Steelhead
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- When
- Oct–Apr — January, February, March, April, October, November, December. Earlier in the south, later in the north.
- Where it holds
- Tributary rivers from fall through spring; holding in deep slots and tailouts.
- How to know it
- A sea-run or lake-run rainbow: chrome-bright, small black spots, a faint pink stripe that brightens in the river.
- What to know
- Cold, hard, and worth it. A winter fishery for people who like being cold.
- The tactic
- Float-fished roe or a jig through the slot; swung streamers on the fly.
Seasons, size limits and catch limits change every year and differ by water body. Check the current regulations for your province or state before you fish.
Found in these regions
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