Species profile
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Identify Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 54 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 15 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Nebraska); the most generous is 8 (Vermont).
Across 3 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 10.4 in.
Confirmed by 17,616 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Oregon, and British Columbia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and SARA — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- The sea-run form, called steelhead, can weigh over 20 pounds.
- Native to cold Pacific-draining rivers from Alaska to northern Mexico.
- The most widely introduced freshwater sport fish in the world.
- Can live up to 11 years in the wild.
- Steelhead may migrate hundreds of miles upstream to spawn in their birth stream.
Where Rainbow Trout are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Rainbow Trout
Protected status
- Steelhead — 2 DPS endangered.
- Steelhead — 9 DPS threatened.
- SARA Schedule 1 (endangered): Rainbow Trout / Steelhead. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead (sometimes called "steelhead trout") is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coastal rainbow trout (O. m. irideus) or Columbia River redband trout (O. m. gairdneri) that usually returns to fresh water to spawn after living two to…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Rainbow Trout article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Rainbow Trout?
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 15 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Rainbow Trout?
Rainbow Trout is Oncorhynchus mykiss.
Is Rainbow Trout regulated for fishing?
Yes — Rainbow Trout has fishing regulations in 54 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Rainbow Trout?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Rainbow Trout along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.