Rainbow trout in Oregon

Oregon waters

Most fished first. A species missing from an agency list does not mean it is absent; this page lists only waters whose list names it (at least 5 are needed for a page).

• Deschutes RiverAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Metolius RiverAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Fall RiverAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Bradley LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Butterfield LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Davis LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Devil's LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• East LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Fourmile Lakelisted as “Rainbow”Agency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Haystack ReservoirAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Hosmer LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Laird LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Lake In the WoodsAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Lake MarieAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Lake SimtustusAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Little Lava LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• North Twin LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Ochoco Creeklisted as “Redband trout”Agency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Ochoco ReservoirAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Paulina LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Powers PondAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Prineville ReservoirAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Saunders LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• South Twin LakeAgency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Tumalo Creeklisted as “Redband trout”Agency list: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Identification

• Rainbow trout vary a lot in colour and shape. Adults are silver with many small black spots, a pink or red band along the side, and spots that often run in lines along the tail rays.[2]
  What the source says

  “Highly variable in color and body shape, especially between resident fish and steelhead. Adults are silver and heavily spotted with small black spots. Iridescent pink or red along the lateral band. Numerous black spots pepper the body and dorsal fin, often radiating in lines along the rays of the tail.”

• The cheeks are pink and the back ranges from iridescent blue to nearly brown, with silver, white or yellow sides and belly. Young fish carry large, dark oval parr marks along the lateral line.[2]
  What the source says

  “Opercula (cheeks) are pink, the back iridescent blue to nearly brown, and the sides and belly silver, white or yellow. Juveniles have oval parr marks along the lateral line that are large and dark.”

• Rainbow trout and steelhead are the same species. Rainbows stay inland, while steelhead are the form that migrates to the ocean or, in Michigan, the Great Lakes.[1]
  What the source says

  “Genetically rainbow trout and steelhead are the same species but lead very different lives. Rainbow trout stays inland, and an anadromous form that migrates to the Great Lakes (or ocean in their native habitat).”

More on identifying rainbow trout

Status, protections and rules

As each agency stated them on the date read; a rule applies only where its agency says so. Check the current regulations for the water before you fish.

• In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, rainbow trout are non-native. The National Park Service says rainbow trout introduced in the early 1900s, together with logging, cost native brook trout 75% of their habitat.[3]
  What the source says

  “In the early 1900s, significant environmental changes occurred in the park due to logging and the introduction of non-native rainbow trout, which destroyed 75% of the native brook trout's habitat. Rainbow trout out-competed brook trout by reproducing at a faster rate as well as growing faster, taking over the streams.”

• Yellowstone National Park rule: in the Lamar River drainage, including parts of Slough and Soda Butte creeks, every rainbow trout caught must be killed. Releasing one alive is illegal there.[4]
  What the source says

  “All rainbow trout, brook trout, and identifiable cutthroat/rainbow hybrids caught in the Lamar River drainage, including portions of Slough and Soda Butte creeks, must be killed—it is illegal to release them alive.”

Water temperature in Oregon

• Under ODFW's 68°F lineThat is under the 68°F at which ODFW says trout, steelhead and salmon “start to feel stressed”. “Fish early in the morning when water temperatures are cooler and fish are more active.”
• Stressful for trout, steelhead and salmonODFW: “Coldwater fish such as trout, steelhead and salmon will start to feel stressed when water temperatures hit 68°F.” “Fish early in the morning when water temperatures are cooler and fish are more active.”
• Over 70°F: stop fishingODFW: “Use a thermometer to check water temperatures frequently. Stop fishing when temperatures exceed 70 degrees.”

Sources: 5 tips for fishing in hot water (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife); ODFW takes action to help native fish (16 July 2015) (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Destination hubs

Hubs that list one of these waters, or that a water page is near: each has guides, shops, licences and trip planning for the area.

• Bend & the Deschutes, Oregon15 rainbow trout waters

Hatch & season charts

• Pacific Northwest10 sourced rows

Sources

Every fact on this page is our paraphrase of the page cited beside it, read on the date shown. Rules and seasons change: check the agency's current regulations before you fish.

1. Rainbow trout Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read Oct 24, 2026.
2. Fishing for Coastal Rainbow Trout / Steelhead California Department of Fish and Wildlife, read Oct 24, 2026.
3. Fish - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service, read Oct 24, 2026.
4. Fishing - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service, read Oct 24, 2026.