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Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout in Indiana are not native to the state but have been successfully introduced and are maintained through extensive stocking programs.

These coldwater fish have adapted well to Indiana's put-and-take fisheries, with few surviving past the first summer in streams due to warming water temperatures, though some lake populations can sustain year-round.

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss

Physical Characteristics:
  • These coldwater fish are distinguished by their olive-green backs, silver sides with a distinctive pink horizontal stripe, and numerous black spots covering their body and fins.
  • Indiana's Rainbow Trout typically average 10-15 inches and 0.5-1.5 pounds in streams, though lake-dwelling fish can reach much larger sizes - the state record is an impressive 18.5 pounds from Clear Lake.

What to know

Key Locations

  • Indiana stocks nearly 50,000 Rainbow Trout annually across 24 counties, primarily in northern Indiana's glacial lakes region.
  • Major stocking locations include the Pigeon River system, Little Elkhart River, Brookville Reservoir, Lake Gage, Oliver Lake Chain, and various streams in Elkhart, LaGrange, Steuben, and Franklin counties.
  • Premier locations include Brookville Tailwater for year-round fishing, the Pigeon River system in Steuben and LaGrange counties, Little Elkhart River, Solomon Creek, and Turkey Creek in northern Indiana.
  • Lake fishing is productive at Lake Gage, Oliver Lake Chain, Cedar Lake, and various stocked ponds throughout the state.

Rainbow Trout FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Rainbow Trout in Indiana?

Spinners, small spoons, and jigs are effective, particularly in gold, silver, and bright colors. Natural baits including worms, grasshoppers, crickets, salmon e.g.gs, and cheese work well. Bee moths are especially popular among Indiana anglers.

What flies work for Rainbow Trout in Indiana?

Essential patterns include Parachute Blue Winged Olives and Adams (sizes 14-20), Purple Haze for matching thick hatches, Griffith's Gnat (sizes 18-22) for midge emergences, and Sparkle Duns (sizes 16-18) as deadly emerger patterns.

When is the best time to fish for Rainbow Trout in Indiana?

Indiana's trout season runs from the last Saturday in April through December 31 for streams, with lakes open year-round. During winter, focus catch-and-release fishing from January 1 through April 14.

How do you catch Rainbow Trout in Indiana?

Target areas with structure like undercut banks, fallen logs, and riffle-pool transitions. Use barbless hooks and handle fish carefully to preserve these stocked populations.

What do Rainbow Trout eat?

They are opportunistic feeders consuming aquatic insects (mayflies, caddisflies, midges), terrestrial insects (grasshoppers, ants, beetles), small fish, crayfish, and fish e.g.gs. They're particularly responsive to Blue Winged Olive hatches in spring.

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