How far do steelhead run up river?

[tymbitz]

Curious as to how far up-river Steelheads run?

I work in Woodbridge and was wondering if the steelhead hit the west trib this far up? or are they just resident rainbows? I'd like to sneak in some hours fishing after work.

Finally how would you distinguish a steelhead over a resident rainbow? I would assume the steelhead would be a little fatter, feeding in the lakes where food and nutrients are more accessible.

Thanks in advance

 

[openfire]

Steelhead will run up a river as far as the conditions for habitation and spawning remain favourable. The physical distance they will travel varies from river to river... For example, in some rivers in BC, they can run 100's of KM's upstream, while in other smaller and/or obstructed rivers in Ontario it can be less than one KM.

In terms of size, Steelhead are generally an order of magnitude larger than resident rainbows.

 

[Dozer]

What open said - typically migratory rainbows will go as far up as possible - the higher up they go, the colder the water typically is ( good habitat for a cold water fish offspring ).

The resident rainbow ( a fish that resides in the river and doesn't run into the lake, not to be mistaken for a small parr ) would have a different coloration compared to a migratory fish. Typically they are smaller, more heavily freckled/spotted ( to blend into their surroundings ), have more distinct white tips on fins and reddish fins.

 

[Christopheraaron]

As far as they can, on one east trib I know of they go so far it gets hard to find the river it's so small.

 

[Shmogley]

i find resident rainbows have a greenish color to their backs and are not a nice chrome like a fresh steelie will be but once a steelhead has been in the river for a while the colors go dark as well...

at that point its pretty much size that shows the real difference theres probably some subtler ways to tell but im not aware of them

as for steel in the bridge not sure. but rainbows absolutely

 

[tymbitz]

Thanks openfire and troutddicted

Are the west tribs less obstructed? I know there are dams closer to the lake but see many trout jumping the dams

 

[BowSlayer]

I've seen them 40 kms up in one river the river at that point was about a foot wide and half a foot deep, the poor fish were getting stuck in the trees, lol.

 

[miles]

I catch fish more than 30km up river. It also doesn't take them very long to make it that far if they are moving.

 

[tymbitz]

Cool
going to try my luck around the office and maybe further up

Thanks to all

 

[fishermandan420]

You should check your regulations. The river in Woodbridge is closed season right now upstream from Eglinton

 

[azppp]

was going to say...you are just CHECKING now for the opener right?

There are loose articles on the internet regarding particular rivers and the surrounding watersheds, obstructions, and what life the particular river sustains. Some even contain surveys of the surrounding wildlife so you know more or less the local food sources.

I would choose a particular river/trib, reseearch the heck out of it online, then actually go and fish it anyway. That's how I would find the answer to your original question - are there fish there.

 

[tymbitz]

I maintain a few facilities that back on to the river at various points. Last few weeks the waters have been running, but haven't seen much going on. I am just scouting for now, and understand that the opener is the 4th saturday in April.
I was more curious if it was worth looking that far up river or look somewhere downstream.

Thanks guys

 

[Graham Bristow]

I believe they go well over 70km on the Nottawasaga..

 

[rich_ace_G]

Without the building of dams. I'm pretty sure steels will run as far as the river will let them....

 

[Graham Bristow]

Not necessarily.. if they all ran as far up as the river would let them you'd have thousands stacked up in very skinny water on some tribs.. I find they spread out and spawn on suitable gravel and flow areas but most do tend to find that farther up most rivers.. I've seen fish spawn 5 km up a river when they have free run of over 40 km of river.. they must be the lazy ones or the ones that just cant wait to get laid...lol.....

 

[[email protected]]

Not necessarily.. if they all ran as far up as the river would let them you'd have thousands stacked up in very skinny water on some tribs.. I find they spread out and spawn on suitable gravel and flow areas but most do tend to find that farther up most rivers.. I've seen fish spawn 5 km up a river when they have free run of over 40 km of river.. they must be the lazy ones or the ones that just cant wait to get laid...lol.....

lol .....i'd imagine they run a long ways on your home river

 

[Graham Bristow]

yep, and they run faster when I'm chasing them...lol

 

[[email protected]]

given your reputation, i can believe that