Your comment reminds me of a quote from Jason Lucas, the dear departed fishing editor of Sports Afield magazine from way back in the 1960's when I was a kid. Some joker wrote a snarky letter to Lucas challenging him about the definition of "steelhead." The joker's letter said that Lucas had said steelhead are only rainbows returning from the "salt," but this joker guy said - "but I've heard of steelhead being caught in the Great Lakes area." So Lucas explained things in the most simple terms possible to this guy. He says: "you could CALL ME and Ituri forest pygmy, but that wouldn't MAKE ME ONE." I've always loved and remembered that line! : )
Hmm, so it’s the salt…not the migration factor. So if we rivers out west stayed cold enough all year that the fish didn’t have to migrate back to the oceans I guess they wouldn’t be steelhead either?
I had no idea this dumb snobbery existed but now that I do I’m gonna call them rainbow trout for the rest of my life to piss off both sides of the snobbery
This episode ticked a lot of folks off back in the day 😂
still does!
big difference in how hard they fight a true pac nor west steelhead would have ripped you to the backing.
No salt, no steel!
Your comment reminds me of a quote from Jason Lucas, the dear departed fishing editor of Sports Afield magazine from way back in the 1960's when I was a kid. Some joker wrote a snarky letter to Lucas challenging him about the definition of "steelhead." The joker's letter said that Lucas had said steelhead are only rainbows returning from the "salt," but this joker guy said - "but I've heard of steelhead being caught in the Great Lakes area." So Lucas explained things in the most simple terms possible to this guy. He says: "you could CALL ME and Ituri forest pygmy, but that wouldn't MAKE ME ONE." I've always loved and remembered that line! : )
Hmm, so it’s the salt…not the migration factor. So if we rivers out west stayed cold enough all year that the fish didn’t have to migrate back to the oceans I guess they wouldn’t be steelhead either?
I had no idea this dumb snobbery existed but now that I do I’m gonna call them rainbow trout for the rest of my life to piss off both sides of the snobbery
You're describing anadromous fish behavior, not whether it's a steelhead or not.
Steelhead means migratory rainbow. If they migrate, they're steelhead. Salt or fresh water. They act the same as a salmon.
Nice big rainbow trout you got there!
Ahhhhh yes, the big fake steelhead