Montana Field Guide

Columbia River Redband Trout are a native trout of western North America. There is considerable variation in the life history in this group of trout. Resident stream populations are found throughout the Columbia River basin. A lake variation known as Kamloops are found in some larger lakes in the Columbia and Frasier River (British Columbia) basins. A third variation is the steelhead that migrated from the ocean as far as the upper Snake River, Idaho (almost 1000 miles) (Behnke 1992).

For a comprehensive review of the ecology, conservation status, threats, and management of this and other Montana fish species of concern, please see Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Species of Concern Status Reviews.

Characteristics vary considerably among populations of Montana's stream-resident Columbia River Redband Trout, but generally they can be differentiated from the non-native Coastal Rainbow Trout by larger more rounded spots, parr marks that tend to remain into adulthood and are more orange-red around the lateral line surrounded by greenish-yellow, rather than pink-red around the lateral line surrounded by dark green and silver like Coastal Rainbow Trout. Columbia River Redband Trout also have very distinct white tips on the anal, dorsal and pectoral fins.

Columbia River Redband Trout are typically a stream-resident fish that make short spawning migrations either in the same stream or often into smaller tributaries.

Columbia River Redband Trout prefer cool, clean, relatively low gradient streams but, in some circumstances, are able to withstand wider temperature variations than their cousins the Westslope Cutthroat Trout.

Interior Columbia River Redband Trout feed mainly on aquatic insects but eat what is available to them. Large adults also eat fish. River populations are mostly insectivores, while zooplankton and forage fish are important food sources in Lake Koocanusa.

Populations of native Columbia River Redband Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout and introduced Coastal Rainbow Trout coexist in the Kootenai River drainage. Interestingly, Columbia River Redband Trout have hybridized with Westslope Cutthroat Trout in some drainages and these crosses are considered to be naturally occurring and historic. Hybridization between Columbia River Redband Trout and Coastal Rainbow Trout, on the other hand, is considered to be a danger to the continued existence of Columbia River Redband Trout.

Columbia River Redband Trout reach sexual maturity in 2 to 3 years. They spawn from late April through mid-June, depending on water temperatures. The fry typically emerge from the gravel in mid-July.

Long-term conservation and management of this subspecies will require state and federal agencies to develop a comprehensive plan to protect and restore redband trout throughout their native range in Montana. One objective should be to develop a wild brood stock for reintroductions throughout the Kootenai River drainage.

Land and water use practices, habitat loss, over harvest, hybridization and a geographical restricted range are leading factors contributing to the decline of redband trout abundance, distribution and genetic diversity in the Columbia River basin (Williams et al. 1989; Behnke 1992).