Skip to main content

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout in Maine are introduced, non-native fish that have established limited but significant populations in select waters.

These colorful salmonids are highly variable in appearance and show good growth by utilizing diverse forage and show better tolerance to marginal water quality and competition compared to native brook trout.

Physical Characteristics:
  • Highly variable in appearance, with olive to blue-gray dorsal coloration, silvery sides, white to pale yellow bellies, and characteristic large numbers of small black spots covering the body.
  • Distinguished by a prominent pink to red colored band extending from the cheek to the base of the tail.
  • Adults typically range from 8-16 inches, though some reach 7-8 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Self-sustaining populations are concentrated in three main drainages.
  • They spawn almost exclusively in streams and rarely reproduce successfully in lakes lacking suitable tributary habitat.

Key Locations

  • Three main drainages: the Kennebec River (from The Forks to below Solon Dam, including Wyman Lake), the upper Androscoggin River (Maine/New Hampshire border to Bethel), and portions of the Dead River below Long Falls Dam.
  • Specific locations include Little Ossipee Lake in Waterboro, Middle and Upper Range Ponds in Poland, Norway Lake in Norway, and sections of the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers.
  • Long Pond's confluence of Great Pond Outlet proved most successful during experimental angling.

Specific Spots

  • In rivers, focus on riffle sections above larger holding pools and tail-outs below pools.
  • Summer: deeper waters typically 30-35 feet.
  • Ice fishing: relatively shallow water under 15 feet targeting near or on the bottom.

Rainbow Trout FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Bright lures like spinners or spoons, copper, gold, or silver lures for trolling, worms or minnows for still fishing, live minnows for ice fishing, bright colored spoons and spinners.

What flies work for Rainbow Trout in Maine?

Dr.y flies, streamers, woolly buggers (especially effective when bounced near bottom), e.g.g patterns, streamers that imitate smelt.

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

September is one of the best months. Spring and fall fishing close to shore. Summer fishing in deeper waters. Ice fishing can be productive. Anglers should avoid targeting them from mid-April through June during spawning season to protect reproduction.

How do you catch Rainbow Trout in Maine?

Spring and fall: target close to shore. Spring methods include still fishing. Summer: trolling with lead core line or downriggers. Keep trolling speeds below 1.2 MPH for live bait but travel faster with flies and hardware.

What do Rainbow Trout eat?

Opportunistic feeders consuming aquatic insects (their primary food), zooplankton, terrestrial insects, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, leeches, and fish. Their diet shifts from smaller items like plankton to larger prey as they grow, with fish becoming important once they reach approximately 12 inches.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Rainbow Trout.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Rainbow Trout water

    Pick Rainbow Trout and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Rainbow Trout

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Rainbow Trout are.

Open the map, filter by Rainbow Trout, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Maine licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Explore Maine waters

Top fishing waters

Popular Cities

Loading popular cities...

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.