Rainbow Trout fishing
Oncorhynchus mykiss. Blue-green to olive back, silver sides and belly, with black spots on the body and on the dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins.
Rainbow Trout fishing uses a Yakima Rooster Tail spinner or a PowerBait dough bait on 4 to 8 lb line, at dawn and at dusk. Rainbow trout are one of the most widely stocked trout.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked October 5, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn and Dusk
- Line
- 4–8 lb
- Hook sizes
- Size 12-16 treble for floating PowerBait, or a size 10-12 J-hook with sinking artificial bait
- Stocked in
- 18 states
- Peak in AK
- June
Identification
- Blue-green to olive back, silver sides and belly, with black spots on the body and on the dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins.
- A pink to reddish stripe runs along the lateral line, the trait that gives the species its name.
- Typically 11 to 18 inches in stocked lakes and streams; standout fisheries can produce trout over 20 inches.
- Same species as steelhead, but rainbow trout stay in fresh water their whole lives instead of migrating to sea.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026
Top lures
Top baits
Marble-sized ball molded onto a treble hook, floated 12 to 24 inches below a small sliding sinker or split shot.
Threaded onto a bait hook two or three times, leaving about an inch dangling, fished under a bobber or on bottom.
Single egg or small cluster on an egg hook, drifted or suspended under a bobber.
Line & tackle
- Line
- 4–8 lb
- Rod power
- Light to ultralight spinning rod with a moderate-fast tip for casting small lures
- Hook sizes
- Size 12-16 treble for floating PowerBait, or a size 10-12 J-hook with sinking artificial bait
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 18, 2026 , idfg.idaho.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Depth by season
Spring
Water is still cool, so fish hold shallow and often near the surface close to where they were stocked.
Summer
Surface water warms, pushing fish deeper; fishing bait or trolling lures near bottom works better.
Fall
Cooling water brings fish back up toward the surface, similar to the spring pattern.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026
Stocked behavior
Rainbow trout are one of the most widely stocked trout. Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife states that all hatchery rainbow trout stocked into its waters are of coastal rainbow trout genetic origin. How long a planted fish stays catchable varies by water, so read the stocking dates on each lake page instead of assuming a fixed window.
Common mistakes
- Fishing one depth all season; in spring and fall the water is cooler and rainbow trout are often found near the surface and more active.
- Fishing through the middle of the day; the next-best time is late afternoon, from about three hours before sunset until dusk.
- Using one rig everywhere; a fixed bobber rig is best for shallow ponds and small streams, a slip bobber rig for trout feeding mid-column.
Best time to fish Rainbow Trout
Most commonly stocked in June in Alaska, based on 8191 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Idaho, based on 15397 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in March in Iowa, based on 10 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in Michigan, based on 2879 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Montana, based on 6762 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in Nevada, based on 1352 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in March in New Mexico, based on 4917 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in New York, based on 3999 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in October in Pennsylvania, based on 54 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in September in South Dakota, based on 572 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Utah, based on 5256 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in Virginia, based on 2919 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in Washington, based on 1956 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Wyoming, based on 1640 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
318 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Alaska
Idaho
Iowa
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 19.63 lbs | Lee Cox | Morrow Point Reservoir (Gunnison County) | 2003 |
| Idaho | 20.03 lbs | Todd Phillips | Dworshak Reservoir | 2026 |
| Kentucky | 14.38 lbs | Jim Mattingly Somerset, KY | Cumberland River | 1972 |
| Montana | 33.1 lbs. | Jack G. Housel, Jr. | Kootenai River David Thompson Bridge | 1997 |
| New York | 31 lb. 3 oz. | Robert Wilson | Lake Ontario, Niagara Co. | 2004 |
| Utah | 26 lbs. 2 oz. | Del Canty | Flaming Gorge Reservoir | 1979 |
| Virginia | 14 lbs. 12 oz. | Grant Bentz | Spring Creek | 2024 |
| Washington | 29.60 lbs | Norm Butler | Rufus Woods Lake, Okanogan County | 2002 |
| Wyoming | 23 lbs. | Frank Favazzo | Burnt Lake, Sublette County | 1969 |
Common questions
What lures work for Rainbow Trout?
Yakima Rooster Tail spinner, a spinner in chartreuse, silver, gold, and white. Panther Martin spinner, a spinner in black/yellow, silver, and gold. Acme Kastmaster spoon, a spoon in silver, gold, and white. Curly-tail grub on a jighead, a jig in white, chartreuse, and silver.
What bait works for Rainbow Trout?
PowerBait dough bait: Marble-sized ball molded onto a treble hook, floated 12 to 24 inches below a small sliding sinker or split shot. Nightcrawler: Threaded onto a bait hook two or three times, leaving about an inch dangling, fished under a bobber or on bottom. Salmon eggs: Single egg or small cluster on an egg hook, drifted or suspended under a bobber.
Where do Rainbow Trout hold?
Spring: Water is still cool, so fish hold shallow and often near the surface close to where they were stocked. Summer: Surface water warms, pushing fish deeper; fishing bait or trolling lures near bottom works better. Fall: Cooling water brings fish back up toward the surface, similar to the spring pattern.
How big do Rainbow Trout get?
The Colorado record is 19.63 lbs from Morrow Point Reservoir (Gunnison County) in 2003. The Utah record is 26 lbs. 2 oz. from Flaming Gorge Reservoir in 1979. The Washington record is 29.60 lbs from Rufus Woods Lake, Okanogan County in 2002. 6 more state records are on this page.