This is a fresh (chrome) winter steelhead trout that was caught by our guide service on February 21, 2010. If you look closely you'll see that it's right pectoral fin is clipped. If you ask the local drift boat fishing guides they'll tell you that it's a "Hatchery Fish". So, I emailed Fran Verdoliva who is our Salmon River New York Coordinator for the Pulaski & Altmar area which is in Region 7 and he offered the following statement: Dawn,
A missing right pectoral fin is either a Canadian clip [they clip all their fins on the right side] or it is an eroded fin which can happen in the hatchery from rubbing up against the tank walls and other fish, or
someone couldn't tell right form left and clipped the wrong fin. I do not know what the Canadian clips mean for year classes or strains.
So, the bottom line is this: there are 3 possible answers however the most realistic would be that it's a Canadian clipped steelhead. After asking some local full time guides, they agreed that this steelhead is a three year old fish. Thanks to Fran Verdoliva for his input and to the local guides for theirs.
A fat fresh female steelhead loaded with eggs and will be ready to spawn in March & April. She'll be heading back out to Lake Ontario New York after she releases her eggs and will need lots of food to get back her strength and energy. This is what we call a "Drop Back" steelhead trout and they're fun to catch when the water turns warmer. The optimal temperature for a steelhead trout is: 55 degrees.
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For the BEST Fishing Trips,
Dawn A. Rucando
Guide, Booking Agent, and Owner of:
Yankee Fly & Tackle Shop
Wife Approved Lodge & Premier Guide Service
POB 13,
4819 Salina Street Pulaski NY 13142
Shop: (315) 298-2466 Cell: (315) 489-6115
WINTER FISHING OPPORTUNITIES (Dec,Jan,Feb)
Salmon River NY= HUGE Steelhead, Big Brown Trout, Giant Rainbows
Lakes & Ponds= Perch, Panfish, Northern Pike, Walleye
SPRING FISHING OPPORTUNITIES (Mar,April,May)
Salmon River NY= Hungry Steelhead on their way back to Lake Ontario, Big Brown Trout, and Beautiful Rainbow Trout, Some Skamania Steelhead entering the Salmon River in the month of May
Lake Ontario NY= Football Brown trout and MONSTER Walleye Pike
SUMMER FISHING OPPORTUNITIES (June,July,Aug)
Salmon River NY =Atlantic Salmon 4-10 lbs., Skamania Steelhead 8-24 lbs., Small Resident Brown Trout, and 4 pound Small Mouth Bass
Lake Ontario NY=MONSTER Chinook “King” Salmon, Coho Salmon, Fat Football BROWN TROUT, Lunker LAKE TROUT, Chrome STEELHEAD Trout, BIG Largemouth Bass
FALL FISHING OPPORTUNITIES (Sept, Oct, Nov)
This is what we’re MOST Famous For!!!
Salmon River NY= HUGE Chinook “King” Salmon, Line Stripping COHO Salmon, Golden Colored Brown Trout, Dime Bright Steelhead Trout, Once in a Lifetime Atlantic Salmon, Fat Rainbow Trout, and Skamania Steelhead (clipped adipose fin)
