![]() ![]() Mature fish range in size from six inches to 20 inches and their weight ranges from less than a pound to four or five pounds. Now a lot of national parks have even created their own species so expect to see many variations of these guys throughout the country, north and south. One of the hardest parts about identifying a cutthroat trout is the fact that there are 11 subspecies based on breeding and stocking in northeastern waters. They’re popular in the southwestern portion of Canada and you can find them up the coast all the way to Alaska. In their natural habitat, you’ll find them in the western portion of the country from Colorado to the west coast. They have much smaller black spots throughout their body and they’re generally more spread out than rainbow trout. You can identify them by the pronounced red lower jaw that makes them look like they’re bleeding. While you might not hear about them as much, cutthroat trout are the second most popular species of trout in North America. They’re opportunistic predators and will eat insects, eggs, minnows, and worms. When choosing a trout lure, fly, or bait – you don’t have to be too picky because they’re not. They’ll thrive in waters with temperatures between 55-60 degrees. They prefer cool freshwater with hard rock bottom and cover from downed or low-hanging trees. Catching Rainbow TroutĬhasing these guys down isn’t hard as they live in rather standard environments being that they’re stocked in most of the places you find them. The record is 48 pounds from a native rainbow trout caught in Canada. The average mature rainbow trout will be about 16-inches long and can weigh between two and eight pounds. While their coloration, shape, lower fins, and mouth might be the same – their habits are much different. That fish species spends a portion of their life in saltwater while returning to the rivers to spawn. Steelhead trout are anadromous which makes them a bit different even though they’re still part of the trout family. A lot of people confuse steelhead and rainbow trout. Throughout the northeast and as far south as Georgia, you can find stocked rainbow trout. If you’re on the east coast like me and you’ve caught rainbow trout, it means that they’re stocked. These guys are native to the west coast from Southern Alaska to Mexico but you can find them in rivers and tributaries throughout the western portion of the country. This is another dead giveaway if the pink stripe isn’t very defined. Rainbow trout have a square tail compared to the forked tail of many other trout. They also have black spots up and down the top and bottom of their body as well. Their name comes from the pink horizontal stripe that runs on the side of their body. The rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss) are the undisputed kings of North American trout fishing. These types of trout are great to eat, they’re fun to fish, and they’re readily available in streams, rivers, and lakes everywhere. Chances are, if you’re a trout angler, you’ve caught a few of these no matter where you live in the country. These are likely the reasons that make them one of the most popular game fish in the country.īy the end of this article, you will know more about trout than you ever thought possible. Some are super rare while others are common.Įither way, I’ve been trout fishing since before I could spell “trout.” They’re a fun game fish to target, catch, and eat. The truth is, many of us will never see most of these trout. While this article covers 13 types of trout, there are many more subspecies and mutations out there. ![]()
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