Oncorhynchus mykiss

Synonyms

Rainbow Trout

Redband Trout

Salmo gairdneri

Steelhead

Steelheads

Trout, Rainbow

Trout, Redband

A large stout-bodied, sometimes anadromous, TROUT found in still and flowing waters of the Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska. It has a greenish back, a whitish belly, and pink, red, or lavender stripes on the sides, with usually a sprinkling of black dots. It is highly regarded as a sport and food fish. Its former name was Salmo gairdneri. The sea-run rainbow trouts are often called steelheads. Redband trouts refer to interior populations of rainbows.