The rainbow trout is a ubiquitous fish in the mountains of North America. It is a very popular and combative sport fish. What's more, steelhead, the sea trout version of rainbow trout, are reputed to be among the most combative freshwater fish in the world! In France, too, fishing for rainbow trout at high altitude is worth the effort.
A fish often denigrated
The rainbow trout has a label difficult to remove in France. It is often, if not always, associated with fish released for the opening for very short term fishing.
It is a salmonid that often has damaged fins and dull colors despite the care provided by the fish farmers.
Finally, its very biting behavior just after the releases, have earned it various nicknames such as "basin trout", "circus trout", "chicken trout" or "portion trout" ...
Rainbow trout at altitude
In the heights and in the mountains, it's a different story. We could almost talk about different fish.
The "bows", even if the spots where they reproduce in their natural state in France are rare, have superb colors and perfect fins. Real wild fish to discover and to try to lure.
These rainbow trout are then very combative and fierce. It will be necessary to fish fine and just to foil their mistrust.
Fish that become very interesting to fish, on the one hand for the fight they provide, on the other hand for their dress that can be superb, as it can be for a wild fario.
In rivers, but also in lakes!
This salmonid also supports, like our fario trout, very well the powerful currents or the deep lakes of altitudes. In lakes, rainbow trout can make really impressive jumps! Sometimes almost a meter above the water, beware of stalls!
High altitude rainbow trout can be caught with many techniques, such as lures or flies.
Wobbling spoons work very well on this salmonid and the pink color is said to be the best for luring these great and unjustly maligned sport fish!
