Steelhead vs. Rainbow Trout – What’s the Difference?

April 30, 2015

Question: I’d like to try steelhead fishing for the first time on the American River. I will purchase a regular California fishing license and adhere to all regulations, but do I have to purchase the steelhead card if I don’t intend to keep any steelhead? If so, why can’t one be fishing for regular (rainbow) trout in the same river without a steelhead card? (Lilly K.)

Answer: It can be a bit confusing because steelhead trout and rainbow trout are the same fish. Its scientific name is Oncorhynchus mykiss (O. mykiss). The law recognizes O. mykiss found in land-locked freshwater with no access to the ocean as rainbow trout. The law recognizes steelhead trout as O. mykiss fish found in anadromous waters, which are waters with unimpeded access to the ocean where they live the majority of their life and come back to freshwater to spawn. Fishing for O. mykiss in the Lower American River, which is below Nimbus Dam in Sacramento County, is anadromous water and will require purchase of a Steelhead Report Card, even if you practice catch-and-release. The report card provides important data to fishery scientists and requires an entry for each day that you fish and statistics on fish that are caught and released.