Rainbow trout and steelhead are of the same species; they belong to the salmon family and are ray-finned. However, they have different lifestyles.
Steelheads spend part of their lives in the ocean before going to rivers to spawn, whereas rainbow trout live most of their lives in freshwater.
Let’s explore more differences between the rainbow trout and steelhead in this article.
Rainbow Trout Vs Steelhead Trout Appearance
The differences between rainbow and steelhead trout are not very obvious. However, there are some subtle variations between the two.
Size
Steelheads are bigger than rainbow trout, and steelheads can be classified as one of three categories according to their sizes:
- One-Salt: Also called Half Pounders, they spend an entire year in the ocean or saltwater sea, but close to the coastline. They may be called half-pounders, but they generally weigh between two to six pounds.
- Two-Salt: These steelheads spend up to two years in the sea before moving out to the open ocean. They can weigh up to ten pounds when returning to their natural environment.
- The Three-, Four-, and Five-Salt spend the most time in the ocean: They can weigh up to thirty pounds. These steelhead fish can spend up to five years in the sea before returning to their natural freshwater environment.
Color
Steelhead fish tend to have brighter colored scales than rainbow trout; additionally, they often feature a brilliant silver sheen on their scales, making it easy to identify them from rainbow trout.
Moreover, steelheads tend to have a bold reddish stripe that runs along their body, whereas rainbow trout have a cleaner look and a more subtle reddish stripe.
Scars
Steelhead will typically have more scars on their bodies due to their time in the rough saltwater ocean.
Whereas rainbow trout live mostly in calmer, freshwater bodies, resulting in fewer scars on their scales.
Rainbow trout Vs Steelhead Taste
The difference between steelhead and rainbow trout taste is subtle but noticeable if you know what to look for.
Steelhead trout taste similar to wild salmon. Since steelheads share the same diet as wild salmon, they often develop a reddish-orange hue in their meat.
On the other hand, Great Lakes or farm-raised steelhead fish have a more subtle flavor. This type of steelhead fish meat provides an entirely different nutritional profile due to the fish’s lack of organic food supplies and the habitat’s water quality.
The meat on saltwater fish is softer than the meat on rainbow fish and doesn’t contain any veins or visible bloodlines on the meat’s surface. Saltwater fish doesn’t have a strong flavor, which is why it is popular among those who want to enjoy the taste and not deal with the strong smell.
Rainbow Trout Vs Steelhead Nutrition
Rainbow Trout
The following dietary information comes from the USDA and is for a three-ounce serving of raw rainbow trout.
- Calories: 103
- Fat: 2.94
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Sodium: 103
- Sugars: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 17.4g
Fats
Wild rainbow trout contains half the fat of farm-raised trout. Wild trout has a fat content of 2.94 grams. Saturated fat is 0.614 grams, monounsaturated fat is 0.96 grams, and polyunsaturated fat is 1.05 grams.
Farm-raised rainbow trout has 5.25 grams of fat. Monounsaturated fat is 1.68 grams, and polyunsaturated fat is 1.28 grams. Saturated fat is 1.18 grams
Vitamins and Minerals
Rainbow trout is an excellent source of potassium, calcium, niacin, and magnesium. It also offers a good helping of Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin D.
Steelhead Trout
The following dietary information comes from the USDA on a three-ounce raw serving of Steelhead trout:
- Calories: 112.5
- Total Fat 5.3 grams: 8% of the daily value
- Saturated Fat 1.5 grams: 8% of the daily value
- Cholesterol 41.3mg: 14% of the daily value
- Protein 15.8 grams
Rainbow Trout Vs Steelhead, Which is Healthier?
Steelhead trout is a better source of iron, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, and zinc than rainbow trout. However, both contain a similar amount of protein, cholesterol, and B vitamins. Steelhead trout is typically healthier because of its higher omega-3, fatty acid, and mineral content.
Rainbow Trout Vs Steelhead Techniques
Rainbow Trout
Consider the following six tips to improve your chances of catching Rainbow trout:
1. Use A Small Hook size
When fishing at a community fishing lake or pond, you must consider the size of the hook. You must use a small enough hook as these fish are not very large; they have a small mouth and good eyesight. So, the smaller the hook, the better.
2. Use A Light Line
Regardless of the rod and reel you use, it’s essential to use a light line to improve the likelihood of catching a rainbow trout. A six-pound fluorocarbon is good to use.
3. Use A Three-Way Rig
A three-way rig has the main line attached to the leader with a weight on one dropper and a hook on the other.
4. Use Prepared Bait
There are various baits for trout fishing, but you only need a select few.
5. Use Fish Feeders
If you have difficulty catching trout, try fishing around a fish feeder, as the fish often associate that area with being fed.
6. Use A Light Action Rod
It’s best to use a light-action rod with an ultra-light reel filled with about a four-pound test.
Steelhead trout
Steelhead trout fish prefer rocky areas with currents a few feet deep. You must go into the boulder and rocky regions as these hold more fish. Try bouncing your bait off the rocks into the pockets of the rock.
Another good place to look for steelhead trout is where the water slows after a rapidly moving section of the river. Take the time to research the river you plan to go fishing in so you don’t waste too much time in a non-productive area.
There are some excellent steelhead rivers in Oregon, California, and Washington, but don’t overlook the Great lakes region, St Joseph’s River in Michigan and Indiana and the Niagara River in New York.
Steelheads are tricky when it comes to timing. The best time, though, is mainly from mid-fall to early spring. Daylight is the best time of day to catch fish for fly anglers. On the other hand, low light conditions are best when using a spinning tackle.
The right equipment for steelhead fishing is essential. Rods must be pretty long and strong to hold these fish. When bank fishing, you must keep your rod long enough for the line to stay out of the water as much as possible. A typical steelhead rod of 8 to 9 feet is ideal for bank casting.
Casting rods and reels are perfect to use among boat and drift anglers, so the type of rod choice depends on your approach.
Let’s look at three approaches to use to catch steelhead trout:
1. Drift Fishing
You can drift fish from a bank or a boat using salmon roe, soft plastics, and sand shrimp as baits. Corkies and yarn offer an added extractor and keep the bait at the correct depth above the bottom. You will need just enough weight for your line to tick off the bottom and flow in the current. Cast upstream, naturally allowing the bait to go down the zone, occasionally bouncing off the bottom.
Side drifting is a modified version of the standard drift and is perfect for boat fishing as long as the bait suspends and drifts with the boat and water speeds.
2. Plunking
Plunking involves still-fishing in current with bait. You simply plunk the bait into the water and hope for a bite. High waters are usually the best choice for this method as other techniques don’t work well when the water has a muddy hue. Steelheads take the easiest route up the river, so focus on the sides of the swifter channels. Slower water will likely hold more fish than main flow water.
3. Anchor Fishing
Anchor fishing involves boat anglers anchoring and casting into current flows that hold fish. Lures are cast out to run down the current in potential fish-holding spots or migration lanes. Spoons and lures can be either weighted or light, although weighted ones tend to stay closer to the strike zone for extended periods.
Rainbow Trout Vs Steelhead Cooking
When buying rainbow or steelhead trout, the eyes should be bright and clear and not dry. The gills should be vibrant pink or bright red inside, and there shouldn’t be much of a smell if the fish is fresh. The fish should be firm to the touch with only a little natural slime.
You can bake, grill, pan-fry, or barbecue trout, but let’s look at a recipe for baking trout.
You should buy trout whole, gutted, and cleaned. Some people like to remove the heads. Rinse the trout before cooking and dab dry with a paper towel. This works well for either rainbow or steelhead trout:
Ingredients
2 whole trout, gutted and cleaned
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 thinly sliced lemon
A few herb Sprigs ( thyme, parsley, and dill, for example)
Method
1. Heat oven to 220 degrees Celsius (gas mark 7). Lay the fish over a lightly oiled tray and stuff the cavity with lemon and herbs. Season generously and drizzle with any leftover oil.
2. Bake in the oven for 20 mins or until the fish is cooked right through. The eyes should be white, and the flesh should be soft. You can serve the trout with seasonal vegetables, a salad or bread.