Rainbow trout are the most widely caught freshwater gamefish in North America — stocked in lakes and streams from Maine to Hawaii and thriving as wild fish across the Rocky Mountain West. They’re acrobatic, hard-fighting, and catchable on a remarkable range of methods.
Rainbow Trout Habitat
Rainbow trout require cold, well-oxygenated water with a preferred temperature range of 50–65°F. In rivers they hold in current seams — the transition between fast and slow water. In lakes they follow the thermocline in summer and move shallow in spring and fall.
Best Techniques
Fly Fishing
Dry fly fishing during hatches produces the most exciting fishing. Nymphing is the most consistently productive method when fish aren’t rising.
Elk Hair Caddis (sizes 14–18) — universal dry fly for riffled water
➜ Elk Hair Caddis Assortment — Buy on Amazon
Pheasant Tail Nymph (sizes 14–18) — the most versatile nymph ever tied
➜ Pheasant Tail Nymph Assortment — Buy on Amazon
Woolly Bugger (sizes 6–10, black and olive) — streamer that produces large rainbows
➜ Woolly Bugger Assortment — Buy on Amazon
Spin Fishing
Panther Martin spinner in sizes 1/16–1/4 oz
➜ Panther Martin Spinner — Buy on Amazon
Rapala Original Floating Minnow F05
➜ Rapala Original F05 — Buy on Amazon
Bait Fishing
PowerBait in chartreuse or rainbow is the most effective bait for stocked rainbows.
➜ Berkley PowerBait Rainbow — Buy on Amazon
Rainbow Trout Gear
Fly rod: 9-foot, 5-weight
➜ Orvis Clearwater 9ft 5wt — Buy on Amazon
Spinning rod: 6-foot ultralight rated for 2–6lb
➜ Ugly Stik Elite 6ft Ultralight — Buy on Amazon
Book a Guided Rainbow Trout Trip
➜ Browse Rainbow Trout Guided Fishing Trips — Viator
Frequently Asked Questions
What size rainbow trout is a trophy?
In most rivers, over 20 inches is notable. In premium tailwaters and reservoirs, 24+ inches is a trophy. In Alaska, rainbows over 28 inches exist in some rivers.