Golden Trout fishing
Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita. Olive back with distinctive golden sides and a red horizontal band along the lateral line.
Golden Trout fishing uses a small inline spinner or a worm with an ultralight spinning gear, or a 5-7 weight fly rod, at dawn and at dusk. Golden trout are among the species Utah stocks by aircraft into remote high lakes, released as 1-3 inch fingerlings rather than catchable-size fish.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn and Dusk
- Line
- –
- Hook sizes
- –
- Stocked in
- 5 states
- Peak in ID
- September
Identification
- Olive back with distinctive golden sides and a red horizontal band along the lateral line.
- About 10 dark, vertical, oval-shaped parr marks along each side.
- White-edged dorsal, lateral, and anal fins, with dark spots on the upper body and fins.
- Typically 8 to 12 inches in high-lake populations, with quality waters producing fish 15+ inches.
Top lures
Early morning or late afternoon during insect activity; midday is typically slow.
Top baits
Drifted on a small hook with ultra-light tackle; golden trout are leader-shy in clear water.
Line & tackle
- Rod power
- Ultralight spinning gear, or a 5-7 weight fly rod; WDFW advises light leaders of 4 pound test or less because high-lake water is very clear
Stocked behavior
Golden trout are among the species Utah stocks by aircraft into remote high lakes, released as 1-3 inch fingerlings rather than catchable-size fish. These plants need a full growing season or more before reaching catchable size, and behave like wild high-lake trout from the start, holding in clear, cold water rather than schooling naively near a release point.
Common mistakes
- Fishing through midday; the most effective times to fish are generally early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
- Giving up at midday; when fish aren't rising, use bait or lures near the lake bottom, 50 to 150 feet from shore.
Best time to fish Golden Trout
Most commonly stocked in September in Idaho, based on 13 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in July in Wyoming, based on 97 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
40 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Idaho
Ohio
Wyoming
Also stocked in Pennsylvania , where no lake with this species has enough history for its own search-indexed page yet.
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 3.75 lbs | Donald O' Leary | Kelly Lake (Jackson County) | 1979 |
| Idaho | 5.13 lbs | George Wolverton | White Sands Lake | 1958 |
| Montana | 5.43 lbs. | Mike Malixi | Cave Lake | 2000 |
| Utah | 1 lb. 2.88 oz. | Isaac Vance | Marsh Lake | 2019 |
| Washington | 4.17 lbs | Arthur Jackson | Gunn Lake, Snohomish County | 2020 |
| Wyoming | 11.25 lbs. | C.S. Reed - Omaha, NE | Cook Lake, Sublette County | 1948 |
Common questions
What lures work for Golden Trout?
Small inline spinner, a spinner in silver and gold. Small spoon, a spoon in silver and gold. Adams dry fly, a fly in gray and brown: Early morning or late afternoon during insect activity; midday is typically slow. Woolly worm wet fly, a fly in black, brown, and olive.
What bait works for Golden Trout?
Worm. Salmon eggs: Drifted on a small hook with ultra-light tackle; golden trout are leader-shy in clear water. Artificial paste bait.
How big do Golden Trout get?
The Colorado record is 3.75 lbs from Kelly Lake (Jackson County) in 1979. The Utah record is 1 lb. 2.88 oz. from Marsh Lake in 2019. The Washington record is 4.17 lbs from Gunn Lake, Snohomish County in 2020. 3 more state records are on this page.