Read the article with FishingTheSpot: the rainbow trout
Keep an eye on this subject!
Thousands of species spotlights and techniques but also all the local information about your city!
Meet other anglers near you and share your fishing fishing trips, afoot or on a boat, at sea or in freshwater
See the fishing tripsThe Rainbow trout
march to September
20 cm
Did you fish
this species this month?
The Rainbow trout belongs to the Salmonidae family. On average, it measures 35 to 70 cm and weighs 500 g to 6 kg. In this species, a maximum lifespan of 11 years has been observed. Rainbow trout reproduce naturally from late March to early July. Fertility is about 2000 eggs per kg. Depending on the region, it is fished from March to September.
Rainbow trout have a streamlined, laterally compressed and slender body. It has a small head and a slightly split mouth. Its body is arched at the level of the dorsal fin. It should also be noted that there is an adipose fin common to all Salmonids. Its scales are small and thin. Generally, the entire body is punctuated by small black spots, many on the back and sides, as well as on the dorsal and caudal fins. The back is olive green and the sides are silvery. The color of the belly varies from white to yellowish. Nevertheless, the general coloring of the body varies greatly depending on the age, habitat and physiological stage of the fish. The particularity of rainbow trout lies in the presence, all along the body, of an iridescent longitudinal band, predominantly pink. During the breeding season, the female is generally rounder because of the ovarian volume, while the males appear to be more elongated. They become darker and their colors more vivid.
The Rainbow trout lifestyle
The Rainbow trout feed mainly during the day. Its diet is based on small invertebrates (chironomid larvae, daphnia and gammares) but its also eats small fish, eggs, amphibians and mollusks. Younger individuals prefer zoobenthos and zooplankton.
It is a gonochoric species with genetic sexual determinism. Sexual maturity is reached after 1 to 2 years in males and 2 to 3 years in females. In preparation for reproduction, individuals live a period during which almost all the available energy (food and reserves) is allocated to gamete production. In oocytes, the female stores a large amount of reserves that will allow the fry to feed. Males, attracted by pheromones, will join females around the spawning grounds. For reproduction, the thermal optimum is between 10 and 12°C. The sex ratio is one female to several males. In most cases, there is a dominant male and smaller males who opportunely seek to reproduce with larger females (secondary males). The oocytes are expelled by the female (about 2,000 oocytes per kg) and deposited, before fertilization, on the bottom of the spawning grounds. The male has less than one minute to fertilize the oocytes. The female then covers the eggs with gravel using her tail.
The Rainbow trout habitat
Rainbow trout are found mainly in western Canada, in British Columbia. In its natural environment, it prefers cold, clear water, where the current is fast. However, it has been introduced into many rivers and streams in other regions and has adapted well to them.
The Rainbow trout angling
If you choose a medium power rod, you won't feel the fish struggling. You will have a little more difficulty using a light or ultra-light line but your fishing experience will be more attractive. Thicker lines can keep fish away from the bait. For rainbow trout, you can use a variety of lures such as spoons, spinners and jigs. It is advisable to bring several kinds of them in case one of them does not work. For bait, you can use colored paste baitfish to be shaped on the hook or natural standard bait such as worms and earthworms. Also try fly fishing for a better rainbow trout fishing experience.
