I want to fish for Rainbows in the Cowichan river, but I understand there's Steelhead in that river too. But they're one in the same fish are they not? So how does one differentiate between the two?

I'll admit that I'm being cheap and want to wait until April to buy a Steelhead stamp rather than buy one now with only 4 months left in the season. I've got a mortgage and I'm going to school part time, so I need to be frugal where I can.

Plus the fact that there is a Steelhead stamp probably means that their population shouldn't be unnecessarily decreased. I'm happy to go home with just a couple Rainbows.

So any advice to ensure that what I'm getting is a Rainbow and not a Steelhead?

Thanks in advance.

size is the main difference you can see
Rainbows are measured in inches
Steelies in pounds
Winter steelhead season is now to early April in most VI rivers

Although rainbow and steelhead are one the same... There are a few differences. Rainbows will usually reside in the river regardless of the season (hence they will call them resident rainbows, unless the fish were stocked by a hatchery). Steelhead are a sea run rainbow trout (anadromous) usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. This is also the reason why steelhead can grow a lot bigger and faster than a rainbow trout. A steelhead are silver with a blue back. The colour variance is due to enviromental and/or camoflauge.

I believe for resident rainbows.. 3%-5% of the population may eventually decide to become a steelhead. But usually all fry from a steelhead will remain a steelhead.

But if your wondering if it's worth the stealhead stamp for 4 months.. then I would say yes.. The winter run is about to\has started on the island, but will probably peak around Feb-March. So by the time April 1 rolls arounds, You may end up catching the end of the winter run, but will most likely need to wait for the summer or next winter run.

Not from the Cowy you don't:

REGIONAL DAILY CATCH QUOTAS

You must release:
All wild trout and wild steelhead from streams

In addition, methinks any CO that wanders by will seriously question your target, especially so if using anything capable of catching steelhead. Best avoid the confusion, Man Up, and buy the stamp if you are going to fish where steelhead are present IMHO.

Cheers,
Nog

2nd to Nogs post- Read the regs. I see this far too often on the Cowie-people bonking or talk about bonking wild self sustaining rainbow trout, seriously.

Haha, alright. I shall be a MAN, and buy the stamp.

And I'm aware of the reg around wild trout being catch and release in rivers and streams.

From what I gather reading about the state of fisheries on this forum, it seems like it's best to just leave the wild ones be whether I catch them in rivers, streams or lakes.

Funny you say that, just the other weekend a younger guy was fishing sandy pool and talking about only keeping what's legal, hatchery steelhead and trout, cause he's not a poacher.

He was obviously a bit new so I let him know the rules, he just didn't know any better. Actually the same day I say a guy spin fishing the road pool and I let him know its fly fishing only. The shocker was he had called the poacher hotline to ask the rules and they told him it was no problem.

gotta be a f'n lawyer to fish that river.

People lie. They know the regs on the Cowie and other systems, but don't care. When are people going to clue into the fact that rivers are not grocery stores. I can catch 20-40 trout in a day on the Cowie, no imagined if I did that a few times while trying to "bring home a some food".

Once again I am confused. I thought I was readin the regs correctly finally, but it sounds like I'm not after reading you post?

The book says that the upper part of the river is flyfishing only up until Nov 15. Does that not mean it's open to other forms after Nov 15?

And I don't understand why the other person was wrong about only keeping hatchery steelhead and trout? Is that not correct? Is it because there aren't any hatchery fish in the cowichan? Or am I just missing something completely?

there is a part of the cowichan that is fly fishing only year round (from the lake mouth to the 70.2 Mile Tresle). But below it, the majority of the river opens up to all fishing methods after Nov 15 (Unless stated otherwise).

Also thought I'd tell you, it's harder to tell between a wild and hatchery trout since they've stopped clipping the dorsal. Apparently the reason for doing this is to give the tourists the illusion of catching a 'wild' fish. It sucks because it's even harder to determine the wild to hatchery ratio.