← Species
🐟🏞️ Freshwater
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Beautiful, challenging fish in cold, clear streams and lakes
📅 When to Fish
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Habitat
Cold, well-oxygenated streams and rivers. Tailwaters below dams stay cold year-round.
Best Season
Spring and fall.
Best Times
Early morning and late afternoon.
Record
48 lbs (Alaskan steelhead)
Ideal Water Temp
50–67°F
Top Lures & Baits
- •PowerBait (stocked trout)
- •Small spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail)
- •Small spoons
🔍 Identification
Pink-red lateral stripe running from gills to tail. Black spots on back, sides, and fins. Silvery sides fading to white belly. Adipose fin present.
🍽️ Eating Quality
Excellent — pink to orange flesh, mild and delicate. Wild fish richer-tasting than stocked.
📍 Where to Find It
Rocky Mountain statesPacific NorthwestCaliforniaGreat LakesStocked in 45+ states
🎣 Beginner Tip
For stocked trout in lakes, use a PowerBait egg floating off the bottom on a size 10 hook with a small split shot 18 inches above.