Steelhead are a cultural Icon of the Northwest, just as much as our Salmon. They too are in peril with their Cousins, Salmon.
Detailed Report on Northwest Steelhead
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/techmemos/tm27/tm27.htm
Well if you ever want to know more than you need to about Steelhead, this is the Research Study is for you!
Steelhead Overview.
http://www.naparcd.org/steelheadtrout.htm
Well written document with some background on Steelhead.
Steelhead trout are an important component of California´s diverse wildlife heritage. They are a good indicator of the health of aquatic systems because they use all portions of a river system, and require cool, clean water. Steelhead are a sport fish, with about 100,000 steelhead anglers throughout the state. If the current population of steelhead in California were to double, the state's economy from fishing revenue would increase by an estimated 37.5 million dollars.
Steelhead Habitat Requirements
http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/salmonriver/steelhead.htm
Good information on Steelhead habitat requirements in Idaho
- Spawn date—April through June
- Substrate size—1-in to 3-in and substrate must be stable to avoid shifting and damage to eggs.
- Water depth—1-ft to 2-ft
- Stream feature—More varied than for Chinook. Not much spawning in main channel, and is primarily in small tributaries and side channels. Occurs in tail of pool, long runs, and in areas of spring upwelling.
- Velocity—Variable
- Water temperature—Optimum range is from 50°F to 60°F
- Good Example—Big Springs Creek (tributary to the Pahsimeroi River) near mouth of river. Also, a rare example within the 12-mile reach of the Salmon River near Challis, the graded sediment bars that form behind some of the barbs. Another rare example is the graded sediment at the downstream end of large sediment deposits.
Steelhead Fishing, Situk River, Alaska
