The Rainbow-Golden Trout Hybrid

Range and Identity

The parent names retained here are Oncorhynchus mykiss and Oncorhynchus aguabonita. California Golden Trout is native to Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern system. Agency genetic assessments document varying rainbow trout introgression, with a general increase downstream in the South Fork Kern watershed.

Habitat and Behavior

Hybrid ancestry is not restricted to a single first-generation cross. Repeated reproduction and backcrossing can distribute genetic contributions through a population. A fish’s color may offer a clue, but it cannot substitute for genetic evidence when determining ancestry or evaluating the integrity of a golden trout population.

Food and Life History

No maximum length, mass or fixed fertility rule is assigned from either parent. Lower-watershed fish may show less of the bright appearance associated with upper-watershed golden trout. That pattern should not become a rule that every dull fish is hybrid or every bright fish is genetically unmixed.

All Lakes With Rainbow-Golden Trout Hybrid

Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Rainbow-Golden Trout Hybrid records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.

Showing 1–20 of 20 lakes · Page 1 of 1

• Barrier Lake Stillwater, MT
• Bill Lake Stillwater, MT
• Blue Paradise Lake Madison, MT
• Cimmerian Lake Stillwater, MT
• Dreary Lake Stillwater, MT
• Dryad Lake Stillwater, MT
• Hidden Lake (WGFD LR1W0644FT) Fremont, WY
• Lake Pinchot Sweet Grass, MT
• Lake Surrender Stillwater, MT
• Lower Deep Creek Lake Fremont, WY
• Marion Lake Sublette, WY
• Native Lake Sublette, WY
• Norman Lake Fremont, WY
• Peat Lake Sublette, WY
• Poison Lake Sublette, WY
• Rainbow Lake Carbon, MT
• Ravin Lake Stillwater, MT
• Rimrock Lake Carbon, MT
• Rock Lake Fremont, WY
• Spearpoint Lake Fremont, WY