Hobbies And Interests
Habitat
Rainbow trout are native to the rivers and lakes of North America that lie west of the Rocky Mountains, as far south as northwest Mexico and as far north as British Columbia. Because they are such a popular fish, rainbows have been introduced all around the world. They thrive in the cool, clear waters of a variety of ecosystems, including low-lying rivers and lakes, mid-elevation streams and mountain lakes and streams. Rainbows return to their birth-stream for spawning.
Rainbow Trout
Although their appearance varies depending on their age and where they are found, Rainbow trout are easily identified by their characteristic rose-colored gill plate, stunning rainbow stripe and black-spotted fins and back. Mature males typically display the most striking colors. Like other members of the salmon family, rainbows can be large fish. They typically weigh 2 to 8 lbs and have grown more than six times that large. They average 20 to 30 inches in length and occasionally grow to an incredible 4 feet.
Redband Trout
Redband trout are a subspecies of Rainbow and Steelhead trout, typically found in inland waters and adapted to arid conditions. Due to damning of traditional trout streams, their distribution is fragmented but they are still found in two distinct geographic regions. The Columbia River Redband trout is found in Montana, Washington and Idaho, and the Great Basin Redband trout ranges through Oregon, California and Nevada. They are smaller than Rainbow trout, rarely growing larger than 10 inches.
Cut-bow Trout
Cutthroat trout that crossbreed with Rainbows are often called ̶0;cut-bows.̶1; These hybrids typically display the distinctive markings of a Rainbow, making them hard to distinguish from true Rainbows. According to the Colorado Trout Hunters, you can identify them by a characteristic red-orange slash of color beneath the jaw. Cutthroats are both resident and sea-going fish, with the stream-dwellers averaging 2 to 3 pounds and the sea-run strains reaching 17 pounds.