ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/4/07 Section: Outdoor

Media Credit: Bob King A freshly-caught Kamloops trout.

There is so much information to be found in books and on the internet about the rainbow trout that I cannot tell you enough for you to feel very knowledgeable about this species, but I can tell you a few interesting things that most non-anglers do not know. For instance, the rainbow trout is native to Idaho, and is the source of millions of dollars in revenue for the people of Idaho.

In addition, it is probably the most widely dispersed, stocked, and fished for fish in the state. There are many sub-types of rainbow trout in Idaho including the Hayspur strand, and the hard-fighting Kamloops rainbow. The Steelhead Salmon is one of the most famous Salmon, but is actually a rainbow trout that makes a trek to the ocean where it lives for a number of years until it makes the long journey back to Idaho. From the mighty Snake River, to northern Idaho's giant lakes, to the high mountain lakes in Idaho's magnificent wilderness, the rainbow trout is very important to the Idaho fishery.

Now that spring is here, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has begun stocking young rainbow trout all over the State. The stocking season will soon be in full swing in our corner of the State, which means that in addition to the holdover fish from last year, there will soon be literally thousands of stocked trout roaming our local reservoirs and streams. These eager fish are enough to validate getting your fishing license, if you do not already have it. Naturally the rainbow trout eats all year long, thus offering a chance to pull one in through the ice, with your fly, lure or bait. Whatever your method of fishing, Idaho's rainbow trout will keep your line tight when other species fail you.

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