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Characteristics of Steelhead Trout Redds in Idaho Streams
Author(s) -
Orcutt Donald R.,
Pulliam Ben R.,
Arp Arthur
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1968)97[42:costri]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - streams , trout , square (algebra) , fishery , rainbow trout , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , yard , fish <actinopterygii> , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering , computer network , mathematics , quantum mechanics , computer science , physics , geometry
Steelhead spawning behavior and redd construction were studied in 1958 and 1959 in the Clearwater and Salmon River watersheds in Idaho. Steelhead began spawning in early April; spawning peaked between 20 April and 10 May at water temperatures of 36 to 47 F., and was over by 15 June. Minimum water depth over a redd was 0.7 feet; maximum water depth exceeded 5 feet. Water velocity 0.4 feet above streambed averaged 2.3 to 2.5 ft/sec. Steelhead favored spawning gravels 0.5 to 4.0 inches in diameter; however, they readily accepted areas with smaller and somewhat larger gravels if 6‐inch stones were not abundant. Steelhead tolerated crowding without antagonism; pairs spawned within 4 feet of one another. The average redd occupied 6.5 square yards of gravel, and ranged from 2.9 to 13.4 square yards.