Adult steelhead weight varies both by age at maturity and by the feeding conditions encountered in marine waters. I used to read steelhead scales to age them, and the majority were hatchery fish. Wild steelhead, 2-salt have ranged from about 6 to 11 or 12 pounds. 3-salt are usually 12 pounds and up, but do over-lap with the larger 2-salt fish. A 3-salt fish can go over 20 pounds, but I haven't had a large enough sample size to narrow the range. I think most steelhead at about 22 pounds or so, and upwards, are 4-salt fish. And the sample size in that range is extremely small.

Smalma should have access to more age and size data, and maybe he'll help out on this.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.