Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout were introduced to Brazil's cold mountain streams decades ago and have taken hold in the highlands of the Serra da Mantiqueira, straddling São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro.
The Itajaí-Açu River in Santa Catarina is another known fly-fishing destination for the species.
Most fish come from put-and-take or managed fisheries, but the mountain scenery and clear water make this a genuine fly-fishing experience unlike anything else in Brazil.
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss
Also known as Truta arco-íris, truta
- Silvery flanks with a distinctive pink-to-red lateral stripe running from gill to tail; back and upper sides speckled with small black spots.
- Spots extend onto the dorsal fin and tail — a quick way to separate rainbow trout from brown trout, which carry red spots with pale halos.
- Most fish in Brazilian managed waters run 25–45 cm; larger specimens from well-managed mountain fisheries can exceed 60 cm.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Introduced, not native to Brazil; established in cold, well-oxygenated mountain streams and reservoirs of the Serra da Mantiqueira range across São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro states.
- Also present in rivers of Santa Catarina, including the upper Itajaí-Açu drainage, where cooler highland temperatures allow year-round survival.
- Sustained primarily through aquaculture and stocking programs; commercial trout farms operate across the Mantiqueira highlands.
Key Locations
- Serra da Mantiqueira highlands (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro border region) — the heartland of Brazilian trout fishing, with numerous managed fisheries and stocked streams.
- Itajaí-Açu River, Santa Catarina — a recognized fly-fishing destination for trout in the cooler southern highlands.
Specific Spots
- Pocket water behind mid-stream boulders — trout hold in the slack water immediately downstream, waiting for current to deliver food.
- Pool tails and riffles at dawn and dusk, where oxygenated water concentrates feeding fish near the surface.
- Undercut banks and overhanging vegetation along shaded stretches of mountain streams provide cover from both predators and bright midday sun.
- Inflows and spring seeps in managed lakes, where cooler, oxygenated water draws fish during warmer months.
Rainbow Trout FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Rainbow Trout?
Small inline spinners (sizes 0–2) and silver or gold spoons are reliable across stocked and managed fisheries, the flash and vibration trigger strikes even from recently stocked fish. Soft-plastic grubs and small paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/16–1/8 oz jig heads work well in deeper pools and managed lake settings.
What flies work for Rainbow Trout?
Nymphs fished dead-drift, meaning the fly drifts naturally with the current without drag, are the most consistent producers; Pheasant Tail Nymphs (mayfly imitations) and Hare's Ear Nymphs (general invertebrate imitations) in sizes 12–16 cover the main food sources in Brazilian mountain streams.
When is the best time to fish for Rainbow Trout?
Cooler months (April through August, Brazil's autumn and winter) bring the most comfortable water temperatures for trout and the most consistent fishing in highland streams.
How do you catch Rainbow Trout?
Most Brazilian trout fishing happens in managed or put-and-take fisheries in the Mantiqueira highlands, accessed on foot along small mountain streams or from the banks of stocked lakes.
What do Rainbow Trout eat?
In Brazilian mountain streams, trout feed heavily on aquatic insects, mayfly and caddisfly larvae drifting in the current. Nymph patterns like a Pheasant Tail (imitates mayfly nymphs) or Hare's Ear (imitates a range of nymphs) dead-drifted through runs are consistently productive.
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