Rainbow Trout

   Three forms of rainbow trout are common (rainbow, steelhead and kamloops) and often discussed and confused, but it is important to note that these forms are simply variations of the same species:

Rainbow trout: this name is typically reserved for the dark-colored fish with bright, intense markings that inhabit small streams and rivers year-round. The typical coloration includes black spots on the body, and the tail with a pink, lateral stripe.

Kamloops trout: a lake inhabiting trout that is bright and silvery.

Steelhead: The sea and Great Lakes inhabiting fish that return to rivers to spawn. Typical coloration is silvery with dark spots on the body and tail.

Common Names: Rainbow trout, steelhead, kamloops trout

Habitat of the Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout were first introduced into the Great Lakes in 1895 and into the other parts of Ontario between 1883 and 1904. Prior to this, rainbows were only found on the west coast and Rocky Mountains. The current distribution of these fish is mainly concentrated around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. River dwelling rainbow prefer cold streams with moderate flow and a predominantly gravel bottom. The steelhead varieties rarely travel far from their spawning stream.

Spawning Patterns of the Rainbow Trout

Between the months of October and May, steelhead return to the rivers to swim great distances upstream to their spawning areas, all the while performing great acrobatics in order to overcome waterfalls and obstructions. Most of the spawning occurs throughout the months of December and April. During this time males are very territorial. Females may make several nests, or redds as they are called, and spawn with many different males leaving as many as 1,000 eggs in each redd.

The Diet of the Rainbow Trout

The rainbow diet is typically made up of a variety of invertebrate creatures. Plankton, aquatic and terrestrial insects, snails and leeches are all common fare. Under certain circumstances it is also common for rainbow to prey on fish eggs, usually those of salmon. Large rainbows also feed extensively on fish and are very aggressive predators.

Age and Growth Ranges of the Rainbow Trout

Steelhead usually attain greater lengths than rainbows with average lengths being 20-30” and 12-18” respectively. River dwelling rainbows tend to have a shorter life expectancy than the steelhead variety. Rainbows average a maximum age of four, whereas steelhead tend to live to six to eight years.

Tips on Fishing for Rainbow Trout

Rainbows offer a wide variety of fishing opportunities that vary from fishing small creeks, large Great Lake tributaries and open-water trips on the Great Lakes. Many small ponds have also been stocked and offer exceptional fishing. River fishing tends to be split into three categories: fly-fishing; float fishing and artificial bait. Fly choice is of great debate and is the subject of many books. Float anglers typically use roe bags or worms drifted under a float (bobber) while many anglers cast artificial baits such as small spoons, plugs and spinners. Openwater anglers mainly troll with spoons or plugs looking for a big steelhead.

 

Brown Trout

The brown trout has two main color patterns representative of different habitats. Inland brown trout are more colorful than Great Lakes fish. Inland fish tend to have a brown to gold body color with black, blue or red spots. The Great Lakes fish have bright silvery sides with dark spots. The brown trout may be confused with the Great Lakes species of salmon or rainbow trout. Distinguishing it from these other species are three main characteristics: white mouth and gums, a square tail, and orange on the adipose fin.

Common Names: Brown Trout, German Trout, brownie, browns

 

Habitat of the Brown Trout

Brown trout were introduced into Ontario from Germany in 1913. These introductions proved quite successful and brown trout are now considered to be a naturalized species of Ontario. Of the Great Lakes, only Erie and Ontario have brown trout populations. Many of the rivers and streams of southern Ontario host browns. Browns are adapted to similar habitat as that of brook trout, and brook trout are usually pushed to the headwaters of streams were they coexist.

Spawning Patterns of the Brown Trout

Brown trout spawn in the fall, usually in late fall or early winter. They utilize shallow, gravelly headwaters. Fish seldom mature earlier than age three. A five to six year old female averages about 2,000 eggs. The eggs take between 40-70 days to hatch.

The Diet of the Brown Trout

Brown trout are referred to as opportunistic feeders. Any food source may be utilized if it is readily accessible. Aquatic and terrestrial insects form a large portion of the diet but fish, fish eggs, amphibians and crayfish are also important. It is interesting to note that there is significant evidence that large brown trout only feed at dawn and dusk.

Age and Growth Ranges of the Brown Trout

Brown trout have been known to reach the age of thirteen. Fish over 10 lbs. are common in larger waterbodies, but most small streams and rivers have an average size of one to two pounds.

Tips on Fishing for Brown Trout

Lake Ontario and Lake Erie anglers have had continued success trolling spoons throughout the summer months. This is probably an angler’s best bet to hook a large fish. Many small rivers throughout southern Ontario, however, are more accessible to the vast majority of anglers. Traditional river fishing methods, such as fishing roe or worms under a float, are productive, as is casting small spoons or spinners.

Remember that larger fish tend to feed only during twilight hours, so get out early or stay just past dark for a chance at a larger fish. During the fall, many of the rivers that empty into Lakes Ontario and Erie have spectacular runs when all the big fish move into the rivers from the open water hiding spots.

 

Brook Trout

The brook trout’s body is trout-like and may be confused with the lake trout. Brook trout have square tails, light worm-like markings and spots, red and blue, on a dark background. Also, there is a white leading edge on the lower fins that is accented by a black line.

Common Names: Brook trout, speckled trout, speckled char

Habitat of the Brook Trout

Brook trout are found across most parts of the province in cold, clear streams and small lakes. During summer months if water temperatures rise too high in local streams, fish will move down stream to larger parts of the river or even completely out of the stream and into the lake. Where available, brook trout tend to inhabit depths between 15-30 feet in the summer months.

Spawning Patterns of the Brook Trout

Spawning occurs in the fall months, as early as August in the far north to as late as December in the southern portion of their range. Spawning occurs in the gravelly headwaters of rivers and streams, but they will spawn in open water areas if suitable locations, such as upwellings, are available. Very small streams entering lakes can provide important spawning and nursery habitat. Because of the large egg size, a female produces significantly less eggs than many other species of fish, with the maximum number of eggs being around 5,000.

The Diet of the Brook Trout

The favourite foods of brook trout include such things as worms, leeches, aquatic insects and many species of fish. Brook trout are known to be cannibalistic during the fall when they tend to prey on their own eggs and in the spring when they may consume their own young.

Age and Growth Ranges of the Brook Trout

Brook trout are a short-lived fish species with the maximum age typically being around five, and seldom does a brook trout live longer than eight years. The growth of brook trout can be dependant on the number of fish present in the local area; lakes or streams with high numbers of fish tend to have stunted populations. Fish over five pounds are considered trophies but are relatively common catches.

Tips on Fishing for Brook Trout

Brook trout are one of Ontario’s most esteemed game fish. They are best fished with light tackle. Light spinning gear or fly fishing tackle is the most practical. Small baits that imitate aquatic insects, such as small spinners and flies, are popular baits as are live baits like minnows and worms.

 

 Lake Trout

Lake trout have a typical trout-shaped body. The body markings are light and worm-like appearing on a dark background. They differ from brook trout in that the markings are never red. Lake trout have a deeply forked tail and the fins have a white leading edge, but absent is the black accent that is found on brook trout. In certain waters the fins and stomach become a bright orange to red-orange.

Common Names: Lake trout, laker, lake char

Habitat of the Lake Trout

Lake trout are synonymous with deep, clear water. They can be found throughout most of Ontario in any lake with suitable habitat. During the summer months the fish usually inhabit the deepest parts of the lake, spending most of their time in waters deeper than 50 ft. During fall they move to shallow shoals to spawn and can, again, be found shallow in the spring.

Spawning Patterns of the Lake Trout

Spawning occurs in the fall usually during the month of October in most of its range but can be as early as September in the far north. It is suspected that both a falling water temperature and a decrease in daylight hours trigger spawning. Spawning occurs throughout the night on shallow rocky shoals. Most females lay less than 1,500 eggs but large Great Lake fish have been known to carry as many as 18,000. The eggs remain dormant for a long time compared to many other species, not hatching until February or March.

The Diet of the Lake Trout

Depending on availability lake trout feed mainly on other fish species or on aquatic insects. Ciscoes, shiners, whitefish, smelt and sculpins are some of the common prey.

Age and Growth Ranges of the Lake Trout

Age and growth rates vary greatly across the range of lake trout depending on prey availability, but it is generally considered a slow growing fish. Lake trout from northern populations can reach 50 years of age; lake trout that reach 15 – 25 years of age are not uncommon.

Tips on Fishing for Lake Trout

Steel line and heavy sinkers are synonymous with lake trout fishing but many new innovations in the tackle industry have promoted a change in the lake trout anglers’ tactics. The common theme is getting tackle deep. Downriggers have been the biggest change to lake trout fishing, allowing anglers to get lures deep while still being able to fight fish on lighter tackle. Vertical jigging is also becoming a popular fishing method, as it does not require any additional, expensive gear. A wide variety of spoons are popular and the “hot” lure varies between lakes and years. Fishing in the spring, shortly after ice-out offers exciting opportunities to catch lake trout in shallow water. Casting and trolling small spoons and spinners can produce fish catches during this period in water as shallow as 10 ft.

 

[Source] :

P.O. Box 2800, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 8L5 Phone: (705)-748-6324 Fax: (705)-748-9577 www.ofah.org

ⓒCURTIS ATWATER www.natureartists.com/atwaterc.htm