Click on the fish below for a detailed view.

Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss

Also known as Kamloops trout, Gerrard trout, silver trout, redband trout (depending on the region).

What do rainbow trout look like?? Rainbow trout have a lot of variety in how they look, depending on where they are found and how old they are. In general, rainbow trout have small heads with well-developed teeth on the roof of their mouth, and no teeth at the base of their tongue They have an adipose fin and black spots on their back, sides and fins. Rainbow trout are silvery fish with a pink to reddish band along their lateral line. The tail is slightly forked - more so in younger fish. When they are spawning (laying their sperm or eggs) the red stripe on their sides becomes darker and their bodies become a smoky blue colour.

Where do rainbow trout live? Rainbow trout originally lived in lakes and streams west of the Rocky Mountains from Alaska all the way to northwest Mexico. Because rainbow are a favorite with fishermen they have been introduced (transplanted) into many lakes across Canada and around the world.

What is the life cycle of the rainbow trout? Rainbow trout usually spawn for the first time when they are three or four years old and after that they will spawn every year if they get enough to eat. Rainbow trout spawn in streams in the spring. They lay their eggs in redds (nests of gravel). Eggs hatch after four to seven weeks as "alevins" and they stay in the gravel for about three more weeks when they will emerge as "fry". These small trout fry will spend their time in the stream or move into the lake. Trout usually live to be 6 or 7 years old but they can get much older.

Did you know that … The largest rainbow trout ever caught in BC weighed almost 24 kg and came from Jewel Lake.

Food for Thought... A rainbow trout will grow steadily until it begins spawning. Once trout start to spawn, they don't grow very much, but they will start growing again after their spawning years are over. When scientists stock BC lakes (put small hatchery fish into lakes) they often transplant sterile fish. Why would they do this?

Link of interest … www.wild-trout.co.uk