Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout are not native to Kansas but are extensively stocked by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to provide winter fishing opportunities.
Most Kansas stockings consist of hatchery-raised fish that provide put-and-take fishing opportunities during cooler months when they can survive in Kansas waters.
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss
- These beautifully colored fish are deep-bodied and compressed with typical trout body shape, featuring dark olive-green coloration on the back and numerous spots extending two-thirds down the sides.
- Adult stream-dwelling rainbow trout typically grow 12-20 inches and weigh 1-4 pounds, though lake-dwelling fish can reach larger sizes.
Fishing in Kansas
Neosho River
Melvern Lake
Verdigris River
Council Grove Lake
Marais des Cygnes River
Lyon County State Lake
John Redmond Reservoir
Pomona Lake
Chase County State Lake
Toronto Lake
What to know
Key Locations
- Rainbow trout are stocked in over 30 public waters across five regions.
- They're stocked in lakes, ponds, streams, and reservoirs including Lake Shawnee (Topeka), Mined Land Wildlife Area Unit #30, Kanopolis Seep Stream, Pratt Centennial Pond, Webster Stilling Basin, and Willow Lake at Tuttle Creek.
- Key productive waters include Lake Shawnee (416 acres, best for Topeka area), Kanopolis Seep Stream (ideal for fly fishing with year-round cool water), Mined Land Wildlife Area Unit #30 (crystal clear, up to 60 feet deep), and Willow Lake below Tuttle Creek.
Rainbow Trout FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Rainbow Trout in Kansas?
Small spinners (particularly Mepps #2 and Vibric Rooster Tails in chartreuse, white, pink, and yellow), spoons (Little Cleos in silver and gold), small jigs with soft plastics, and floating baits like Berkley PowerBait (yellow, pink, rainbow colors), salmon e.g.gs, corn, and trout worms.
What flies work for Rainbow Trout in Kansas?
Parachute Adams (sizes 12-20), elk hair caddis, beadhead pheasant tail nymphs, zebra midges, woolly buggers, prince nymphs, Royal Wulff, rubber legs, and various emerger patterns. Caddis, mayfly, and midge patterns work well as rainbow trout actively feed on these insects.
When is the best time to fish for Rainbow Trout in Kansas?
The Kansas trout season runs December 1 through March 31 during stocking periods, with fish typically stocked three times per season in December, January, and February. Rainbow trout are stocked from December through March.
How do you catch Rainbow Trout in Kansas?
Successful techniques include both fly fishing and conventional tackle approaches.
What do Rainbow Trout eat?
Rainbow trout are opportunistic feeders with a diverse diet including aquatic insects (mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, midges), terrestrial insects, leeches, crayfish, snails, mussels, and small baitfish.
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