Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Also called Steelhead Trout, bow, rainbow, Skamania Steelhead, steelhead, steelhead strain
A popular freshwater gamefish known for its colorful appearance and excellent fighting ability. Originally native to Pacific coast waters but widely stocked throughout North America.
Rainbow Trout at a glance
- Scientific name
- Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Typical size
- 12-24 inches
- IGFA world record
- 48 lbs
- Water
- Freshwater
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Uncommon
Habitat
Cold clear streams, rivers, and lakes. Acrobatic fighters. Steelhead are the anadromous form.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a rainbow trout through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksWhat to throw for rainbow trout
The lure classes that produce for rainbow trout, drawn from the same species map Cobia reasons about. Each one opens a full page on what it is, when it works and how to fish it.
Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the water in front of you today. That part is the app.
Rainbow Trout questions people ask
Rainbow Trout is Oncorhynchus mykiss. Anglers also call it Steelhead Trout, bow, rainbow, Skamania Steelhead, steelhead, steelhead strain.
A typical rainbow trout runs 12-24 inches. The IGFA all tackle world record stands at 48 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every rainbow trout you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Cold clear streams, rivers, and lakes. Acrobatic fighters. Steelhead are the anadromous form. It is a fresh water species, filed under freshwater in the Fishdex.
The IGFA all tackle world record rainbow trout weighed 48 lbs.
Spoons, jigheads, jerkbaits, inline spinners and soft stickbaits and worms all produce. Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the season, the water temperature and the tide on the day, which is the part Cobia works out against the lures you already own.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.