Rainbow Trout
By far the most widely stocked fish in this dataset — the default put-and-take trout across every state tracked here, prized for its willingness to bite and strong fight.
- Scientific name
- Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Family
- Salmonidae
- Adult size
- Typically 9–14 inches at stocking size in put-and-take fisheries; wild and lake-resident fish can grow substantially larger.
Identification
Silvery to olive body with a broad, often iridescent pink-red stripe along the lateral line and small black spots scattered over the back, sides, and tail.
Habitat
Cold rivers, streams, reservoirs, and lakes; stocked into a wide range of water types, from small community ponds to large reservoirs.
Diet
Aquatic and terrestrial insects, small crustaceans, and — in larger fish — smaller fish.
Angling
The most commonly targeted stocked trout in the country, taken on bait, spinners, and flies alike; a common first fish for new anglers.
Recommended Tackle & Gear for Rainbow Trout
Field-tested tackle, baits, and rigging strategies suited for catching Rainbow Trout.
Berkley PowerBait Floating Trout Dough
Hatchery-raised trout are conditioned to pelleted scents; scented dough floated 12–18 inches off bottom consistently triggers strikes.
Panther Martin Classic Teardrop Inline Spinner
The heavy convex blade spins instantly upon retrieval, sending vibration through the water that triggers aggressive reaction bites along drop-offs.
Sliding Sinker & Treble Hook Rigging Kit
Sliding egg sinkers allow cautious trout to run with bait without feeling line drag, while size 14–16 treble hooks keep dough bait securely pinned.
As an Amazon Associate, StockedWaters earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are chosen for hatchery-conditioned fish behavior and ethical rigging. We may receive a referral commission if you buy through these links. Read our editorial policy & standards.
Where Rainbow Trout is stocked
When Rainbow Trout is stocked
Top Rainbow Trout waters
Strawberry Reservoir
WASATCH County · 4 species · 4147 records
Last stocked June 2026
Canyon Ferry Lake
7 species · 2261 records
Last stocked September 2025
Logan River
CACHE County · 5 species · 2246 records
Last stocked July 2026
Weber River
WEBER County · 7 species · 2119 records
Last stocked July 2026
Fish Lake
SEVIER County · 9 species · 1940 records
Last stocked July 2026
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
DAGGETT County · 8 species · 1865 records
Last stocked July 2026
Fort Peck Lake
16 species · 1842 records
Last stocked July 2025
Yellowstone River
16 species · 1781 records
Last stocked October 2010
Deer Creek Reservoir
WASATCH County · 5 species · 1756 records
Last stocked June 2026
Otter Creek Reservoir
PIUTE County · 8 species · 1545 records
Last stocked April 2026
Missouri River
19 species · 1417 records
Last stocked October 2010
Boulder River
5 species · 1385 records
Last stocked July 1983
Madison River
5 species · 1310 records
Last stocked April 2006
Provo River
SUMMIT County · 5 species · 1298 records
Last stocked June 2026
Lake Whatcom
Whatcom County · 4 species · 1226 records
Last stocked May 2026
Bear Lake
RICH County · 4 species · 1219 records
Last stocked May 2026
Big Spring Creek
5 species · 1201 records
Last stocked July 1981
Holter Reservoir
3 species · 1185 records
Last stocked September 2025
Scofield Reservoir
CARBON County · 6 species · 1181 records
Last stocked July 2026
Flathead Lake
14 species · 1161 records
Last stocked October 1997
Panguitch Lake
GARFIELD County · 8 species · 1109 records
Last stocked May 2026
Blackfoot River
2 species · 1011 records
Last stocked June 1992
Georgetown Lake
5 species · 968 records
Last stocked June 2026
Hebgen Lake
4 species · 944 records
Last stocked June 2023
Frequently asked
Where is Rainbow Trout stocked?
Rainbow Trout is stocked in 4,549 waters across 4 states: Utah, Montana, Washington, New York.
When is Rainbow Trout stocked?
Rainbow Trout is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Rainbow Trout are stocked?
About 4,868,561,890,969,801,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Rainbow Trout have been stocked on record since 1924, across Montana, New York, Utah, Washington.
What size Rainbow Trout are stocked?
Stocked Rainbow Trout average about 8.5 inches, based on sizes reported by Montana, New York, Utah — not every state reports sizes.
What does a Rainbow Trout look like?
Silvery to olive body with a broad, often iridescent pink-red stripe along the lateral line and small black spots scattered over the back, sides, and tail.