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Fishing!
Orbert:
--- Quote from: ledhendrix on 19 Jun 2009, 14:58 ---Orbert they are Rainbow trout if they are non migratory and Steelhead if they migrate from the ocean or a huge lake to spawn in streams like SonofZ3 said. Interestingly enough they aren't true trout, they are part of the Char family.
--- End quote ---
Ah, that makes sense. The definition seems to get adapted to suit the situation. I grew up on the Great Lakes here in the U.S., and when they're out in the lake (Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, etc.) we call them Steelhead, but if you catch the same fish on a river, it's a Rainbow. Or maybe I just understood the definition wrong, because your definition is similar but actually makes more sense.
I didn't realize that they aren't trout, though. I'm not sure whether to be disappointed, or perhaps even angry at being deceived all these years by mere fish.
SonofZ3:
ah the fourth fish! That is a walleye, a memeber of the perch family. Most closely related to the Zander of england I believe? (as far as european fishes go). They're pretty mediocre as far as a fly rod fish goes. They do not fight anywhere near what a trout of the same size does, and are usually caught with sinking lines or heavily weighted streamer flies. The best way to fish for them in rivers is with a spinning outfit with lead weights and live miinows, or jigs. being only a fly fisherman I don't catch too many. They are delicious to eat, but I don't catch enough to be able to count on them for a meal.
If there are hard and fast definitions for the difference between Steelhead and rainbow trout I don't know them. Calling them steelhead while in the stream may be a regional thing. There are streams that have populations of both Steelhead and non-migratory rainbows, so maybe in that case keeping them seperate just makes it easier when describing what tackle to use or what you caught?
I think the brown trout is the only true trout we have in the U.S...I think.
For a while in college I was planning a trip to Wales to fish for sewin(sp?). At the time it seemed far fetched and like I couldn't afford it. I really wished I would've gone. Now I REALLY can't afford it, and regret not taking the opportunity.
Orbert:
We have Lake Trout in the Great Lakes. I hope they're real trout, because if they aren't, then they'd be Lake NonTrout or something.
SonofZ3:
They're char actually. Just look at the genus to find out. Char are genus salvelinus, such as arctic char salvelinus alpinus, brook trout, the state fish of my state salvelinus fontanalis or lake trout, salvelinus namaycush. Rainbow trout and cutthroat trout are actually a salmon, as they all belong to the genus onchorhynchus. Rainbow trout- Onchorhyncus mykiss, Cutthroat trout- Onchorhynchus clarki, Coho Salmon- Onchorhynchus kisutch. Brown trout are genus Salmo, the only trout of that genus in North America. The big difference between trout/salmon and char is scales. Brook trout and other char have extremely tiny scales, so that they just appear to have skin, not scales like the other "trouts".
This is like anything else, common names were decided on before science had genetics to know what is related to what, so they often call things something they in fact are not. Its no big deal though, I mean Char/trout/salmon, they all share very similar characteristics and are fun to catch.
Orbert:
Damn, trout that aren't trout, salmon that aren't salmon...
I feel like I've eaten of the forbidden fruit, and it tastes nasty!
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