Rainbow Trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Rainbow Trout are everywhere. That is because it is one of the easier trout to manage and raise in hatcheries. Plus they can adapt to a variety of lakes, rivers and streams. It is also noted for aerial displays after being hooked, making it a very exciting sport fish. In Ontario rainbows are called Steelhead.

APPEARANCE

Rainbows have a olive greenish back that turns into a bright silver on the sides, with lots of dark spots all over its body and fins. One of its most recognizable trademarks is the striking red stipe down its midline. On lakes rainbows tend to have more silver and less spots.

PREY

Young rainbows feed on insects above and in water. Adults like to feed on insects on the waters surface and freshwater shrimp. Their main source of food is other fish!

PREDATORS

Seeing that the rainbows are every where, their list of predators is vast, including bears, wolves, mink, eagles, loons, herons, and other fish. Two fish that come to mind are Brown Trout and Northern Pike.

HABITAT

Although known as a cold water fish, rainbows can live in warmer temperatures that other trout can not. They range from high mountain lakes, rivers and streams to very slow moving reservoirs, ponds.

SPAWN

Rainbow males can start spawning at 1 year of age, with females maturing at 2 to 3 years of age. The females digs a redd, lay their eggs and the male showers them with his milt. Depending on location and conditions, rainbows can spawn in the spring, or in the fall like most other trout.



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