Fish in the Water

Steelhead and Rainbow Trout
These two fish are very similar with their only major difference being that steelhead migrate between fresh and salt water, and rainbow only inhabit fresh water. The average length of a rainbow trout is 30 to 46 centimetres and the steelhead is 51 to 76 centimetres. A mature steelhead usually weighs 3.5 to four kilograms, but has been known to reach 16 kilograms. The body is somewhat compressed, with a rounded snout and a large mouth. The spawning male experiences minor changes to its head, mouth and colour. Stream residents and spawners are darker with more intense colouring and lake residents are lighter, brighter and more silver coloured. They range from steel-blue, blue-green, or yellow-green to almost brown. Steelhead tend to be more silver coloured. All have a number of small black spots. The colouring changes drastically throughout its geographical range; the native range of this species is the eastern Pacific Ocean, and the fresh water fish- mainly west of the Rocky Mountains. This species spawns from March to August in smaller streams. The female digs and spawns in several nests depositing 800 to 1,000 eggs in each redd. These eggs usually hatch four to seven weeks later. Their life expectancy can be as low as three to four years, but generally the steelhead lives six to eight years. They feed first on plankton, then insects and, as they grow older, crustaceans and other fish. The rainbow and steelhead are rated two of the top five sport fish in North America because of the hard fight they put up. The flesh of this fish is usually a bright red in smaller individuals and pink to white in larger lakes where they feed on fish.

Cutthroat Trout
The average length of this species is 31 to 38 centimetres and generally one-half to 7.7 kilograms. A short, conical head with a somewhat pointed (or rounded) snout and a rather large mouth with well developed teeth on both jaws characterize the fish. In breeding males, the kype is slightly developed in the anadromous population (fish who are born in fresh water, move to saltwater and then return to freshwater to spawn) and the lower jaw appears extremely long. Cutthroat trout are characterized by two yellow or orange-red lines in the skin folds of each side of the lower jaw. The coastal form is coloured dark to olive-green with numerous black spots and may appear more blue with silvery sides. The cutthroat can be found in fresh or saltwater in North America, mostly west of the Rocky Mountains. Adult anadromous cutthroat return to freshwater spawning streams in late autumn and early winter, but spawning doesn’t take place until February to May. Cutthroat spawn in small, gravelly streams where the male courts the female by nudging and quivering. The female prepares the redd where she lays 1,100 to 1,700 eggs. Hatching occurs six to seven weeks later. This species is noted as an important sportfish because it is a fighter and can be quite large. Its flesh is orange-red, rich and of excellent flavor when smoked, fried or baked.

Brown Trout
The average length of the brown trout is 41 centimetres and generally they weigh only a few kilograms. In streams, their colouring is a light brown with silver sides and pronounced black spots on the back. In large lakes or in the sea, their overall colouration is silver. The brown trout is native to Europe and western Asia and was introduced into North America in 1883. Brown trout spawn in late autumn to early winter in shallow, gravelly waters. The female digs the nest or redd where she lays about 2,000 eggs. This species is carnivorous and feeds on insects, and crustaceans- especially crayfish, molluscs, salamanders, frogs and rodents. The brown trout has enjoyed only limited success as a game fish because it is difficult to catch.

Brook Trout
The average length of a brook trout is 25 to 31 centimetres, but they have been known to measure up to 53 centimetres and  1.8 to 2.7 kilograms. The largest brook trout on record was 6.6 kilograms. Breeding males develop a hook at the front of their lower jaws. Typical colouring is olive-green to dark brown on the back with silver sides and pale spotting. All colours intensify at spawning time, which occurs in clear, cool, well-oxygenated streams and lakes. This species spawns in late summer or autumn in gravel beds in the shallows of stream headwaters. The female digs the nest (redd) where she lays 100 to 5,000 eggs, depending on her size; the eggs hatch 50 to 100 days later and their life expectancy is an average of five years. The brook trout is a carnivorous fish native to northern North America and feeds on a wide range of organisms. They have been known to eat their own eggs at spawning time and even their own young. Brook trout are a very popular game fish and are fished by artificial fly, spin casting or with live bait.

Dolly Varden
The average length of the fresh water species is 31 to 46 centimetres long. The colour varies with size, locality and habitat. Adults living in fresh water are an olive-green to brown colour with spots and spawning adults turn a bright red. For years, many anglers have used the name Dolly Varden to apply to what are now considered two different fish: the Dolly Varden and the Bull Trout. In some regions it is hard to make a clear distinction between the two, while in other areas of BC, the difference in appearance is substantial. The Dolly Varden is found in the fresh and salt waters of North America and eastern Asia. The Dolly Varden is a fall spawner; the female digs the nest or redd and is attended by four to five males. Generally, this species lives 10 to 12 years. Generally not considered a sought after sport fish, the Dolly Varden does have many of the sporting qualities of other trout. They have been sold commercially, fresh, fresh-frozen, canned and dried.

Smallmouth Bass
A moderately large, robust fish, most smallmouth are 20 to 38 centimetres long. The colouring varies with size, condition and habitat, but usually ranges from brown to olive or green on the back with golden flecks. Smallmouth bass live in eastern BC in lakes of the Columbia River system, on Salt Spring Island and southern Vancouver Island. The smallmouth bass spawns over a period of six to ten days in the late spring to early summer. The male builds a nest and the female lays approximately 7,000 eggs per pound of fish. The maximum age of bass, in Canada, is 15 years. Their food includes insects, crayfish and other fish. Its attraction for anglers and its sporting qualities are almost legendary. The flesh is white, flaky and delicious.

Kokanee and Sockeye Salmon
There are well-known populations of a truly freshwater form of this species, the Kokanee, as well as the anadromous sockeye salmon. The Kokanee is generally very similar to the sockeye except in ultimate length and weight. The streamlined body of this species is usually 20 to 23 centimetres long when mature. (A sockeye is about 61 centimetres long when it returns to freshwater.) The head is bluntly pointed and conical with a pointed snout and small teeth on the jaws. Breeding males have a more compressed head and body with a prolonged, turned-up snout and a small hump before the dorsal fin. Breeding males and females experience a striking colour change. Typical colouring of this species is a brilliant steel-blue to green-blue with bright silver sides, a white to silver belly and no distinct spots. The Kokanee is found over most of the range of the sockeye salmon which extends in North America from the Klamath River in California to Point Hope, Alaska, but they are more widely found and abundant in BC. Kokanee spawn in the fall from September to October. The mature adults usually enter inlet streams of the lake in which they are living or they may spawn in gravel beds along its shore. The female prepares the nest and lays 370 to 1,750 (an average of 450) eggs. A few days to several weeks later, the adults of both sexes die. Hatching occurs in December to January and emergence is not until March to May. Generally, this species matures, spawns, and dies at four years of age. Kokanee as large as 53 centimetres in length with weights of up to 1.8 kilograms are not uncommon. In the anadromous sockeye, spawning takes place from July to December. Kokanee have long since been a sport fish of interest since they are generally looked upon as hard to catch by anglers as these species are plankton feeders. Both Kokanee and sockeye are considered excellent sportfish which eagerly take both flies and lures. Their flesh is often blood-red, oily and delicious canned, cooked in a variety of ways or brined and hot smoked.

Chinook, chum, coho and pink salmon are also found in Vancouver Island freshwater rivers and streams. See the Fishing-Saltwater section of this website for a description of these fish.