We did not observe male steelhead attempting to mate with
resident females, and apparently the interactions are
less common.
Using otolith microchemistry, Zimmerman
and Reeves (2000) were unable to find evidence
of matings between male steelhead and female rainbow
trout in the Deschutes River and found only a few
offspring with resident mothers in the Babine River.

The resident males in our study appeared to provide an important
mate source for female steelhead at the end of the
spawning season when male steelhead were scarce or
absent.