3393e0795c83cb93fba2f9460335af82

Unlike other salmon, steelhead can go back and forth from the ocean to their spawning grounds up to 4 times. But they normally do die after one of these trips. This steelhead was pretty beat up but definitely still alive hanging out in Maacama creek off the Russian river. Weak enough to let me cradle it briefly and check that it's adipose fin was not clipped to confirm its wild as opposed to a hatchery bred fish