Tiger Trout fishing
Salmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis. Bold, dark vermiculations (tiger-stripe markings) covering a brownish-gray body, more pronounced than on either parent species.
Tiger Trout fishing uses an Acme Kastmaster spoon or a nightcrawler, at dawn and at dusk. The cross is sterile, so every tiger trout in a lake arrived on a stocking truck.
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
- 8 states
- Peak in ID
- June
Identification
- Bold, dark vermiculations (tiger-stripe markings) covering a brownish-gray body, more pronounced than on either parent species.
- Sterile hybrid of a male brook trout and a female brown trout; wild crosses happen where both parents live, but are very rare.
- Typically 10 to 16 inches in stocked lakes, with quality fisheries producing fish up to 20 inches and several pounds.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026 , ndow.org, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Trolled from a boat or float tube over deep, cool water in summer.
Top baits
Fished near bottom or suspended under a bobber, appealing to these fish-eating hybrids.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026 , wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Rod power
Depth by season
Spring
Fish occupy upper water layers while the lake is still cool.
Summer
Rising temperatures push fish into deeper, cooler water during the day, though they return to the shallows during cool evenings.
Fall
Fish return to upper water layers as the lake cools, similar to the spring pattern.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026
Stocked behavior
The cross is sterile, so every tiger trout in a lake arrived on a stocking truck. Utah plants them as small fingerlings, a size this hybrid performs well at, which is cheaper than raising them to catchable size and means planted fish need a season or more of growth. Colorado is testing them as a predator on unwanted suckers and minnows in coldwater lakes.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , cpw.state.co.us, accessed September 19, 2026
Common mistakes
- Fishing only the surface in summer; as the water warms in summer, the trout move to deeper, cooler water.
- Overlooking early morning and evening; for shore anglers, the best time to fish is early in the morning or in the evening.
Best time to fish Tiger Trout
Most commonly stocked in June in Idaho, based on 15 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in June in Nevada, based on 120 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in Utah, based on 565 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in Virginia, based on 363 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in June in Wyoming, based on 178 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
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Montana
Nevada
South Dakota
Utah
Virginia
Wyoming
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 10.25 lbs | Chris Aguilar | Rowdy Lake (Gunnison County) | 2017 |
| Idaho | 9.13 lbs | Austin Christensen | Montpelier Reservoir | 2024 |
| Montana | 4.04 lbs. | Joe Sobczak | Bear Lake | 1997 |
| Utah | 19 lbs. 2 oz. | Jake Trane | Scofield Reservoir | 2013 |
| Washington | 27.42 lbs | Cathy Clegg | Loon Lake, Stevens County | 2022 |
| Wyoming | 14.95 lbs. | Shelby Holder - Kemmerer, WY | Hams Fork River, Lincoln County | 2025 |
Common questions
What lures work for Tiger Trout?
Acme Kastmaster spoon, a spoon in silver and gold. Rapala floating minnow, a crankbait in silver/black and gold/orange. Woolly Bugger streamer, a fly in black, olive, and brown. Triple Teaser spoon, a spoon in nickel, brass, and fluorescent orange: Trolled from a boat or float tube over deep, cool water in summer.
What bait works for Tiger Trout?
Nightcrawler. Cut bait or dead minnow (where legal): Fished near bottom or suspended under a bobber, appealing to these fish-eating hybrids.
Where do Tiger Trout hold?
Spring: Fish occupy upper water layers while the lake is still cool. Summer: Rising temperatures push fish into deeper, cooler water during the day, though they return to the shallows during cool evenings. Fall: Fish return to upper water layers as the lake cools, similar to the spring pattern. Winter: The slow stretch of the year on waters that ice over: WDFW rates spring after ice-out and fall as the best times to target them.
How big do Tiger Trout get?
The Colorado record is 10.25 lbs from Rowdy Lake (Gunnison County) in 2017. The Utah record is 19 lbs. 2 oz. from Scofield Reservoir in 2013. The Washington record is 27.42 lbs from Loon Lake, Stevens County in 2022. 3 more state records are on this page.