When do they consider them Steelhead?

[Slate_Drake_9]

I guess it comes down to you call them whatever makes you happy. All have their place, but usually don't mix well.

From the people I know and fish with, I think there are three general types of folks who would want the fish labeled different ways.

"Real" Steelheaders = guys who swing wet/spey/dee flies to real steelhead that came from the ocean and live in Pacific Ocean drainage rivers. One fish a week is great. Tradition means a lot to these folks. Wouldn't be caught dead calling a lake run rainbow a steelhead. Won't consider a fish a steelhead unless it's wild. Otherwise it's an ocean run rainbow. Usually pretty hardcore and misunderstood by other anglers who don't share their passion. Probably wearing a Filson or Barbour or some other waxed cotton wading jacket with some wool underneath. Will change out of these clothes at their parking spot along the river before they go out for dinner.

"Extreme" Steelheaders = anglers that think they live on the edge (usually the edge of a great lake and consider themselves HARDCORE ). Extreme sports type of mentality that bleeds into their fishing mentality. Use phrases like "that's ballin" "dude" "sick" "fo shizzle" etc. Do whatever it takes to catch big numbers of steelhead, because that's what matters > how many you catch. Probably have a picture of every fish they've caught (probably carry these around as proof.) These folks use beads as flies, among other things many fly fishers or state fish commissions wouldn't consider a fly. Goretex, fleece and hi-tech gear are a must to be successful. That waxed cotton stuff and wool is just too heavy and outdated to wear. They'll wear their fishing clothing into the restaurant after the fishing is done so folks will know they were steelhead fishing when they see them. Large arbor reels. They don't have any idea what an 8 weight fly line is, because they only refer to lines by weight in grains. Fly boxes full of the newest cutting edge fly patterns and probably none of the old standards because those have been seen by fish before and aren't any good anymore. Listening to their ipod or mp3 player while they fish. Tube flies. Every rainbow caught is a steelhead. Smaller ones are just smolts. Have never smelled a steelhead river, let alone fished one. Probably don't know their flyfishing history and will just reply with a blank stare when you talk about it. Just don't understand the "real" steelheaders.

And then there's the rest of us who just don't care that much and like to catch fish on flies and have a bit of each of the above in us. We'll call it a steelhead when we fish with our extreme steelheading friends and call it a lake run rainbow when we fish with the real steelheaders. We'll have a blast catching them, no matter what they're called.