The Wonderful Redband Trout (O. Mykiss)
Ever wonder what kind of native fish live in your Spokane River? There are many, including the Mountain whitefish, the Largescale sucker, dace, and other types of fish. Recently, you may have heard about the fall chinook salmon that were released in the Spokane River. These were once the Kings of native salmonid fish, traveling to and from the Pacific Ocean as a part of their life cycle.
Recently a supporter messaged us that he caught a group of red band trout spawning on camera on the Spokane River. Riverkeeper, Jule went out and captured these fish on video… a highly fortunate event as these fish are very private and often hard to see in the wild.
What are redband trout? Well, they are a signature fish living in the Spokane River and across the Columbia Basin and the intermountain west. They are a keystone species in our River and they are an indicator of watershed health…. like a red striped “canary in the coal mine”. Famed for their bright red stripe, when seen underwater, they rival any tropical fish for their beauty and grace. While popular with anglers who catch and release the fish, their populations are depressed by several environmental pressures. These pressures on the populations have put them on the “Priority Species” for conservation and protection with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Additionally, they provide the standard for water quality benchmarks in creeks like Hangman or Latah Creek. Water should be cold and clear, and clean for these beautiful fish to survive and thrive.
Common Threats in the Spokane River Watershed
The threats to their populations are many.
Warming river water is a serious threat. Waters in the Spokane River have warmed significantly and in fact, have killed many fish in the Spokane valley. The warm waters of the valley have changed the ecosystem such that imported Smallmouth Bass are now out competing them.
Agricultural Pollution. Hangman or Latah Creek has had many of the riverside “riparian vegetation removed and is surrounded by agricultural operations that cause severe erosion. These operations have polluted the watershed for years with sediment and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This has checked spawning beds and killed the prey base. Additionally, the added pollution has depleted oxygen in Lake Spokane in such a way that is damaging to trout.
Redband trout are very important to Indigenous Tribes of the Region. Both the Spokane Tribe and the Ceour d’ Alene Tribe are doing a great deal of science on redband conservation and habitat improvement.
Hydro Electric dams. Hydro power is not green power. In fact Hydro power, in our watershed owed and operated by the Avista Corporation and the City of Spokane, has segmented the habitat so fish cannot functionally migrate, created warming waters, and has amplified pollution problems.
Poaching. Fishing for fish with destructive barbed hooks and bait and fishing out of season continues to whittle away at a gene pool that is potentially less vibrant.
Pollution. The Spokane River, while making some gains, continues to struggle with metals pollution coming from Idaho, PCB (chlorinated chemicals), PFAS (perfluorinated chemicals), PBDEs (Fire retardants), Microplastics (found in whitefish), and most probably other chemicals to include pharmaceuticals. Many of these pollutants are discharged legally as the permits do not require addressing them.
Some recent good news:
For so long, the only management of wild redband trout was the establishment of a catch and release fishing season and a season to protect spawning fish. That was it…
Now because of a legal mandate, Avista must let a contract to study the spawning and recruitment of young fish to optimize fish habitat as the dams regulate flows. The Request for Proposals is now out and we certainly hope that this will help provide information as to how to best run the flows so that young fish can survive. Also, the Spokane Lead Entity Salmon recovery body or committee is looking at a Study of “limiting factors” to better understand why we no longer have many fish and only have 300 fish per mile in some sections of the River (Montana rivers can have as many as 2500 fish per mile).
Some fun facts about O. Mykiss…
These trout need very cold water. They thrive in waters that are cooler than 17 C or 62 degrees F.
These trout begin to spawn on the River in Late February and ley eggs in April. The young hatch in May. They dig shallow depressions in the river pebbles to lay eggs in. They are called “redds”.
These trout survive by eating river insects, crayfish, and small prey fish like dace and minnows.
Redlands are very territorial and will live in a “lie” for example in front of or behind a rock, that allows them to dart out and grab drifting prey. They defend these positions from competitors
These trout once left the Spokane River for the Pacific Ocean to live and return after 2 to 4 years as a fish called a “Steelhead”. These ocean–going steelhead could weigh up to 20 + pounds.
Redband trout are prized by many in the city, from anglers who delight in watching them rise to a fly, to photographers like Tim Connor who takes wonderful underwater photos of them to Baseball Teams like the Spokane Indians whose mascot is “Ribby the Redband”. The Redband Rally raises money for redband conservation every year.
The takeaway here is that these remarkable fish are so incredibly valuable to our region that they provide a kind of identity for the River. They deserve more resources and attention to stem their slow decline. Remember, you don’t have to go to Hawaii to see beautiful fish! With their leopard spots and bright red stripes, they are the well-dressed celebrities of the Spokane River!
Redband Trout spawning in the Spokane River - we wish them much success!