Popular Fresh=Water Game Fish 



family east of the Allegliany Mountains. But 

 if inferior as food fishes, the steel-heads possess 

 all the game qualities of Eastern trout. They are 

 fly takers when in the streams on shallow ledges 

 of rock in the lower waters. On taking the natural 

 hait the steel-head is apt to surge deep and strong, 

 but when fastened on the fly for which it rises, it 

 is an acrobat, leaping repeatedly from the water. 

 These aerial flights lead the angler to believe that 

 it is closely allied to the rainbow trout, the only 

 trout west of the Rocky Mountains — with the ex- 

 ception of the stream steel-head — that will rise 

 and leap frantically into the air. 



The rainbow trout (Salmo irideus) are typical 

 game fishes of the salmon family, and are equal 

 in fighting qualities, when found in streams of 

 moderate size and depth, to the leaping salmon 

 of Lake St. John. It is one of the most muscular 

 and resourceful of fishes for its size, rising freely 

 to the fly, leaping on a slack line, and fighting lit- 

 erally to the death. 



In Eastern waters, the rainbow appears to 

 have acquired increased strength, and certainly 

 greater leaping powers. It is also the hardiest of 

 the salmon trout, for it will thrive in water of a 

 higher temperature than is suitable for other 

 species. Though a gormand in its appetite, it is 

 cleanly in feeding, liking best the live minnow or 

 insect on the surface. A swimming grasshopper 

 is irresistible, and no fish rises so freely to a cast 

 of artificial flies. 



There are five subspecies of rainbows, the 

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