Roger's Angling Pages
The Rainbow Trout Salmo gairdneri		Salmon family Salmonidae

The Rainbow Trout is typical of the waters of a vast area stretching from Southern Carolina to the south-east of Alaska, like the Brown Trout is a resident of European waters. It has developed a number of types in its native habitat. Salmo gairdneri is the original ancestor of all Rainbow Trout, although today it can be found on the American continent and many other places, for instance all over Canada, in the Great Lakes, in the states of New York and New England and along the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Once established in fresh waters, it usually remains there for all its life, but it is possible that during growth it may move to sea water for some time and then return to breed in fresh water later .

This fish species is ablaze with a wide range of colour from silver, black, violet, purple-red to green-blue. In descriptions of this fish in older literature many inaccuracies may be found which need correcting. A characteristic coloration of today's large Trout is often the purple-red stripe stretching from the head along the flanks to the tail. This is augmented by numerous small black spots scattered over the head, back and on the anal, caudal and dorsal fins. Usually the head is small while the body is covered with silvery scales that are forever gently flaking away. After 1881 the Rainbow Trout was imported from California to Germany and other countries because of its excellent rapid growth, but it only became domesticated in rivers and lakes in a few cases. According to data from the Alpine region, Salmo trutta fario and Salmo gairdneri compete mutually for food in its lakes and streams.

Because of its resistance to higher water temperatures, its smaller oxygen requirement, and its ability to feed on different foodstuffs, the Rainbow Trout has become an exceptionally valuable fish species for artificial breeding purposes all over the world. Special, large capacity farms have been started, which produce yearly hundreds of tons of fishes for the consumer market.

This fish can be found in such special farms on all continents. It breeds during the spring months and, as the water gets warmer, incubation takes a shorter time. The fry, with a large yoke pouch attached, hatch out from the huge number of eggs after 1 to 2 months. According to its size one female usually lays up to 1000 eggs. The fry live at first on plankton and small larvae, later on larger crustaceans and small fishes. When artificially reared, they willingly accept blood or minced spleen and also granulated mixtures. In the first year they reach 10 to 15 cm in length according to living conditions and the availability of sufficient food and in the third year they reach 20 to 40 cm. Under favourable conditions they achieve a weight of 4 to 9lb and in exceptional circumstances even more, especially in their homeland. They thrive in various types of still water without inflow or outlet, where they grow quickly in appropriate living conditions. Such suitable living conditions exist below dams where the cold lower layers of water have been released and which have the effect of equalising temperature differences through- out the year. When smaller organisms are scarce, they sometimes start behaving as predators. Their ability to live in still waters has encouraged breeders in central Europe to rear Trout in Carp ponds. Surprising results have been achieved in some flooded quarries, sand pits and old mine workings, from which there was no possibility of the Trout escaping.

Fishing for Trout is very popular, and the Rainbow Trout : is always hungry and very voracious. It willingly rises to artificial or natural baits all year round. In places where winter fishing is possible, it may be caught on small lures which can be dropped into holes in the ice. A hooked Trout puts up a good fight and if it jumps above the water, it can release itself from the hook and escape. Spinning is one of the successful methods, which allows fishing to be carried out in long stretches of the river and at different depths and is best conducted from a boat in a reservoir. The type of fly fishing is similar to that employed for the Brown Trout. Artificial bait can differ in shape, size, colour combinations and material. Small baits are the most common, for example metal lures of about 5 cm long. A line of 7 lb breaking strain is adequate; the length of the rod is chosen according to the expanse of water and a light rod with a strong tip is best of all. Wading is inevitable when fishing in flowing water. Surface fishing is usually most successful towards evening in places with a slow deep current, at the mouths of tributaries or in lakes. During the day, fishing is more successful at greater depths. The Rainbow Trout is not as good as the Brown Trout as regards the quality of its flesh, but is its equal as a sporting fish.