Didja know that steelhead used to range as far south as the Tijuana River in Baja California?

last time I saw the TJ river, a carp couldn't survive in it.

I heard it's now full of "Brown Trout"

John

One of Portland's Latanzi brothers did an article for STS on Malibu Creek, sometime in the 90's I think. He did a survey on the few steelhead that still make it back there. Geez, that's right down there with the Beach Boys and surfer girls in north L.A. area. Not many coming back though, and they have to wait for a rare rain to get up into the creek. No fishing allowed.

I should know this trivia but I can't remember - who named these fish "steelhead", and why?

Wouldn't it be great to think that it was some sort of poetic reference to the appearance of a fresh-run fish? The usual (and probably true) explanation is that the name was given to them in the early days by commercial fishermen. The steelhead's bones, including his skull are substantially heavier and stronger than those of other salmon species and consequently required an extra whack or two.

That's the story I heard as well. Ever had a bonked brat suddenly come back to life and almost flop back in the river after 10 to 15 minutes?

My guess on the name thing is just what it sounds like, they gots a hard noggin'!

Back in the old days, before George Boldt, and before I knew better, I worked in a fish processing plant. The occasional steelhead was dressed out just like the salmon, head removed with a butcher knife cut through the brain. They have a REALLY hard head, plain as that.

Shoot, I read an article one time that I thought said steelhead were abundantly present in a stream down in South America. I thought that's where it was? I know it was another country anyway.

i think there's a 'steelhead' enhancement project going on at the marine base in san diego. from what i've heard the fish are more like the half-pounder variety.

i'm not sure about steelhead in south america but i know there are sea-run browns there. they were introduced there,especially on the atlantic side in argentina. the rivers didn't seem to have a whole bunch of food to support them so a large chunk started to migrate to the ocean. from what i've heard and read it's turned into a killer fishery there now when they return to spawn,lots of fish and big ones too,twenty and thirty pound fish seem pretty common.if you've got the cash they have guided trips there and for fly fishers especially it's sounds like one of those once in a lifetime kinda experiences.no one around and great fishin'. i think they're in rivers all they way down to patagonia.