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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Smelts can live in freshwater or saltwater, depending on the species and population. Rainbow smelt include anadromous populations that move between coastal waters and freshwater spawning streams, as well as landlocked populations that stay in freshwater lakes. So “both” is the best short answer—not a single habitat label for every fish called a smelt.
Where rainbow smelt live
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) provide the clearest example of why the answer is both. Some populations are anadromous: they use coastal and estuarine waters for much of their lives, then migrate into freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. Other populations are landlocked and live entirely in freshwater lakes. The U.S. Geological Survey describes both patterns in its Rainbow Smelt species profile.
Anadromous populations
Anadromous rainbow smelt overwinter in estuaries and bays. In spring, adults move into coastal rivers and streams to spawn, often above the head of tide. Their eggs attach to substrate in freshwater spawning areas. Once the larvae hatch, they are carried downstream into tidal areas, where they feed. This life cycle is described in NOAA and partner agencies’ Anadromous Rainbow Smelt Regional Conservation Plan.
Landlocked populations
Some rainbow smelt populations remain in freshwater lakes rather than migrating to the coast. Landlocked populations occur in parts of the northeastern United States and Canada, and in freshwater systems where smelt have been introduced, including the Great Lakes region. The USGS profile documents rainbow smelt as both anadromous and landlocked; distribution and life history vary by population.
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Why “smelt” does not describe one life cycle
“Smelt” is a common name used for multiple species, not a guarantee that a fish follows the rainbow smelt pattern. For example, delta smelt is a distinct species endemic to the upper San Francisco Estuary. Its life history and habitat should not be inferred from rainbow smelt. NOAA’s Natural Resource Response Guide: Marine Fish uses a group-level description of smelts as anadromous, but species-specific evidence shows that this generalization needs qualification: rainbow smelt also have landlocked freshwater populations. The USGS overview of delta smelt life history describes that separate species.
Freshwater or saltwater: what the labels mean here
For an anadromous rainbow smelt, both labels apply at different points in its life cycle: adults use coastal waters and estuaries, while spawning takes place in freshwater streams. Eggs and larvae also occupy different parts of that connected habitat system. For a landlocked population, the documented habitat is freshwater throughout. These descriptions identify where populations live and reproduce; they do not mean that every smelt tolerates every salinity at every life stage.
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Geography matters: a smelt in a freshwater lake may belong to a landlocked population, while a coastal rainbow smelt may migrate into freshwater to spawn. To answer for a particular fish, identify its species and population rather than relying on the word “smelt” alone.
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