Steelhead vs Salmon??

[akhap]

I believe I put the Great Lakes fish in a category not worthy of a sea run fish.  I did call them Steelhead, though they don't go to the sea where a true Steelhead earns it's name.  Still, the original breeding stock, many, many generations ago were taken from returning Steelhead trout so you can't really call them Rainbow trout anymore either.  Nor can you assign your own name, but if so just go with Silver Bullet, as that's a good one the locals use.

Note too many years ago the Genus of rainbows and steelhead was changed from "Salmo" to "Onchorhynchos" which was based on genetic research. O. is the same Genus as the other Pacific salmon, so the common term "trout" really does not apply either... But in both cases, new name and old, steelhead and rainbow remain both the same Genus and species. So they are the same fish...

Taking it a step farther, sockeye salmon have natural runs that are landlocked, yet still run up or down rivers to spawn. The three types of sockeye either run up a river to spawn in a lake (around and in springs) or to spawn below the lake, or above the lake. In each type the hatching salmon must go to, or stay in, the lake to survive. There have been examples where the wrong type was stocked and it took them quite a while to figure out why the new runs failed.

Same thing happened with "steelhead" introductions in many places. I would not be betting a lot of money on the purity of the Great Lakes potadromous rainbow genetics. :icon_wink:

Now, realize that landlocked sockeyes have been planted lots of places and in many cases they used searun sockeye for brood stock. Once they were landlocked they stopped calling them sockeye and started calling them kokanee.

Rainheads and steelbows may share steelhead genetics, but so does farmed albino rainbow and you don't see anyone confusing them! :icon_wink:

Sorry for the sidetrack!
art

 

[ddwain]

Science aside cuz mostly who cares!  They stocked the Silver Bullets out here for the same reason they're now building Casino's....to keep the local's entertained and their dollars from being spent vacationing in your neck of the woods.   It's all good fun and tasty too when done right, at least on the fish I mean.  Coincidentally, my Mom just called from Montana to let me know she's sending me a care package that includes some canned Sockeye from Alaska.  Can't wait!

 

[akhap]

I am with you... Just running some stuff out to stimulate conversation. :icon_wink:

 

[mneeley490]

Coincidentally, I saw some steelhead on sale in my local Fred Meyer store last night, $3.99 lb., whole.  I assume it was farm raised. Almost bit, but my cart was already pretty full.

Haven't been fishing in many years, but from what I remember, steelhead will put up a tougher fight than most salmon, too.