From Fry to Smolt

The eggs deposited in the gravel incubate there for about four to seven weeks, depending on water temperature. After hatching, the sac fry remain in the gravel for several weeks until the yolk sacs are absorbed. When they emerge as free swimming fry, they seek slack current areas.

Young steelhead spend from one to three years in a stream, feeding on a variety of invertebrates and "drift." The average stream stay is two years. Survival rate to maturity of older juveniles is higher than those that migrate to the Great Lakes (or ocean) at age one. Downstream movements of juveniles occur in the spring, April to July, usually at night on receding water levels, with stream temperatures of 48° F. to 62° F. (9° C to 17° C). These movements occur after the steelhead parr, when between four and eight inches long, undergo a smolting process. They lose their parr bar markings and turn silver, like the adults. Young steelhead also can be physically displaced downstream at any time of year after a freshet occurs.

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