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Rainbow Trout
Habitat and Diet:
Native to the Pacific Northwest, rainbow trout came to
Michigan in 1876. Rainbow trout can now be found in rivers
everywhere in the state. The large, lake-dwelling rainbows that
live in the Great Lakes but travel upstream to spawn have
come to be called steelhead trout.
Rainbow trout are predators that eat a wide variety of things,
including small fish, crustaceans, insects, and shrimp.
Relationship to humans:
Rainbow trout, especially large steelhead, are very popular
sport fish and also delicious when simply prepared. Native
rainbow trout populations are highly-valued, and many states
have started conservation efforts to protect these populations
for generations to come.
Fun/Unusual fact:
The Michigan record for a rainbow trout is over 26 pounds and
almost 40 inches long!