity such as the building of dams, pollution, and urbanization and are on the U.S. Endangered Species List. In some areas around the world where they have been introduced they have caused problems for native species by eating them or transmitting disease.
© 31/08/2009 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright zteve t evans August 31, 2009
Copyright zteve t evans August 31, 2009