What do Steelhead eat?

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Lacrosse Ref
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2011/09/30 08:53:50 (permalink)

What do Steelhead eat?

Gents,
I don't keep fish...So I have never looked into the stomach during the cleaning process...
What is the main thing in the lake that allows these Steeles to get big?
Thanks,

#1

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    bigbear2010
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 09:14:55 (permalink)
    same things small trout do in the streams
    depending on the place, caddis, stone flies, may flies, eggs
    when in the lake big prey items like shad
    #2
    dimebrite
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 09:17:08 (permalink)
    We caught a 15# in oswego 2 years ago that was very weary when fighting it and it showed no signs of survival so it was kept.... its belly area was so fat that we just wrote it off to be a female summer run that was ready to drop its eggs; wrong...it was a male.... we neglected to notice it's male features due to its bulging belly....

    Anyways.... its stomach was the size of a soft ball... once we cut it open we counted somwheres around 20 undigested baitfish ranging from 2-4 inches each.... they were still silver skinned.... the freakin fish must of eaten itself to death....

    So there you have it; I believe alewives and gobie...???? Correct me if im wrong anyone... I just think of them as bait fish either way...

    Food for thought; since this instance I have thought about trying a fast sinking tip on a big fly rod with large streamers(salt water type); in the river mouths.... have yet to do it though... maybe someday soon; anyone interested??????

    #3
    draketrutta
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 09:22:53 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: dimebrite

    neglected to notice it's male features due to its bulging belly....


    I know the feeling...
    #4
    retired guy
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 09:33:03 (permalink)
    Tried that Shiner thing last season --no go
      Fished up river with a bunch of local shiners for a few hours in great Steel water - not one hit.
      Ran outa shiners after using my last 2 in a short run. Put on Egg sacs and IMMEDIATLY started hitting Steel. Second or third cast as I recall in exactly the same water.
    #5
    draketrutta
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 09:49:57 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: retired guy

    Fished up river with a bunch of local shiners


    watchin the moon shine through the bottom of a jug.
    ***********************

    (i'm just nitzpickin phrases today - being a wise arze).

    had to submit a report this morning using the correct Engrish language, syntax, and grammer. Took me 4 passes to properly edit out interweb lingo that I learned from Al Gore & friends). I'm still one-step above the text-tards...

    #6
    retired guy
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 10:15:53 (permalink)
    That was shiners -not Shriners.
    #7
    draketrutta
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 10:25:16 (permalink)
    i met no shriners on my visit to backwoods Arkansas & Tennessee..

    got smashed on da mash.

    no funny hat required
    #8
    OldSalt
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 10:53:38 (permalink)

    drake, Always can count on you for a good laugh in the morning....lmao......

    ORIGINAL: draketrutta


    ORIGINAL: dimebrite

    neglected to notice it's male features due to its bulging belly....


    I know the feeling...


    OldSalt
    #9
    salmotrutta
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 12:00:16 (permalink)
    smaller creatures, fishes and caviar. That's my prediction.

    Lyrical
    #10
    cpswing
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 12:47:24 (permalink)
    Have seen guys catch them on shiners in erie. The one fella across from nailed the hell out of them.

    Just an observation

    CP
    #11
    pafisher
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 14:15:36 (permalink)
    At times they'll eat anything they can swallow.
    #12
    bigbear2010
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 14:53:21 (permalink)
    in the lake elwives and other bait fish

    i too have always wondered why the SR fish don't seem interested in minnows
    because emerald shiners can be the ticket on erie tribs

    i was just reading an article on the feeding habits of steelhead, and why they grow much larger than those that stay creek bound...good stuff, but brought up some food for thought
    #13
    hot tuna
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 17:53:39 (permalink)
    Great question.. Here are my observations:
    1. Fall : Trout are feeding on eggs as primary food source (salmon or browns )
    2. Winter : The main food is natural insects, caddis & stones
    3. Spring : Things switch to baitfish, Salmon Smolts and eggs.. Streamers are my go to..
    4. Summer : They are eating what is the main diet in the lake : Alwives & Mysis shrimp

    "whats that smell like fish oh baby" .. J. Kaukonen
    #14
    waDerboy
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 20:32:50 (permalink)
    I've heard of them feeding on hatches in the open lake more than a few times.
    Anybody else?
    #15
    metalslayer
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 20:36:06 (permalink)
    Heard that from state guys at a SOL meeting--very diverse diet.

    Steel on a pin---so easy a caveman can do it.
    #16
    dimebrite
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    RE: What do Steelhead eat? 2011/09/30 20:38:47 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: waDerboy

    I've heard of them feeding on hatches in the open lake more than a few times.
    Anybody else?


    i heard once there was a green drake spinner fall on the lake and steelhead were boiling on them as they were dipping up and down off the water...

    edit: oops; i shouldve typed that in pink just like those river side panties....
    post edited by dimebrite - 2011/09/30 20:39:49
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