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Golden Trout

Golden Trout

West Virginia's golden rainbow trout are a unique, selectively-bred strain descended from a single mutant female rainbow trout discovered in 1955 at the Petersburg State Trout Hatchery.

Unlike California's native golden trout, these are hatchery-developed rainbow trout with brilliant golden-yellow coloration, red lateral stripes, and black spots.

They're not native to West Virginia and don't reproduce naturally in state waters, requiring annual stocking from the state's hatchery system.

Also known as golden rainbow trout

Physical Characteristics:
  • Brilliant golden-yellow coloration, red lateral stripes, and black spots.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Golden rainbows are distributed throughout West Virginia via the stocking program, found in over 200 waterways.
  • They prefer cool, oxygenated waters between 50-60°F and seek shady areas due to their lack of normal pigmentation.

Key Locations

  • Golden rainbows are distributed throughout West Virginia via the stocking program, found in over 200 waterways including major rivers like the Cranberry, Williams, Greenbrier, Shavers Fork, Elk, Blackwater, and South Branch Potomac, plus numerous lakes like Spruce Knob Lake, Cacapon State Park lakes, and various state park waters.
  • Key locations include Back Fork of Elk River, Buffalo Creek, Cranberry River, Williams River, Shavers Fork, Blackwater River, and numerous state park waters.

Specific Spots

  • Focus on pool-tail crests, undercut banks, deep pools, and areas with overhead cover.
  • Target areas near tributary mouths where cooler water enters main streams, look for temperature differentials up to 10 degrees cooler.

Golden Trout FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Golden Trout in West Virginia?

Small hair jigs (1/32, 1/64, and 1/80 ounce), small inline spinners (size #1 and #0 Mepps, Panther Martins), spoons like Kastmasters and Swedish Pimples. Live baits include mealworms, nightcrawlers, garden worms, and where legal, minnows.

What flies work for Golden Trout in West Virginia?

Nymphs in tandem rigs, streamers in brown and green colors, and occasionally golden retriever patterns. Bead head nymphs, fluffy attractor patterns like Stimulators and Elk Hair Caddis on top, and subsurface nymphs like Copper Johns and Prince Nymphs work well.

When is the best time to fish for Golden Trout in West Virginia?

Best fishing occurs during the annual Gold Rush event (April 1-12) and regular stocking periods from January through May. In summer months, concentrate on higher elevation streams like those in the Monongahela National Forest, Smoke Hole section of the South Branch Potomac, and mountain waters that maintain cooler...

How do you catch Golden Trout in West Virginia?

For fly fishing, use nymphs in tandem rigs, streamers, and occasionally golden retriever patterns. Fish hair jigs below small bobbers and allow current to take them to fish. Target areas near tributary mouths where cooler water enters main streams, look for temperature differentials up to 10 degrees cooler.

What do Golden Trout eat?

These trout are opportunistic feeders, consuming aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates including mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, midges, beetles, ants, and various nymphs and larvae.

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