Fish ID
Rainbow Trout
California's state fish and the most widely stocked trout. Wild river fish run more colorful; hatchery fish often have worn fins.
Key ID marks
- Pink/red stripe down the side
- Small black spots over back, fins and tail
- No red spots
Mouth ID
White mouth interior and gums; fine teeth along the jaws.
Typical size
10–20 in typical
Best season
Year-round in most lakes; some streams have seasons
Where
Rivers, tailwaters, Sierra lakes and stocked reservoirs
Look-alikes
Brown trout (red spots with halos), steelhead (chrome).
Fish & Game notes
General daily bag is 5 trout in most waters; many rivers have special catch-and-release or gear rules. Check CDFW district regs.
Current CDFW regulations →Find it here
Upper Sacramento RiverYuba RiverStanislaus RiverMerced River (Yosemite)Shasta LakeNew Melones LakeLake TullochDon Pedro ReservoirLake McClureLake McSwainTurlock LakeCamanche ReservoirPardee ReservoirLake AmadorFolsom LakeLake NatomaRollins LakeCollins LakeNew Bullards BarEnglebright LakeLake OrovilleLake BerryessaLake SolanoLos Vaqueros ReservoirLake Del ValleSan Pablo ReservoirLake ChabotBass LakePinecrest LakeLake AlpineSpicer Meadow ReservoirSilver LakeCaples LakeJenkinson Lake (Sly Park)Union Valley ReservoirLoon LakeLake TahoeDonner LakeStampede ReservoirBoca ReservoirProsser Creek Reservoir