Well, I took my 8 and 10 year old sons steelhead fishing. Problem is, they come up with way too many good questions. Wouldn't be so bad if I had the answers

Here are a couple of my favorites from this past weekend. Can anybody out there help with these questions?

From my 10 year old: Why do steelhead bucks darken up quicker in freshwater than the hens?

From my 8 year old: How come steelhead can live after spawning but salmon don't?

Much thanks all.

They are on their way to become good engineers. Why this, why that, what about this.

I am sure there are many experts who know better but I'll give it a try since they may be busy fighting each other.

Bucks come earlier to establish the territory and they also stay longer to protect the eggs and the longer in the river the more they match the environment (by getting darker) for concealment.

Not all salmon die. About ten percent of Atlantic salmon survive the spawning and return to ocean. Some say Atlantic salmon is East coast steelhead?!

Im pretty sure that all pacific salmon die after spawning, and I recently read that only 7-15% of steelies spawn more than once.

Thanks guys. The boys and I enjoyed checking for answers. Appreciate your input.