Golden Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita. Olive back with distinctive golden sides and a red horizontal band along the lateral line.
Photos
Click a photo to expand it for a closer look.
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.
Active times
- dawn
- dusk
Top lures
- Small inline spinner (spinner , silver/gold): Cast and retrieve in high lakes, alongside spoons.
- Small spoon (spoon , silver/gold): Cast and retrieve or troll over deeper water in high lakes.
- Adams dry fly (fly , gray/brown): Early morning or late afternoon during insect activity; midday is typically slow.
- Woolly worm wet fly (fly , black/brown/olive): Fished below the surface on light leaders when fish aren't rising.
Top baits
- Worm: Dangled below a bobber or floated up from a slip sinker, with a light leader and minimal weight in clear high-lake water.
- Salmon eggs: Drifted on a small hook with ultra-light tackle; golden trout are leader-shy in clear water.
- Artificial paste bait: Small ball molded onto a light hook and floated up off the bottom from a slip sinker.
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 heavy line or terminal tackle; golden trout are leader-shy in clear, still high-lake water.
- Fishing through midday; the bite is typically strongest early morning and late afternoon.
- Giving up at midday; when fish are not rising, WDFW advises bait or lures near the bottom, 50 to 150 feet out from shore.
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 4.17 lbs | Arthur Jackson | Gunn Lake, Snohomish County | 2020 |
| Utah | 1 lb. 2.88 oz. | Isaac Vance | Marsh Lake | 2019 |
Sources: Washington's official record page , Utah's official record page , accessed 2026-09-19.
Where it's stocked
No stocking events recorded for Golden Trout yet.
Sources
- identification (accessed 2026-09-18)
- active_times (accessed 2026-09-18)
- top_lures (accessed 2026-09-18)
- top_baits (accessed 2026-09-18)
- line_and_tackle (accessed 2026-09-18)
- stocked_behaviour (accessed 2026-09-18)
- common_mistakes (accessed 2026-09-19)