Guides › Species Profiles

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Cold, clean water and a pink stripe — a stocked-lake favorite.

Rainbow Trout
Illustration: Duane Raver / USFWS (public domain)
01 · At a glance

Typical Size & Weight

Length
10–15 in
Weight
Up to 1½ lb

Source

Active Seasons

Wild Ozark rainbows spawn late December through early February. In warm states, rainbows are stocked for winter put-and-take fishing. MDC TPWD

02

Habitat & Distribution

Water types

  • Water that stays below 70°F Source
  • Spring branches and spring-fed streams Source
  • Cold tailwaters below dams (e.g., Lake Taneycomo) Source

Structure & cover

  • Deep holes, especially when spring flow is low Source

Most populations are kept up by hatchery stocking. Source

Basic info

  • Dark olive back, silvery-white belly, heavy speckling and a pink-to-red side stripe. Source
  • Native west of the Rockies from Alaska into Mexico; introduced widely, including the Great Lakes. Source
03

Feeding Habits

  • Eats insects, crustaceans, mollusks and fish. Source
  • Cool-to-cold-water fish; does best below 70°F. Source
04

Recommended Tactics & Lures

  • Drift bait with a split shot 12–24 in above the hook; marabou jigs (1/16 oz and smaller). Source
  • Flies, worms, minnows, spinners, small plugs. Source

Seasons and rules vary by state. Always check your state's current fishing regulations on our Fishing by State page. Last checked: Oct 30, 2026.