Our Ohio Steelhead Story

Of all our migratory species in the Great Lakes, the Steelhead is most like a rainbow trout. A Steelhead and a rainbow are almost one in the same species, they differ slightly from a genetic standpoint, but they differ greatly in their behavior and size. The Steelhead is the most migratory of all species in the Great Lakes. Ocean run fish can cover a thousand of miles water before returning to their natal spawning habitat. The rainbow trout, however, spend their entire life in the stream that they were born in. The Steelhead of the Great lakes, start their life in the stream, but quickly head to the Great lakes to forage and grow-up They then return to their natal waters to spawn. After spawning, they return back to Lake and start the process over. Here's another major difference: size. A Steelhead is a trout on steroids. Steelhead of the great lakes are between 2 and 10 times larger than most rainbow trout in size and weight. The body profile, color and markings and beauty of the Steelhead and rainbow are very similar. Great Lakes Steelhead look like the rainbow trout, only much larger and stronger.