Rainbow Trout — US fishing guide
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Salmonidae
Svenska: Regnbåge
Rainbow Trout is one of North America's most sought-after freshwater game fish, found across stocked nationwide, wild in western mountain lakes and rivers, great lakes steelhead. Below is where it lives, when it bites and how to catch it — plus the top US lakes where it has been recorded.
At a glance
Typical habitat
Cold clear streams, lakes, rivers
Active times
Dawn, dusk, hatches
Best season
Cooler parts of year
US range
Stocked nationwide, wild in Western mountain lakes and rivers, Great Lakes steelhead
How to catch Rainbow Trout
Fly fishing with nymphs and dry flies; spinners; PowerBait in stocked waters
Lake-by-lake occurrence data for Rainbow Trout is being compiled from GBIF and will appear here soon. In the meantime, explore US lakes by state.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you find Rainbow Trout?
Rainbow Trout typically holds around cold clear streams, lakes, rivers. In the US it is common across stocked nationwide, wild in western mountain lakes and rivers, great lakes steelhead.
When is the best time to catch Rainbow Trout?
Rainbow Trout is most active dawn, dusk, hatches, with the best fishing cooler parts of year.
What is the best way to fish for Rainbow Trout?
Fly fishing with nymphs and dry flies; spinners; PowerBait in stocked waters