Reference Guide > Montana Fish Field Guide > Trout > Columbia River Redband Trout
Columbia River Redband Trout - Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri
Species of Concern
Global Rank: G5T4
State Rank: S1
Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: SENSITIVE
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 1
General Description
Interior redband trout are a native trout of western North America. There is considerable variation in the life history in this group of trout. Resident stream populations are found throughout the Columbia River basin. A lake variation known as kamloops are found in some larger lakes in the Columbia and Frasier River (British Columbia) basins. A third variation is the steelhead that migrated from the ocean as far as the upper Snake River, Idaho (almost 1000 miles) (Behnke 1992).
Diagnostic Characteristics
Characteristics vary considerably among populations of Montana's stream-resident redband trout, but generally they can be differentiated from the non-native coastal rainbow trout by larger more rounded spots, parr marks that tend to remain into adulthood and are more orange-red around the lateral line surrounded by greenish-yellow, rather than pink-red around the lateral line surrounded by dark green and silver like coastal rainbow trout. Redband trout also have very distinct white tips on the anal, dorsal and pectoral fins.
Distribution
Montana Range
Migration
Redbands are typically a stream-resident fish that make short spawning migrations either in the same stream or often into smaller tributaries.
Habitat
Redband trout prefer cool, clean, relatively low gradient streams but, in some circumstances, are able to withstand wider temperature variations than their cousins the westslope cutthroat trout.
Food Habits
Interior redband trout feed mainly on aquatic insects but eat what is available to them. Large adults also eat fish. River populations are mostly insect eaters, while zooplankton and forage fish are important in Lake Koocanusa.
Ecology
Populations of native redband trout, westslope cutthroat trout and introduced coastal rainbow trout coexist in the Kootenai River drainage. Interestingly, redbands have hybridized with westslope cutthroat trout in some drainages and these crosses are considered to be naturally occurring and historic. Hybridization between redbands and rainbows, on the other hand, is considered to be a danger to the continued existence of redband trout.
Reproductive Characteristics
Interior redband trout reach sexual maturity in 2 to 3 years. They spawn from late April through mid-June, depending on water temperatures. The fry typically emerge from the gravel in mid-July.
Citations & Sources
Holton, G. D. 2003. A field guide to Montana fishes. Mont. Dept. Fish, Wildl. Parks, 95 pp.
Citation for data on this website:
Columbia River Redband Trout — Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri. Montana Field Guide. Retrieved on February 1, 2009, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AFCHA02092.aspx
|
|
Sign Up for our Newsletter
*Includes current store specials/coupons and
Fish Tails stories
|
Enter Your Story to
Fish Tails and earn yourself a $20 gift certificate
Want to share your favorite fish story with other anglers?
Email me your picture and story (the fish that got away stories, funny stories, bragging rite stories, extreme stories).
If selected we will give you a $20 gift certificate and your story in our quarterly newsletter, and feature it on our website.
|
|
