Lake Champlain United - Forums

https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-38-2-pou ... 24961.html

These are some of the inland waters I grew up fishing in California when I wasn't fishing salmon, tuna, halibut and stripers. Interesting debate. Interesting too to see it still producing huge fish despite the water shortage!

That is a huge beautiful fish.
So, according to this report, what we usually call "steelhead" in Champlain is actually a "rainbow trout" since it does not migrate to saltwater.

Gecha (Gerry) wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:41 am That is a huge beautiful fish.
So, according to this report, what we usually call "steelhead" in Champlain is actually a "rainbow trout" since it does not migrate to saltwater.

Agreed… by definition we are catching rainbows… but it is still fun to call em steelhead

This point has been made about every 2 years for the last 10 on this forum. (and it’s predecessor)

I will still call em steelies:)

I'm with Josh. Don't go for the record, release the fish. Good job.

Does anybody else wonder if we've got this whole state record thing backwards? Currently it's only a state record if the fish is killed. Wouldn't it be something if it was only a record of the fish was released? Same goes for the all season derby in the LCI.

Obviously much harder to accomplish, but, think of the genetics staying in the pool each year these fish spawn. As well as growing even bigger as well. And, possibly even, making the lunkers easier to catch, due to the fact were not Darwining them to be harder to catch?

Keep in mind however, all of this is coming from a property maintenance guy, not somebody like Jud or Shawn. Maybe I'm way off. Another thing that I have noticed the older I get, is the less sure I am that I know what I'm talking about.

On the actual naming of the fish, I'm not qualified to weigh in on the steelhead/rainbow debate, since we've never had one in the boat. I will say however, I'm probably in the Matt camp. I call freshwater drum "sheephead" instead of "sheepshead". Just more fun.

If you want to be technical on the steelhead part our fish in Lake Champlain are steelhead. The Chambers Creek strain of steelhead originated from Washington state, which is what is raised at Ed Weed. The original brood stock parents actually came from Lake Ontario that the state currently has(which originally came from WA). There are domestic rainbows as well that are stocked in numerous tributaries in both VT and NY, and I'm sure plenty trickle down into the lake.

Spot on River Runner! Thanks for the details and history lesson! We have caught a few big "Domestics" as large as 10 lbs off Oswego. Their big footballs and very strong like a king when reeling them to the boat! They look very different than a Steelhead! No doubters.

Big domestic landed in 2000 late August fishing kings off Oswego.

Here’s a steely looking rainbow from Westport about 5 years ago.

Sorry about the flip!

Nice kype
On that chunk of chrome Bearcat!