The Rainbow Trout

Range and Identity

Oncorhynchus mykiss is native to Pacific-draining regions and has been widely introduced elsewhere. A locality outside that native setting should retain its introduction history when known. The familiar Rainbow Trout name does not establish whether a particular population is wild, stocked, resident or sea-going.

Habitat and Behavior

Freshwater habitat includes cold, clear streams and lakes. Resident fish complete their lives in fresh water, while steelhead use the ocean before returning to spawn. Insects and fishes are important foods, with marine prey including other animals encountered during the ocean phase.

Food and Life History

Females excavate gravel nests called redds for eggs. Unlike salmon that necessarily die after their first spawning, this species can survive to reproduce again. Upper references are 123 centimeters total length and 25.9 kilograms, independent values across the species rather than a typical stream-trout size.

All Lakes With Rainbow Trout

Browse all lakes and reservoirs with confirmed Rainbow Trout records in our database, listed alphabetically.

Showing 1–24 of 1,885 lakes · Page 1 of 79

• A&M Reservoir Sweetwater, WY
• Ackley Lake Judith Basin, MT
• Adelaide Lake Big Horn, WY
• Afonasi Lake Kenai Peninsula, AK
• Airplane Lake Lemhi, ID
• Ajax Lake Beaverhead, MT
• Akula Lake Kenai Peninsula, AK
• Alcova Reservoir Natrona, WY
• Aldrich Lakes Rio Blanco, CO
• Alexander Lake Delta, CO
• Alice Lake Fremont, WY
• Alkali Lake Lincoln, MT
• Allan Lake Lemhi, ID
• Allen Basin Reservoir Rio Blanco, CO
• Allen Lake Carbon, WY
• Allen Park Lake Weld, CO
• Alpine Creek Lake #05 Blaine, ID
• Alpine Creek Lake #11 Blaine, ID
• Als Coulee Reservoir Blaine, MT
• Alsop Lake Albany, WY
• Alta Reservoir Number 3 San Miguel, CO
• Alturas Lake Blaine, ID
• Alva Lake (KNWR) Kenai Peninsula, AK
• Amc Settling Pond #1 Deer Lodge, MT