Jan 07

Rainbow Trout Info

The rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss), aka redband trout, is a species of Pacific salmon(1989) native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. Fish which have gone to sea (including those returning for spawning) are known as Steelhead, or ocean trout (Australia). The species has been introduced for food or sport to at least 45 countries, and every continent except Antarctica. In some of these locations, such as Australia, they have had very serious negative impacts on upland native fish species.

The species was originally named byJohann Julius Walbaumin 1792. In 1855, W. P. Gibbons found a population and named it Salmo iridia, however this name became deprecated once it was determined that this was a population of the already named species. Rainbow trout are unusual in that although they can spend their entire life in fresh water, they are capable of migrating to sea water when conditions are right, though they must return to fresh water to breed.The freshwater form is called “rainbow trout” or “redband trout”, based on the broad red band along their sides. After going to sea, their color changes, including loss of the red band, and they are called “steelhead”. 

They occur in well oxygenated lakes and streams where the temperature doesn’t rise above 12°C in summer. Rainbows and steelhead have small black spots along their back, dorsal fin and caudal fin. Behind the dorsal fin, rainbows have an adipose finthat is commonly clipped from fish raised in a hatchery. Clipping the adipose fin helps distinguish hatchery fish from wild fish when they are taken by anglers. This allows enforcement of regulations to protect wild rainbows. Rainbows have a red or pink streak that runs from the gill cover to the caudal fin, inspiring their name. The color of a rainbow’s back varies from blue or green to a yellow-green or brown. Steelhead usually lack the pink stripe and have chrome-colored sides. Rainbows are distinguished from their cousins, the cutthroat trout(Oncorhynchus clarki) by their short maxilla, which reaches to, but not past the rear margin of the eye. Rainbow trout also lack hyoid teeth, a feature present in cutthroat trout.Rainbows range from 12 to 36 inches in length.

Steelheads grow longer, ranging from 50 to 100 cm (20 to 40 inches) in length. Steelhead range in weight from 2.5 kg to 10 kg. The world record rainbow was a 42 pound specimen caught near Bell Island, AK.Here in Calgary Alberta, there are no Steelhead present as we have no ocean. On the Bow River specifically, we support a large population of Rainbow Trout which can grow to lengths of over 30 inches long.

Rainbow Trout spawn here in the spring where they make their way down stream to the Highwood River in early March. Once the ice on the Highwood River has thawed, the Bow River Rainbow Troutmake their journey up to spawn in the Highwood River and it’s many tributaries. You can fish for the Rainbow Trout at the staging point where the mouth of the Highwood River meets the Bow River. If you are looking for great Rainbow Trout fishing than you need not look any further than the Bow River. If you would like a guided trip to fish for these “Bow River bullits” as they are called here, click the guided fishing trip page at the top of the Blog, or click here.

Jan 05

Gone Fishing- Bow River

I was back on the Bow River today and had some great success again. I was spin fishing in search of the big Brown’s and Rainbow’s that live in this river. The trout that are in this river system are wild trout, they reproduce naturally and grow to be very large. I started off using the Blue Fox Minnow Spinner and was not having much luck to begin with. Todd on the other hand was up four fish to my nil, not that I’m counting. This river system never ceases to amaze me, almost every deeper hole has fish holding in them. That’s where I fish in the winter months, in the deeper holes.

I went out of the city limits today into another deep long hole that probably stretches a quarter of a mile. Once again I found a large conglomeration of fish in this area. In the summer months I float the Bow River so I know where all the deep holes are along the river. In the winter I go to these different holes to find the fish. This system has worked for me for many years now. This system can also work for you as well. I watch lots of fishing shows and lots of them say, “the locals know” or “stop in to the nearest fly shop and ask lots of questions”. Yeah sure, you think these guys are going to tell you where they fish on the weekend; I don’t think so. That’s why you need to go and do your own homework.

If I can give the reader one tip, study the water and mark all the prime locations you think fish will hold. Go out and fish those locations and use various different hooksto increase your catch ratio. Keep looking and never give up easely. I took me a long time to hone my skills on the Bow River, at one time I thought there were no fish in the Bow River; boy was I ever wrong. See the photo gallery on the right column for visual proof that there are actually fish that live in the Bow River. If you have any questions on fishing, feel free to ask me.

Jan 02

Gone Fishing- Bow River

Happy new year to all my fishing friends around the world. Todd and I were out spinner fishing the Bow River again today, and I had a very good day again. I was using the Blue Fox Minnow Spinner and was hammering out the big Trout. We went up the river today within the city limits and had no luck, so we decided to go south of the city to search for the big trout. We pulled in to a deeper hole and I fired the Minnow spinner half way across the river. On my third cast I was into a hard fighting Rainbow Trout that was 20 inches. I was walking up and down the bank to see what area of the river the trout were holding in. A note to all the river fisherman, sometimes the trout will hold in the slow calm water and the next day they will enter the moving current. I was casting the Blue fox into the moving water at the tail out, and retrieving the lure across the slower water entering the pool.

This tactic worked very well today, as the fish were holding at the top of the pool. Some fish however were in the middle of the pool and some were at the tailout of the deeper, slow moving water. A more experienced angler will work all area’s of the water to find out where the fish are holding and key in to what the fish want to feed on. I like to switch my bait’s quite often to see what will work on that day. For example, I will start with crank baits, fish them for twenty to thirty minutes maximum; and then change to say a small spinner. If I have no luck on the smaller spinner I will change colors to suit the weather conditions. No luck on the small spinner I will move up to a larger spinner.

I like the Panther Martin spinners, but if I have no luck on that brand of spinner I will go to a Blue fox Spinner. And on it goes, I think you get the point. The good thing about fishing these days is there is lots of tackle to chose from. Another thing that really makes a good fisherman is if he can read the water. It has taken me some time to learn this very important skill. Lots of practise and even more patience will eventually pay off. Today total was 9 fish on the shore and my first fish got away just before I was going to land him. Winter fishing on the Bow River is absolutely awesome.