WTF Is A Steelhead Anymore?

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Photo by Louis Cahill

Photo by Louis Cahill

By Louis Cahill

Is all the arguing over steelhead hurting the fish?

I’ll probably be sorry I started this, but I have a point to make. It seems you can’t say the word “steelhead” without starting an argument. The fighting points are numerous. Are beads flies? Are hatchery steelhead killing wild steelhead? Is nymphing wrong? But the most contentious and, frankly, mind bending disagreement is over what a steelhead actually is.

There are historically two sides of this argument, although lately there seems to be a third, I’ll get to that later. It’s a classic East vs. West conflict. Eastern anglers refer to fish running from the Great Lakes as steelhead and western anglers insist that only fish running from the saltwater are steelhead. Yelling and name calling ensue. Here’s why both sides are wrong.

First, let me be blunt about this, a steelhead is by definition an anadromous fish. That means it runs from saltwater to fresh. End of story. No fish which lives its entire life in fresh water is a steelhead. It’s not my job to make definitions so don’t blame me.

Here it is from Webster.

Steelhead—noun, plural steel·heads (especially collectively) steel·head.

a silvery rainbow trout that migrates to the sea before returning to fresh water to spawn. 

anadromous —adjective

(of fish) migrating from salt water to spawn in fresh water, as salmon of the genera Salmo and Oncorhynchus (distinguished from catadromous ).

That said, west coast anglers can be real assholes about it.

I’ve had this argument over more beers than I can count, and I’m sure I’ll have it again. One of my west coast buddies will start railing about lake-run rainbows and the knuckle- draggers who fish for them and I’ll tell them that their attitude is killing steelhead. Here’s what I mean.

Look around yourself on any western steelhead river. What’s missing? The crowd! Western anglers think they have a lot of guys on the river but they have no idea what a crowd is. That’s a good thing, I’m not advocating for fishing pressure but here’s what happens. Some guy from the east starts to talk about steelhead in the Midwest and it’s an instant fight, with the west coast angler saying something like, “You’ve never caught a real steelhead!” All this accomplishes is alienation.

Look around any Great Lakes Steelhead river and what do you see? Ten-thousand guys fishing shoulder to shoulder. No fun, I get it, but those are ten-thousand guys who are so fired up about steelhead that they will endure those conditions. To my mind, that’s ten-thousand guys who would support steelhead conservation. And what are we saying to them?

“You’ve never caught a real steelhead!”   That’s stupid.

I think the one thing we can all agree on is that steelhead are in trouble. They can use all the help they can get. So steelheaders, I know you love your fish, let’s try to move past our pride and accept everyone who loves steelhead.

Now, east coasters.

I’ve been on both sides of the coin. Yes, I’ve spent plenty of great days catching Great Lakes Steelhead on beads. It’s awesome! I’ve also spent a great plenty of days swinging flies in western rivers. I don’t care how you fish. My passion is swinging flies but that’s a personal preference. It’s not a judgment on my part and it does not require anyone’s approval or disapproval. Neither do you. That said, I’m going to tell you something you don’t want to hear.

There is a difference.

Wild Pacific Steelhead are like no other fish on the planet. The way they look, the way they eat and especially the way they fight. Oh my god, the way they fight. They are truly remarkable. That is no reflection on your fish. Great Lakes Steelhead are awesome. They are a legitimate thing. I like to think of them as the Pete Rose of steelhead but they are not wild steelhead. That’s really the issue, hatchery vs. wild. Great Lakes fish behave much like hatchery fish from the salt. It’s not a judgment, just a fact.

Don’t be mad. Just give it a try.

FullSizeRenderGo fish out west and see for yourself. You’ll fall in love with these fish too and please, help save them. Wild steelhead are in real trouble and need our help. There’s no better place to start than Wild Steelheaders United. Check out their page and their mission. Their recent survey shows that we all agree a whole lot more than we disagree.

Check out the results and sign the pledge!

One more thing. Names matter. Show respect for wild fish by using the name Great Lakes Steelhead. At least when you’re talking to west coast anglers. A little respect goes a long way in stopping arguments. And let’s draw a line right there. The Great Lakes are a unique eco-system. They really are freshwater seas and that’s a world away from being the ocean but it’s an awful lot different than a lake.

Recently I’ve heard several anglers bring up the topic of “North Carolina steelhead.”

This is utterly ridiculous. It’s marketing on the part of some shops and guides. There are not and will never be steelhead in North Carolina and it does matter! Trout of every species living in lakes run up rivers to spawn and they are always big. It doesn’t make them steelhead. If we start talking about North Carolina steelhead, pretty soon we’ll be talking about Wyoming cutthroat steelhead. And all we are doing is diluting the importance of actual steelhead.

This very special and very unique fish, which is in such peril does not need to be thrown into the linguistic soup with every other lake-run fish. The inevitable result is ignorant policy makers creating bad policy based on misinformation. Words matter. Get over it.

You can tear into me if you like, but take a minute to think about why this subject is so contentious and who is really being hurt. Is your ego really worth causing harm to such an important resource? Let’s stop the arguing and all get behind wild steelhead.

 

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The Wild Steelhead Coalition 

Louis Cahill
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73 thoughts on “WTF Is A Steelhead Anymore?

  1. Really? People in North Carolina are claiming we have STEELHEAD? Hahahaha – this state doesn’t even have a wild trout large enough to challenge a one-weight, let alone a steelhead. The only place I’ve seen a steelhead in this state is in a grocery store – farm-raised, no less! Farm-raised steelhead? The guy behind the counter said he never heard of a steelhead before, but there they were.

    There are some excellent trout fisheries here, but no steelhead.

      • He’s not totally off base. If you discount “private waters”, stocked water, and the tailwaters (I will lump the Davidson in with this), the fish definitely average on the smaller side. It’s the stream biology. A 20″ brown on a wild stream will require considerable homework, legwork, and time on the water.

        I will say though, having to work much harder for fish considerably shortens the learning curve when one goes out west and fishes someplace like the South Platte or San Juan.

  2. If I could speak for all people who fish Great Lakes Wild Lake Run Rainbow Trout and all other other wild salmonids that spawn in Great Lakes tributaries(the US Fish and Wildlife Service claims 50-60% natural reproduction for Lake Michigan Chinook, that upon the millions that are stocked. That means there are millions of wild Chinook in Lake Michigan..or were) as well as the stocked ones…I would say “You can keep the word ‘Steelhead.”’ I don’t need it. But I don’t speak for all Great Lakes fishermen.
    I have a video of Chinook spawning in a small trib in my region. I didn’t name the stream.

    • It is not cool to say or write something antagonizing/offensive and then go on to say things like “we need to stop being assholes to each other and work together for conservation” when you were just an asshole. That’s crap. It’s like stirring the pot and then trying to come off like the hero for waving a conservation flag around. And it’s also bullshit to say , “look around at any Great Lakes steelhead river and you’ll see ten thousand guys shoulder to shoulder.” Bullshit. Not true. Why? Because our Wild Lake Run Rainbow Trout get up into every stream that touches the Great Lakes. There are too many to count and the upper peninsula by itself is mostly uninhabited. Yes there are wild great lakes steelhead in all or most of the streams that touch superior, michigan, or huron. I take offense because the Great Lakes are my life and it seems like you know nothing about them yet you take no regard for trying to make them look lame.

      The Great Lakes have sustained multi billion dollar industries as long as “billions’ have been around and its the greatest source of unfrozen surface fresh water in the world. It is also the greatest freshwater fishery on the planet. That’s not arguable. They can also produce rolling waves greater than ten feet have also taken thousands of lives and thousands of shipwrecks. Yes. The Great Lakes will fuck your shit up.

      • You don’t understand. Very few people do. People….native americans, the federal government, state governments, Canada, small militias and others have fought wars over fishing rights in the Great Lakes for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, We don’t know because native americans in this region did not write. They only passed on stories verbally. But those that were passed on are stories of bloodshed, war, massacre over territory and fishing because the bounty is so rich, it’s worth killing for. The Great Lakes are a fundamental powerhouse of productivity. It is very difficult to compete with the Great Lakes as far as productive fisheries, only the oceans do. To say the Great Lakes is a man made fishery or any of that nonsense is ignorance. Fisheries are fluid ecosystems, they can change or be manipulated but there is no substitute for excellent habitat and natural productivity.

      • Nothing here was written to to be offensive. I’m sorry if you take it that way. Try reading it again and thinking about the fish and not your ego. Why is it that so many anglers tie their ego to the fish they catch. It means nothing. It doesn’t make you anything. You’ve missed the point of this article and continued the argument.

        • I didn’t miss any point. The point was to offend people so you can get post clicks and comments, therefore internet traffic and consequently funding through ads. You know that and I do too. You’re an expert at that.

          You’re sorry and you will call me egotistical? That’s crap. You know exactly what you do. You think you are doing something positive by stirring the hornets nest in the name of conservation. More crap. If you have such a desire to do positive things then why do you have to taint it with negativity? Or do you not understand what is offensive and what is not? Maybe that’s the problem. It is precisely ego that brings up the whole “is it a steelhead or not?” I am through with you Louis. It was damn shame when Kent left.

          • I’ll just mark spencer down in the he don’t understand what he B-weedin category. Someone needs a hug.

          • Spencer, you are a piece of work.

            First, there is nothing in this article that should be offensive.

            Second, I do not need to be controversial in order to generate traffic. This site sees over 2 million Readers a year.

            Lastly, in the big scheme of things people don’t care about steelhead. It’s a very small segment of the angling community. If I wanted to generate traffic I would write about nothing but how to fish a Wooly Bugger. That’s what generates traffic. This is the kind of thing I write because I care about it. The traffic generates is average at best.

            You have been reading and commenting on the site for sometime now. Always negative. How about we reduce my web traffic by one. You just go read something else. I think you’ll enjoy the Drake forum.

        • Sorry Louis but your research skills are crap.

          Merriam-Webster website states that anadromous is from the Greek anadromos running upward, from anadramein to run upward, from ana- + dramein to run.

          It says nothing about it having to be from an ocean.

          The Baltic Sea which is brackish, with a salinity of 0.5% to 0.8% (oceans average 3.5%) certainly supports anadromous fishes, salmon in fact.

          Your convoluted definition just doesn’t hold water.

          • I think his definition is accurate. There is a word for fish that migrate in a similar manner, but in freshwater. Look up potamodromous; it means a migratory fresh water fish. Not claiming to be a scholar on this but why would there be two words for the same behavior unless there was a distinction.

            Regardless of what everyone says I think Louis was just bringing up facts. Everything he said was accurate. I fish for Steelhead (or Great Lakes Steelhead) all the time and absolutely love them. But I’m always aware that they are not native fish to this region. There needs to be less rifts between fly fishers and more common ground.

          • The Baltic is part of the Ocean, you twit, all the Oceans are interconnected they just have different names.

            ps
            excellent article

  3. So if I can’t call my great lakes steelheads a steelhead, what is the acceptable alternative name? I’ve never heard them called anything but steelhead.

    Until I know of one I’ll refer to them as steelhead because there’s no alternative.

    • I think it’s perfectly acceptable to call them steelhead. When I am writing for an international audience I say “Great Lakes steelhead” but I think that would be silly when talking to locals in the region.

      • What about the salmon? Do we need to call them FauxHo and Chintznook, too?

        Actually, this may be happening already. I’m pretty sure I heard lots of guys up in NY saying, “That’s a nice Faux King fish,” though I may have been mishearing them…

        • Nice – I think I heard that too! Fly fishing is for me, a passionate thing. But it is for me there is passion. Thanks for making me laugh! I fish Maryland – and anywhere else I can. I had a great day catching fall fish – big minnows – on dries and nymphs – on our deer creek. I had a blast – yet not a one of them a trout. All catch and release – 30 ranging from 4″ to my largest at 18″. this is what it’s about for many of us. I have caught and release steelhead off the Pere Marquette in MI – and had a blast. It’s the catching and the release for me. Fish on! In both of the intended meanings.

  4. I live and fish in the Great Lakes region, so of course I love our fishery and our Steelhead. They are mostly hatchery fish that originate from the western wild strains and I think are considered potanadromous (migrate only in fresh water). However, any background information usually doesn’t matter when you have a big fish tearing backing out of your reel….It’s a great fishery, it’s much easier to get into and has a much higher success rate than western steelheading. That being said, I’ve been lucky enough to fish on the west coast and catch wild steelhead in oregon skating drys……the fight in those wild fish from the salt cannot be rivaled by the majority of our great lakes fish. They’re both steelhead and they’re both fun….How about we as anglers stop our elitist bickering amongst ourselves, get together as a community and do some positive things for our fisheries….like removing some dams???

  5. The day I saw the first notice for TUs Wild Steelhead United didn’t include the Great Lakes I made phone calls and sent email to both TU national and our Michigan council. I was convinced if the Great Lakes were not included we would be missing a huge opportunity. I was also convinced if the lakes were not part of the original focus the program would never be expanded to include them. A few weeks ago while talking with John Walters our state council chairman he told me the program was growing to include the Great Lakes fishery. More importantly to include those 10s of thousands of those Great Lake steelheaders joining the effort to reconnect and restore the watersheds that support the fisheries of bothe the Pacific and Great lakes.

    As far as designating and defining of species and subspecies I would leave that to peer reviewed papers presented by scientist produced from current scientific studies rather than linguist s at Websters

      • Really? Since when do scientists use Webster’s for defining a species? Most, including myself, rely on genetic and population analysis,,,

  6. These are steelhead in the great lakes, not lake run rainbows – which are very clearly different if you’ve caught both right? The definition of anadromous is from the sea, not the salt. I think the lakes are more of a sea, than a lake.
    I’m sorry but your argument, or definition, doesn’t add up. You’re saying the great lakes fish are not steelhead – even though they are bred from pacific steelhead – so than what are they? Hatchery, sure. Some are wild though. They’re just a different type of steelhead, more like west coast summer run fish up the small rivers than winter run fish up the big rivers.
    If you want to get technical, there is zero genetic difference between a rainbow and steelhead so this is just our name game. But you have to be honest with yourself, they are steelhead, not lake run rainbows.

  7. Anadromous Potodromous whatever. The only thing derogatory in this article is your claim that great lakes steelheaders are bead fishermen. It’s insulting and short sighted. If you’re fishing beads in the great lakes, you need better friends.

    • LOL! Point taken. Swinging flies on that water is a tough game. My hats off to the guys who do it without a fist fight. Personally I don’t think there is anything wrong with bead fishing so it was not meant as a slight.

  8. Great Lakes, West Coast steelhead. The argument about which is and which isn’t is about as superfluous as it comes. Especially when you consider the science – both are genetically the same. I would have no doubt the West Coast steelhead put up a greater fight, their journeys are different. Both “races” (if you will) share a similar problem is in loss of habitat and pressure from over harvest, which is why I support the aforementioned groups. The other folks should take their left ear in their left hand and likewise with their right hand and give an enormous tug and leave their ego behind.

  9. I consider a Steelhead to be a migratory Rainbow whether from salt or the Great Lakes that ventures into tributaries for the purpose of spawning. The real question to ask is whether spawning Steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries are producing wild Steelhead or hatchery Steelhead? Since their introduction into the Great Lakes in approximately 1895, I find it hard to believe that the states that support hatchery supplementation on an annual basis, dependent upon their budgets, have been able to create a total hatchery (non-wild) population of Steelhead. Having wiitnessed Great Lakes Steelhead that have wintered over to spawn in the springtime, in my book, they are populating the next generation of wild Steelhead. Do the two populations mix? Sure, they do. Survival is the name of the game. The methodolgy of how to catch Steelhead is varied by the area of the country that you fish. If you really want to see western fly fishermen go crazy, have them witness Eastern Steelheaders using egg sacks with a noodle rod or float rod (center pinning). By the way, I have never used a bead to catch Great Lakes Steelhead. Beads are not flies! As a final note, early season chromers in the East look exactly like the chromers in the West.

    • Stillwater rainbows in BC are also super chrome at times, as are those who come out of lakes going after salmon eggs initially and even river residents.

  10. One day when the aliens come to fight, we will all unite. Probably won’t be anything left to fish for but asian carp by then.

  11. You definded a steelhead correctly then simply ignore it when the great lake bows are in the discussion.

    Yes steelhead are in trouble. Calling a lake run fish a “steelhead” can only harm the populations of steelhead in trouble as it contributes confusiom to what a steelhead actually. Is. Fish farms have jumped on the bandwagon thanks to you guys and farm “steelhead”, which never see salt in their life and are in a lake all their life.

    Further steelhead have to go throw osmoregulatory changes caused by the different gradients of salt and freshwater. Lake run rainbows do not.

    And lastly, I have caught many lake run rainbows in rivers that are a good size. I refuse to call them steelhead as being an upcoming bio, I acknowledge doing so can only harm the actual steelhead we have running up the west.

    Stop calling great lake rainbows steelhead. They dont touch salt, its no different then a rainbow in the adams river coming out of shuswap lake, and it confuses the non angling public on what a steelhead is.

  12. A logical argument consists of valid fact based premises that lead to a conclusion.
    So here’s a valid devil’s advocate argument…

    1. Rainbow Trout can and do produce both river and sea run variants from the same spawning pair regardless of the form of the parents.
    2. Genetically the two forms of fish are identical
    3. There is no scientific evidence to support a life history as a separately named species or animal, e.g Steelhead.
    Conclusion: Rainbow trout and Steelhead are not distinct and as such Steelhead is merely a colloquialism for a sea run rainbow trout variant.

    That argument right there is painful to swallow because the science does not support protection of a variant of a species as much as we would like it to. The courts and biologists will never support the identification of Steelhead as anything but a variant of rainbows and rainbows aren’t in danger. I fully support the protection of wild steelhead. But I think the tactic of trying to narrow the definition to draw a dotted line around those fish, in the is in vain and won’t lead to what we hope for which is better protection for wild, native steelhead.

    What we should be doing is advocating for habitat restoration across the board that will protect and preserve all fish that call rivers home in every form. We need to do that from the highest levels and bickering about religious beliefs of some narrow or wide definition of one kind of fish doesn’t do much but make us look silly and sectarian.

    Let’s fight the fight of all fish, on the same team.

    PS – To me the biggest problem rivers on a national level face is Farm Subsidies. If we could figure out a way to pay farmers equally (like on par with market price for commodities that those areas would reap) to return parts of their fields to riparian habitat and to rip out field tile we could actually improve water quality on a LARGE enough scale to actually do some good for river fish of all kinds across the entire country. But as long as incentives favor plowing under wetlands and field tile to drain otherwise marshy fields then rivers will continue to bloom algae and fish populations will continue to suffer,

    • Ethan nailed it! Now if only the politicians would listen to this kind of logic…

      BTW I have caught eastern and western steelhead and don’t see a lot of difference in the fight. It seems to vary fish to fish but then again most of my experience is with Idaho steelhead. We all know how far they have run by the time we get a shot at them and maybe they are already tired out from the long stange trip!

  13. As a Lake Huron(Ontario) tributary angler I find it discouraging listening to these arguments. Many great lakes tribs returns are 100% hatchery fish, therefor act like hatchery fish… ok. However, although there are stocking efforts on some of my tribs, wild, naturally reproducing, (steelhead) make up the bulk of the run, with many rivers being 100% naturally reproducing. I dont think the entire midwest should all be categorized as the same, I think many western folks believe that these are all hatchery fish when the fact is they are not. I do not think it does these fish any justice by calling them “lake run rainbows” either, these are prime specimens that look identical, and are genetically the same as west coast steelhead and deserve the title “steelhead”. I have convinced myself that these difficult to catch, wild fish that bulldoze a swung fly are steelhead in my mind, and that’s all that matters me. It’s a ridiculous argument that I am tired of hearing and don’t care anymore, think what you want west! I’m heading out steelheading!

  14. Cahill is correct,
    No salt, no Steel.
    But that shouldn’t come off as a superior statement towards what the east has been blessed with.
    And yes, joint efforts from both sides of the country on conservation is what really matters.

    • No polar icecaps – no polar bears?

      So the large white mammals living in zoos are not polar bears?

      Think again about your salt comment.

      Its all about genetics and DNA – not their environment.

      • That’s not rue. Ethan Smith nailed it. There is no genetic distinction between rainbow trout and steelhead. It is exactly the colloquialism for a sea run rainbow. It is however a colloquialism that has been recognized as a definition. Polar bears are genetically unique. They are polar bears if you put them on Mars. Facts matter.

        • Recognized by whom? Language is fluid, and dictionaries usually play catch up.

          So, anglers in the PNW prefer their definition, anglers in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic prefer theirs; you cite Merriam-Webster, I cite Wikipedia…

  15. so if i catch a 24″ rainbow out of flaming gorge on the wyoming green, is that a steelhead? no it is not. it is a lake resident rainbow that is moving into its spawning grounds.

  16. So, if I swing a classic steelhead or salmon fly on a 2-handed rod and hook a 36″ bright chrome fish on the Salmon River in NY which pulls like a horse for a few seconds as soon as it’s on the reel, then runs 120 feet downstream against a heavy drag like a freight train, jumps clear out of the water like a friggin’ tarpon, then immediately breaks the 1x tippet like it’s nothing, that’s a feisty rainbow trout that’s an interesting color and happens to have been eating baitfish for 3 years?

    This is really such an asinine debate (as is deferring to a dictionary for taxonomical subtleties).

    If someone on the West coast wants to claim no salt = no steel, more power to them, but I’m not sure why I should have to treat them like some delicate flower who can’t hear certain phrases just because they’re lucky enough to live within a day’s drive of the Pacific!

    I buy that there may be subtle differences of behavior between saltwater fish and freshwater fish, and hatchery fish and wild fish, just as there are subtle anatomical or metabolic differences.

    But I agree with Ethan; there’s no difference which is taxonomically significant, and we as conservation-minded anglers ought to be for protecting wild and native fish everywhere it’s still possible, be they steelhead, native brook trout, Gila or Apache trout, etc.

    • I don’t care if you catch bluegill on power bait and call them tuna. I know a guy who fishes for chain pickerel in Georgia and thinks they are musky. Who cares? He’s not hurting anything. What I do care about is that pacific steelhead are disappearing before our eyes. My point is that this argument is part of the problem. Get over yourself. Nobody cares what kind of fish you catch. It doesn’t make you a big man. It doesn’t have anything to do with anything. Tell yourself you are Captain Ahab for all I care, just get behind the conservation of wild steelhead. Once they are gone there will be no putting them back.

      • If you don’t care, why are you lecturing us Midwestern/Mid-Atlantic anglers on “facts” and definitions, insinuating that the only reason we’re not fishing the Deschutes or the Dean is because of our ignorant misidentification of our target species, and insisting that we not offend the ears of these sensitive Northwesterners?

        I love the blog, and understand what the point of your post was (if you re-read my comment, you’ll see that I actually agree with that point).

        But contrary to your stated intentions, you fueled this silly argument by jumping in on one side of it, with an air that smacks of the elitism that turns people off of our sport.

        • Because Dave, it matters. I love GL steelhead. Said so in the article. But there are 2 reasons that you need to accept the truth.

          1. Insisting that they are the same as pacific steelhead erodes conservation efforts. If we agree that they are all just steelhead than the number of steelhead in the world doubles. If that happens steelhead don’t get the conservation funds they need. It’s just simple math. Great lakes steelhead were planted by people. I don’t want to see them go away but if they do we can just put them back again and it’s the exact same thing. Wild steelhead from the ocean cannot be replaced. Therefore their status is more important then you’re wanting to call the fish you catch steelhead.

          2. As long as the steelhead community is divided the fish will suffer. Rants like yours and some others on this post infuriate western steelhead anglers. I know you like that. But it fractures the community. Simply adding the words great lakes in front of the word steelhead shows a little respect to wild fish and the anglers to catch them. If West Coast anglers can agree not to be arrogant then certainly mid western anglers can agree not to be pushy. Everybody gets along and we work together as a team.

          This whole argument is nothing but ego ,ego, EGO! Apparently of the couple of thousand people who have read this article so far there are only a couple of you that don’t get that. No one is putting you down no one is putting down your fish. I am simply trying to inject reason into an unreasonable situation. All I care about is the fish. We certainly don’t have any steelhead here in Georgia and you don’t hear me arguing with anybody about it.

          • Louis, I thought really hard about this. You’re misinterpreting my motives here; I’m not being a firebrand on purpose to annoy Western anglers. I DO however, resent being lectured on the “truth,” and think it’s hard to hear someone say that and then in the same breath, say that Western anglers or those that share their views are dialing down their arrogance.

            A perfect example is the dictionary thing; dictionaries do not determine the meaning of words, they record the meaning of words, which is determined by how those words are used out in the real world.

            Now, I understand that this is the real issue: some people, you included, are afraid that if the meaning of the word “Steelhead” is allowed to include stocked fish in the Great Lakes watershed, people won’t care about saving wild, Pacific steelhead.

            I don’t think that’s how it works. Maryland isn’t saving it’s native Brook Trout populations by re-branding stocked Brook Trout as Lowland Brook Trout; they’re doing it through no-kill regs on streams that can support natural reproduction, habitat restoration, etc. North Carolina is doing it through piscicide treatments to remove brown trout.

            In fact, I don’t think my lack of respect for the fish is harming them; I respect the fish. It’s the anglers in the Northwest who want to bring home 5 fish on a stringer, the Fisheries agencies who view those people — AND NOT THE FISH — as their constituents, dams, habitat loss, and all the other usual suspects which are harming the fish.

            I know that the organizations you linked to are worthy organizations working on all of those things, and I was aware of them before you linked to them. I’ll support them as much as I can, just as I’ll support the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust as much as I can. Hint: if I can’t, it’s for the same reason that I don’t fish the Dean: cash flow, not ignorance.

            But I think if the energy spent convincing Eastern anglers not to utter certain phrases were redirected to evangelizing Western, harvest-oriented anglers and fisheries managers, that would go a much longer way to reaching our shared goals than lecturing Eastern anglers about “facts.”

          • I am at a total loss how people in the Midwest calling their fish steelhead has any bearing on wild fish conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest. Having attended numerous meetings regarding steelhead conservation in the Northwest since 1996 I have never once heard Great Lakes fishing mentioned. I have never once heard any of the giants of steelhead conservation even mention Great Lakes steelhead in their writings or comments. I agree on the definition of steelhead but having caught many Great Lakes steelhead on the swing I know that it truly doesn’t matter what they are called and being correct about a definition doesn’t matter because it truly makes no difference. Wild steelhead are in peril for many reasons and how people in the Great Lakes region define their fish don’t even make the list.

          • I believe this discussion is starting to go off on various tangents. I am of the opinion that steelhead fisherman should agree on two items: 1st, that what is or isn’t a steelhead is superfluous and tends to distract from the real issues that affect both “races.” 2nd, both steelhead “lines” face declining numbers and continued assaults on habitat. By dropping the first contentious argument should allow for focus for both groups on the 2nd, and I think the steelhead might appreciate that.

  17. Webster should not be the acid test for defining a “steelhead”.

    From Wikipedia:
    The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead (sometimes called “steelhead trout”) is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coastal rainbow trout (O. m. irideus) or Columbia River redband trout (O. m. gairdneri) that usually returns to fresh water to spawn after living two to three years in the ocean. Freshwater forms that have been introduced into the Great Lakes and migrate into tributaries to spawn are also called steelhead.

    Experienced anglers who fishes the Great Lakes tribs know that we catch steelhead strain rainbows and domestic strain rainbows. They look different and they fight different. I see many photos in magazines and online with captions that read “steelhead” when in fact it is a lake rum domestic bow being pictured.Ontario and Erie are some of the largest freshwater bodies on Earth. To claim that adding some dissolved salt changes the strain of rainbow is ridiculous. And yes, a good percentage of our steelhead are conceived naturally. As far as fighting superiority, nothing in either textbook or dictionary definition uses this quality to define the fish. Having this debate should not cause a rift in the steelhead fishing fraternity.

  18. Fun Facts

    A group of rainbow trout is called a hover.
    Unlike a salmon, which dies after spawning, steelhead trout can spawn, return to the ocean, and migrate back upstream to spawn several times.
    Some offspring of two steelhead can stay in freshwater and be resident trout, and two offspring of resident rainbow trout can create a steelhead.

  19. I can’t agree more that conservation of wild fish is in the entire angling community’s best interests. The fact of the matter is once native populations of any species are eliminated, you can’t unring that bell. A wild fish is simply incomparable to a stocked fish, regardless of species. I fish for Lake Erie tribs Steelhead, and I absolutely love those fish. I can’t wait to get out west and catch a wild Steelhead, but until then I’m gonna enjoy every stocked Steelie that I am fortunate enough to bring to hand. In the end I believe the important issue (which really isn’t debatable) is whether the fish are stocked vs. wild. Steelhead out west are wild, Great Lakes Steelhead are not. If calling stocked Steelhead a ‘Great Lakes Steelhead” is what it takes to raise awareness and advance conservation efforts for wild Steelhead, then lets shut the hell up and do it already. Check the ego at the door, conserve the fish, and get out on the water!

  20. Louis,

    I can certainly appreciate the motive behind your entry and I appreciate that you kept it civil and on point. You’re right…steelhead everywhere deserve respect and are in need of help. This is done by having a large group of people with a common goal.

    Others have said it…but I did find it somewhat offensive the way some west coast guys view Great Lakes steelhead. I know there are certainly areas with predominantly cookie cutter stocked fish and a bunch of guys fishing beads, center pins, bait, etc. However, not all Great Lakes steelheading is this way. I live in Michigan and spend a bulk of my season fishing northern Michigan tributaries that are largely wild fish. I spend the bulk of my time swinging flies with a 2 handed rod and fish a lot of popular west coast patterns as well as local favorites. These fish may average a smaller size than many west coast fish (7-8lbs usually) but we have plenty of fish in the 10-15lb range and occasionally someone pops a legit 20 pound stream born fish. Anyone on the west coast who thinks it’s easy fishing for dumb stocked fish should come spend a day on the Pere Marquette or other similar rivers where you work your butt off all day hoping for a grab or two. That river, and others like it, can humble even the most accomplished west coast steelheader. In terms of crowds…this is also a misconception or at least a gross generality. Again, there are areas, particularly in PA, or even in Michigan on certain rivers during peak times that are very crowded. Fishing from Oct-Feb and avoiding the peak run in April I see on average a few guys in a full day of fishing, and during the middle of winter I often have miles of river all to myself.

    I personally will always consider these fish steelhead, and I really don’t care if guys on the west coast think otherwise. I someone wants to argue that these fish are not steelhead than I guess I am catching 8-15lb rainbow trout and that I can live with.

    Rich

  21. Here’s my take on it….
    I’m a young millennial who swings flies for Great Lakes Steelhead. Catching Steelhead is what got me into Spey fishing and has brought me into feverishly supporting fishing causes.

    The big picture here is that wild Steelhead need more support, I think we all can agree on that. The problems facing the great lakes steelhead fishery are different in nature than the salt water Steelhead fishery. Not defining the different problems by different fish identity would be a deservice to both fish. A great lakes steelhead is different from its salt running brothers not by genes but by its problems! As a great lakes steelheader I did take offense to the articles mention of our fish not being wild. Most of our fish are stocked but the Brule river here is 100% natural reproducing McCloud river Steelhead that don’t even exist on the McCloud anymore. We need to recognize the difference in wild Steelhead out west and the great lakes to solve their unique problems but drawing a line in the sand with dictionary definitions and giving a sad description of steelheading (rainbow trout you mine as well have said) in the Midwest totally undermines your point that these two fish are different in the problems they face and therefore need distinct and separate identities! I’m with you on your point, just not with you on slighting great lakes steelhead.

    Sincerely,

    Concerned steelheader

  22. I understand the definition of a steelhead. Being anadromous, available food/type and the larger water body in the west sets it apart. But we all know that at one point in history they were brought into the GL’s from the west and have now established their own naturally reproducing populations. Somehow, because these fish were able to adapt to the fresh water environment, they are no longer ‘steelhead’?. By that definition, why does this type of definition not applicable to the countless mammals that have been imported from other countries? For example beavers from Argentina are still called beavers even though they were imported from Canada. Perhaps we can re-name or re-define what a steelhead is or at least say ‘saltwater steelhead’ or ‘freshwater steelhead’. Just sayin.

  23. I have spent considerable time studying this subject because of the various opinions on it and the emotional bantering that ensues when the subject is raised. Having said that I am not trying to throw fuel on the fire here. However, that may be the unintended result. I am a realist and people view the same data differently.

    The following is a conclusion of a study done back in 2005 so its 10 yrs old but the folks that wrote the study are scholars on the subject. It’s taken from: http://www.fishsciences.net/reports/2005/MidColSthdReportFinal18Mar2005.pdf Genetic Diversity to Survive Long Term Changes on bottom of p iii & the top of p iv.

    Here’s one of their conclusions from the study:

    All available data supports the conclusion that resident O.mykiss (rainbow trout)
    will produce anadromous (steelhead) offspring. This has been observed in
    S.P. Cramer & Associates, Inc. Mid Columbia ESU March 2005
    iv
    Argentina, California, and Alaska. There is no evidence that any stock of
    O.mykiss anywhere in the world has lost the ability to express both anadromous
    and resident life-history types. Accordingly, the concerns expressed by NMFS
    Biological Review Team, that the trait of anadromy might be genetically lost in
    streams which support both life-history types, is unsupported by any data, and
    contrary to all data that exists on the subject.

    Based upon their findings then my conclusion is that the nominal variations seen in their life cycle or habitat are mere adaptations to a given environment. There is little difference genetically speaking and so a resident Rainbow COULD become, if need be, anadromous and vise versa. So, what’s my overall point? A Steelhead today is different than what a Steelhead was 100 or more years ago. Why? Because man has entered the fray to help them survive and to propagate their existence in other places. So as a Northeastern Steelhead lover I take offense to those who remain indignant about THEIR myopic view of what a Steelhead really is today. Do the sea run fish fight harder? So I’m told and that is great but the environment is the reason why. Take a naturally reproduced Steelhead from the Great Lakes and allow it to smolt in the Columbia river and it will perform just like the ones that run back to the ocean to mature. Why? It’s habitat dictates what that outcome will be. Instead of going back to the Lake it will go to the ocean. I agree that the petty arguments about east coast west coast definitions and viewpoints are a problem but its not the fault of the Steelhead population. It’s our inability to think more clearly or rationally on the topic and that’s what is most needed to help them to thrive!!! The evidence is clear now we just need to become better educated on the subject.

    More resources: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/steelhead-trout.html

  24. I’d like to add my 2 cents.

    Louis, I get the message that you are making; West Coast Steelhead are the primal species that Great Lakes Steelhead are generated from…and they are in eminent danger of extinction. And being an avid reader of your blog, I sense your passion for all salmonids.

    There are two ways to elevate the status of one item (fish) over another. The first is to state the attributes of one and then remark how the qualities of the second are far greater, or in this case, more important in regard to the continued survival of both of them. Using this method creates a sound base for the second example to be elevated to a greater status. People can agree or disagree…but they are not offended.

    The second way is to destroy the credibility of the first, which doesn’t really elevate the second, but replaces the first. We see this all the time in politics, and rarely, if ever does it serve a positive outcome.

    By referring to GL Steelhead as the “Pete Rose” of steelhead, you are stating that they should be ‘banned’ from being called steelhead at all. They ARE steelhead that have been transplanted to an environment that is different from the one they survived in for millions of years…but they are still from the WC Steelhead stock; and they are still doing what steelhead do, to the best of their abilities, in the environment they are placed in.

    Should we assign brown trout here in the U.S. a different name because they have been transplanted from Germany?

    Should we assign rainbow trout on the East Coast of the U. S. a different name because they were transplanted from the West Coast?

    Here in the Hudson Valley we fish for striped bass which live in salt water and spawn in fresh water. On the Hudson you can troll for stripers on boats with 40 hp and up…and be relatively successful. If you try that technique in Pennsylvania’s Lake Wallenpaupack, you will have a pretty dismal day. You cannot get within several hundred yards of marauding schools of stripers with any gas motor.
    Having an electric motor is your best chance of getting within casting distance. Does that mean the fresh water striped bass should be referred to as the “Pete Rose” of striped bass?

    Many of us are not in a position to be able to travel the country angling for fish in their native environment. I’m 65 and I JUST started fishing adjacent states; finances, job demands and family responsibilities precluded it from happening sooner.

    I admire the pictures you post of 24 inch plus brown trout, and the consistency by which you catch them. Using your logic, your fish shouldn’t be considered brown trout at all, because they were not caught in their native country of Germany.

    Personally, I don’t care one way or the other. I understand the human condition and how easy it is to have our Ego take over our thought process. I had quite a laugh at the firestorm of passion your article created this week and I am concerned you may have alienated some of your most ardent supporters. Rob

  25. I’d like to add my 2 cents.

    Louis, I get the message that you are making; West Coast Steelhead are the primal species that Great Lakes Steelhead are generated from…and they are in eminent danger of extinction. And being an avid reader of your blog, I sense your passion for all salmonids.

    There are two ways to elevate the status of one item (fish) over another. The first is to state the attributes of one and then remark how the qualities of the second are far greater, or in this case, more important in regard to the continued survival of both of them. Using this method creates a sound base for the second example to be elevated to a greater status. People can agree or disagree…but they are not offended.

    The second way is to destroy the credibility of the first, which doesn’t really elevate the second, but replaces the first. We see this all the time in politics, and rarely, if ever does it serve a positive outcome.

    By referring to GL Steelhead as the “Pete Rose” of steelhead, you are stating that they should be ‘banned’ from being called steelhead at all. They ARE steelhead that have been transplanted to an environment that is different from the one they survived in for millions of years…but they are still from the WC Steelhead stock; and they are still doing what steelhead do, to the best of their abilities, in the environment they are placed in.

    Should we assign brown trout here in the U.S. a different name because they have been transplanted from Germany?

    Should we assign rainbow trout on the East Coast of the U. S. a different name because they were transplanted from the West Coast?

    Here in the Hudson Valley we fish for striped bass which live in salt water and spawn in fresh water. On the Hudson you can troll for stripers on boats with 40 hp and up…and be relatively successful. If you try that technique in Pennsylvania’s Lake Wallenpaupack, you will have a pretty dismal day. You cannot get within several hundred yards of marauding schools of stripers with any gas motor.
    Having an electric motor is your best chance of getting within casting distance. Does that mean the fresh water striped bass should be referred to as the “Pete Rose” of striped bass?

    Many of us are not in a position to be able to travel the country angling for fish in their native environment. I’m 65 and I JUST started fishing adjacent states; finances, job demands and family responsibilities precluded it from happening sooner.

    I admire the pictures you post of 24 inch plus brown trout, and the consistency by which you catch them. Using your logic, your fish shouldn’t be considered brown trout at all, because they were not caught in their native country of Germany.

    Personally, I don’t care one way or the other. I understand the human condition and how easy it is to have our Ego take over our thought process. I had quite a laugh at the firestorm of passion your article created this week and I am concerned you may have alienated some of your most ardent supporters. Rob

  26. Maybe we westerners, for the sake of conservation, need to call our fish “Sea Run Steelhead”. Being from Wyoming I only get an occasional chance to chase down fresh or sea run steelies. I do however like the idea of chasing down some cutthroat steels. I got the point of this article right away. I do not understand why folks are taking offense to the content or the delivery method used Louis. We need to save these fish! It doesn’t matter what we call them as long as we don’t call them GONE! There is a difference. One swims in the sea, one doesn’t. One is in dire straights, one is not. Who WANTS to see the ocean run bow disappear? Who doesn’t? I think we should act in protecting these marvelous creatures rather than in favor of upholding our opinion or ego. This debate is ridiculous, and the point of the article. My 2 pence. Who is in favor of starting FISH Unlimited?Thanks.

  27. Perfectly written article! Coming from a west coast steelheader I feel this article perfectly encompasses my opinion on this steelhead issue.

  28. So would a sea run rainbow from the atlantic be a steelhead? Could be but I don’t know and don’t care. Protecting the fisheries, regardless of the fishes origin is what really matters and what I think we should be trying to advocate for. Seeing streams and rivers as low as they were this past year, seeing multiple fishkills, was a real wakeup call to how bad things are. I live in connecticut and love going to the great Lakes to fish for the great Lakes steelhead, but I do understand they are not a chrome, sea lice covered, fresh fish that our dreams are made of. The closest thing we have to that is atlantic salmon with the help of a stocking program. To hold a fresh atlantic salmon returning to its home is the closest thing we east coast fly guys will ever have to a pacific chrome steelhead without going out there ourselves. Bottom line is put the ego aside. We all put a reel on our rod, and fish with fly line and leader. Whether its bonefish, stripers, atlantics, trout, or steelhead, we need to conserve what we have left because once it’s gone, it’s gone. Look at the atlantics on the east coast. The runs were destroyed and we can bitch about it all we want but we did it to ourselves with industrialization, pollution, destroying stream banks and filling it with rip rap. Realistically we have nobody to blame but ourselves.

  29. What a great article! Great attitude and IMO, the right focus. I have never caught a wild steelhead. I swing and drift for lake run Rainbow Trout in Lake Erie tribs. I’ve caught plenty of wild Rainbows. OMG are they different. A 20″ wild rainbow runs like a 30″ great lakes steelhead. I’m sure a wild steelhead is a whole different game. I signed the pledge and I hope to have many chances to experience the difference myself.

  30. Well NYC Angler you didn’t complete the definition. Marrian -Webster definition accurate definition of and Andadromnous states: ascending River from the SEA ( meanig saltwater) for breeding. The authors intention was merely stating a fact, educating us about the differences between Diadromous rainbows ( a fish that spends most of it time in the Sea and Lacustrine rainbows ( a fish that spends most of it’s time in lakes). I never felt at any point in the article that he was trying to put down Great lakes rainbow trout. He was merely stating the facts.

  31. WOW, that’s a lot of comments!, LoL
    I’ll just keep fishing for our local Great Lakes Steelhead, I enjoy it immensely.
    Although,I wouldn’t mind going someday and trying for the West Coast ones, I bet they are incredible!

  32. So by this logic a Great lakes Salmon is not a Salmon?

    Dictionary
    Definitions from Oxford Languages ·
    salm·on
    /ˈsamən/
    noun
    1.
    a large edible fish that is a popular game fish, much prized for its pink flesh. Salmon mature in the sea but migrate to freshwater streams to spawn.

    ralsalmon also salmons
    1
    a
    : a large anadromous salmonid fish (Salmo salar) of the North Atlantic noted as a game and food fish
    called also Atlantic salmon

    b
    : any of various anadromous salmonid fishes other than the salmon
    especially : PACIFIC SALMON
    c
    : a fish (such as a barramundi) resembling a salmon

    So what does one call a salmon from the great lakes? Perhaps a lake run salmonid?

    Do you see why this is silly?

    • Salmon is a species. Steelhead is not. Salmon are genetically unique. Steelhead are rainbow trout genetically. The word Steelhead describes a rainbow trout which has become anadromous. Anadromous means going from fresh water to saltwater. The great lakes are not saltwater. Look that up.

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