Continuous-flow toxicity tests were conducted to determine the relative tolerances of newly hatched alevins, swim-up alevins, parr, and smolts of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (Salmo gairdneri) to cadmium, copper, and zinc. Newly hatched alevins were much more tolerant to cadmium and, to a lesser extent, to zinc than were later juvenile forms. However, the later progression from swim-up alevin, through parr, to smolt was accompanied by a slight increase in metal tolerance. The 96-h LC50 values for all four life stages ranged from 1.0 to >27 μg Cd/liter, 17 to 38 μg Cu/liter, and 93 to 815 μg Zn/liter. Steelhead were consistently more sensitive to these metals than were chinook salmon. When a sensitive life stage for acute toxicity tests with metals is sought, the more resistant newly hatched alevins should be avoided. Although tolerance may increase with age, all later juvenile life stages are more sensitive and should give similar results.