Rainbow Trout fishing

Oncorhynchus mykiss

About Rainbow Trout

A salmonid of cold, clean water in western rivers and stocked lakes. Best in the cool seasons. In a river it holds in the seam beside the fast water, where the flow delivers food without costing it energy. A small spinner, a bead head nymph or a drifted worm all catch, what decides it is a natural drift and a light leader. Stocked lake fish behave differently, they cruise in loose groups near the surface and take best in the cool hours.

Typical size: Usually 0.5-2 kg, big fish over 4 kg. Record (approx.): ≈ 21 kg.

Season, time and habitat

Best season

Apr-May, Sep-Oct

Best time

Dawn, dusk

Habitat

River, Lake

Season by month

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Darker cell = more active that month. Based on the species' usual yearly rhythm.

Lures and baits that work

Spinner Reel just fast enough to keep the blade spinning from the off. Work it along weed edges, rocks and current seams, shallow or deep. Check price on Amazon

Spoon Cast out and retrieve at a steady pace so the spoon flashes and wobbles. Vary the speed and let it flutter down between turns. Check price on Amazon

Fly Present the fly on a fly line, dry on top or wet below. Mend the line, stay in contact and strike on the light take. Check price on Amazon

Float bait Bait with worm, maggot or corn and set the float so the bait hovers just above the bottom. Strike when the float goes under. Check price on Amazon

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Waters where Rainbow Trout bites

Lake Tahoe California Snake River Idaho Lake Ontario New York Yellowstone River Wyoming

Open a water for live weather, water temperature and today's odds.

Guides about Rainbow Trout

How to catch trout: streams, stocked lakes, and reading the water

Find waters where Rainbow Trout is biting now

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Common questions

When is the best time to catch Rainbow Trout?

Rainbow Trout fishing is usually best around Apr-May, Sep-Oct. The best windows in the day are usually dawn, dusk.

What lures and baits work for Rainbow Trout?

Effective methods for Rainbow Trout include Spinner, Spoon, Fly and Float bait.

Where can you catch Rainbow Trout?

Rainbow Trout is most often found in river, lake. Napp shows the nearest waters and the live odds on the bite right now.