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Golden trout
Oncorhynchus aguabonita
Identification
Vivid golden-yellow sides with a red stripe, white-tipped fins, and dark parr marks — widely considered one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in North America.
Where It's Found
Native to high-elevation streams and alpine lakes in California's Sierra Nevada, now also stocked in select high-altitude lakes elsewhere in the West.
Critically Imperiled (NatureServe)
Fishing Notes
Usually requires a backcountry hike to reach — small dry flies and spinners work well in the clear, cold water it prefers.
Scientific Classification▾
Family
Salmonidae
Genus
Oncorhynchus
Order
Salmoniformes
Class
Actinopterygii
Phylum
Chordata
Kingdom
Animalia
Ready to go fishing?
Find a boat ramp near you and check state fishing regulations before you head out.
Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.