Rainbow Trout
Description
To 3'9"
; 42 1/8lbs. Elongate, fusiform. Marine coloration: metallic-blue above,
silvery-white below, with small, black spots on back, sides, and dorsal
and caudal fins. Freshwater coloration: spots more prominent, distinctive
red band on sides. Mouth white; no teeth on back of tongue. 8-12 anal
fin rays; adipose fin present, usually with black edge.
Habitat
Inshore ocean at mid-depths
and near surface; spawns in freshwater streams and rivers.
Similar Species
Comments
Sea-run Rainbow Trout
usually spends 2 to 4 years in their home stream before venturing to sea,
where they remain for about 3 years. They return to their home stream
in the winter to spawn, and will continue this pattern as long as they
survive natural predators. Fish that exist solely in fresh water spawn
in the spring. Most males spawn at 1 year, while females may take 6 years
to mature. Rainbow Trout are much sought game fish; they are rarely taken
at sea by bait anglers, but do succumb readily to trolled shrimplike flies.
They provide good eating and are raised for market through aquaculture.
There are small commercial gill-net fisheries north of Oregon for sea-run
fish.
Other
Other