01-19-2008, 03:24 AM
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Springtime Steelhead Produce Great Fishing Action[/#00e010][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black]February 23, 2006
It is something that avid steelheaders frequently dream about. Ten pounds of chrome muscle erupting from the river’s surface upon the hook set! One, two, three or even more times a hooked steelhead will somersault skyward trying to throw the hook.
![[Image: SteelheadFish2_152139_7.JPG]](http://www.michigan.gov/images/SteelheadFish2_152139_7.JPG)
“That’s why steelheaders from all over will travel to Michigan
to fish for these great fighters,”
said Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Tom Rozich, a unit supervisor whose district includes central Lake Michigan. “They know we offer the best steelhead fishing in the country.”
A steelhead is a rainbow trout that spends most of its life in the Pacific Ocean, or in Michigan’s case, the Great Lakes. They are an “anadromous” fish, meaning they migrate from salt to fresh water to spawn. Technically in the Great Lakes, it is “potamodromous,” which means migrations within fresh waters.
Steelhead or rainbow trout are native to the west coast of North America, but this very adaptable species is now found throughout the world.
Rainbow trout were first introduced to Michigan in 1876 in the Au Sable River by Daniel Fitzhugh, Jr. of Bay City. The eggs came from Cambell’s Creek, a tributary of the McCloud River in northern California. Four years later rainbows were introduced into the Lake Michigan watershed by the Michigan State Fish Commission. This fry plant originated from 2,000 eggs obtained from Crook’s Creek, the other major tributary of the McCloud River.
Between 1880 and 1898, several more egg transfers of these “California trout” were made, and Michigan also received eggs from the Willamette and Rogue rivers in Oregon.
By 1909, major runs were occurring in several rivers, including the Pere Marquette, Pentwater, Boardman, Muskegon and Pine (before construction of the Tippy and Stronach dams). These fish ranged in size from 3 to 20 pounds and averaged about eight pounds.
But not everyone liked the new rainbow trout, which were considered inferior to brook trout. According to Rozich, there was a well-known character of the Little Manistee River in Lake County named Jim Seeley who said the sorriest day of his life came when the rainbows were planted in his favorite stream.
“Seeley dearly loved brook trout,” Rozich said, “but when the first steelhead spearing permits were sold in 1917, I’ll bet he was one of the first in line to buy one. Fortunately, that practice was discontinued in 1920.”
![[Image: SteelheadEggs_152137_7.JPG]](http://www.michigan.gov/images/SteelheadEggs_152137_7.JPG)
Michigan’s modern steelhead era began in 1966, when the Little Manistee weir started operation. This operation continues today and is the sole source of steelhead eggs for Michigan’s stocking program.
On average, 5 million steelhead eggs are taken annually for Michigan and other states. The list of other states receiving eggs includes Missouri, Montana, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana. Eggs also have been shipped to Canada and France.
“The public is welcome to observe the steelhead egg-take, which occurs in early April,” Rozich said, “It is quite something to see.”
Steelhead spawn in the spring, unlike other salmon that spawn in the fall. The spawning migration begins in October and continues all winter, reaching a peak in April. The steelhead run is in two stages, the late fall/winter migration and the late winter/spring run.
The fish typically enter coastal streams when stream temperatures reach 40°F. This water temperature also triggers the main spring run, with the peak of spawning being in mid-April.
“Steelhead continue to spawn into May and I have observed spawning fish in mid-June in the Pere Marquette River.” Rozich said.
Once spawning is complete, not all steelhead die, unlike their salmon relatives, but rather return to Lake Michigan.
“Steelhead also continue to feed while in streams, another difference from their salmon relatives, making them an easier target for anglers.” Rozich said.
The average female deposits 4,000 eggs in gravel areas. The eggs lie in the gravel for 30-40 days incubating and hatch during May and June. Once hatched, the young steelhead begin feeding on zooplankton and aquatic insects.
Young steelhead, called “parr,” remain in their natal streams for up to three years, depending on how fast they grow.
“It is important they stay in streams until they reach a size of eight inches or more, which ensures good survival in the fish-eat-fish world of Lake Michigan,” Rozich said. “Once they reach size, the parr turn bright silver, which is their protective coloration for life in the big lake.”
![[Image: SteelheadFish_152138_7.JPG]](http://www.michigan.gov/images/SteelheadFish_152138_7.JPG)
Steelhead remain in Lake Michigan for up to four years before returning to their birth streams for the first time. Males tend to return at an earlier age, while females stay longer, since it takes more time and energy
to produce eggs.
Steelhead can spawn multiple times. A fisheries technician can gain a wealth of information about a steelhead’s life by simply “reading” the scale. Fish lay down annuli or rings on their scales, much like a tree, as they grow. A skilled scale reader can tell if it is a wild or hatchery fish, how many years it spent in Lake Michigan before spawning the first time and how many times it has spawned.
“The oldest steelhead I ever observed was a female from the Pere Marquette River,” Rozich said. “She was a wild fish that had spent two years in the river before smolting. She then spent three years in Lake Michigan before coming back to spawn for the first time. Finally, when we scale-sampled her and “read” her life history, she was coming back to spawn for the fifth time, making her 10 years old.”
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[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black]February 23, 2006
It is something that avid steelheaders frequently dream about. Ten pounds of chrome muscle erupting from the river’s surface upon the hook set! One, two, three or even more times a hooked steelhead will somersault skyward trying to throw the hook.
“That’s why steelheaders from all over will travel to Michiganto fish for these great fighters,”
said Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Tom Rozich, a unit supervisor whose district includes central Lake Michigan. “They know we offer the best steelhead fishing in the country.”
A steelhead is a rainbow trout that spends most of its life in the Pacific Ocean, or in Michigan’s case, the Great Lakes. They are an “anadromous” fish, meaning they migrate from salt to fresh water to spawn. Technically in the Great Lakes, it is “potamodromous,” which means migrations within fresh waters.
Steelhead or rainbow trout are native to the west coast of North America, but this very adaptable species is now found throughout the world.
Rainbow trout were first introduced to Michigan in 1876 in the Au Sable River by Daniel Fitzhugh, Jr. of Bay City. The eggs came from Cambell’s Creek, a tributary of the McCloud River in northern California. Four years later rainbows were introduced into the Lake Michigan watershed by the Michigan State Fish Commission. This fry plant originated from 2,000 eggs obtained from Crook’s Creek, the other major tributary of the McCloud River.
Between 1880 and 1898, several more egg transfers of these “California trout” were made, and Michigan also received eggs from the Willamette and Rogue rivers in Oregon.
By 1909, major runs were occurring in several rivers, including the Pere Marquette, Pentwater, Boardman, Muskegon and Pine (before construction of the Tippy and Stronach dams). These fish ranged in size from 3 to 20 pounds and averaged about eight pounds.
But not everyone liked the new rainbow trout, which were considered inferior to brook trout. According to Rozich, there was a well-known character of the Little Manistee River in Lake County named Jim Seeley who said the sorriest day of his life came when the rainbows were planted in his favorite stream.
“Seeley dearly loved brook trout,” Rozich said, “but when the first steelhead spearing permits were sold in 1917, I’ll bet he was one of the first in line to buy one. Fortunately, that practice was discontinued in 1920.”
Michigan’s modern steelhead era began in 1966, when the Little Manistee weir started operation. This operation continues today and is the sole source of steelhead eggs for Michigan’s stocking program. On average, 5 million steelhead eggs are taken annually for Michigan and other states. The list of other states receiving eggs includes Missouri, Montana, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana. Eggs also have been shipped to Canada and France.
“The public is welcome to observe the steelhead egg-take, which occurs in early April,” Rozich said, “It is quite something to see.”
Steelhead spawn in the spring, unlike other salmon that spawn in the fall. The spawning migration begins in October and continues all winter, reaching a peak in April. The steelhead run is in two stages, the late fall/winter migration and the late winter/spring run.
The fish typically enter coastal streams when stream temperatures reach 40°F. This water temperature also triggers the main spring run, with the peak of spawning being in mid-April.
“Steelhead continue to spawn into May and I have observed spawning fish in mid-June in the Pere Marquette River.” Rozich said.
Once spawning is complete, not all steelhead die, unlike their salmon relatives, but rather return to Lake Michigan.
“Steelhead also continue to feed while in streams, another difference from their salmon relatives, making them an easier target for anglers.” Rozich said.
The average female deposits 4,000 eggs in gravel areas. The eggs lie in the gravel for 30-40 days incubating and hatch during May and June. Once hatched, the young steelhead begin feeding on zooplankton and aquatic insects.
Young steelhead, called “parr,” remain in their natal streams for up to three years, depending on how fast they grow.
“It is important they stay in streams until they reach a size of eight inches or more, which ensures good survival in the fish-eat-fish world of Lake Michigan,” Rozich said. “Once they reach size, the parr turn bright silver, which is their protective coloration for life in the big lake.”
Steelhead remain in Lake Michigan for up to four years before returning to their birth streams for the first time. Males tend to return at an earlier age, while females stay longer, since it takes more time and energyto produce eggs.
Steelhead can spawn multiple times. A fisheries technician can gain a wealth of information about a steelhead’s life by simply “reading” the scale. Fish lay down annuli or rings on their scales, much like a tree, as they grow. A skilled scale reader can tell if it is a wild or hatchery fish, how many years it spent in Lake Michigan before spawning the first time and how many times it has spawned.
“The oldest steelhead I ever observed was a female from the Pere Marquette River,” Rozich said. “She was a wild fish that had spent two years in the river before smolting. She then spent three years in Lake Michigan before coming back to spawn for the first time. Finally, when we scale-sampled her and “read” her life history, she was coming back to spawn for the fifth time, making her 10 years old.”
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