Other names: Rainbow, Bow, Steelhead

Habitat

Rainbow trout is a species introduced to Australia and New Zealand from North America in the late 1800’s and it is generally found in cool, fresh, well aerated, highland water. Some sea run Rainbows are found in Tasmania and New Zealand. Rainbow Trout are also found in its native Alaska, Canada and mainland USA. In Australia the Rainbow Trout inhabits cool streams and lakes in southern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania with smaller populations in South and Western Australian. In New Zealand Rainbows can be found in rivers and more so lakes over both the North and South islands.

Size

In its native North America the Rainbow Trout grows to 1.2 m and 18kg. In Australia it can be found up to 70 cm and 9kg but more likely to be caught under 60cm and 5kg with around 1-2kg the average. In New Zealand it has grown to 13kg in rivers and in access of 30kg in lakes. It is more normal to catch a Rainbow Trout on either island in the 1 to 3kg range. The Rainbows in New Zealand tend to be larger than those in Australia.

Feeding

Rainbow Trout feed on a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic insects and crustaceans, also small fishes. They prefer to feed in low light such as dawn and dusk and also at night. They will feed during the day but usually in an opportunistic fashion from cover.

Seasons

Fishing for Rainbow Trout is governed by breeding seasons which vary from country to country and within countries. Some waters are open all year but most close over winter subject to local breeding season variations. The variations are too numerous to list here but as a guide only...

• Tasmania (Australia): Open October to May
• NSW (Australia): Open October to June
• New Zealand: Open September to May

Description

The Rainbow Trout is generally olive-green to steely blue in colour. It is lighter on the sides and has a silvery white belly. There are numerous spots over it upper body, head and tail and it most often has a pink, red or orange flash along both sides that goes a deeper shade during spawning.

How to catch them

Active feeding generally occurs during subdued daylight, such as dawn and dusk and at night. Rainbows are often found under cover such as submerged logs, boulders and rocks, undercut banks and protruding shorelines etc. In moving water they will generally let the food come to them holding station in pools and adjacent to rocks etc downstream of any current. Rainbows are generally less likely to spook than Browns and also seem to like faster moving water.

Hot Spots

New Zealand and Tasmania

Equipment

Rainbow Trout fly fishing gear will vary slightly depending on application but should include the following;

• 5 to 8 weight freshwater rod with appropriate reel
• Floating weight forward/intermediate/sink tip depending on application
• Leaders-3 m tapered
• Tippet- fluorocarbon 2kg plus

Popular Flies

Again this will very depending on area and application. Some possibilities may include.

Australia Red Tag Black Spinner Parachute Adams Shaving Brush Gum Beetle Muddlers Olive woolly bugger Brown nymph Wet Black beetle Scintilla Stick Caddis Damselfly nymph Mudeye patterns

New Zealand Green Stonefly Parachute Adams Kakahi Queen Royal Wulff Standard Adams Twilight Beauty Passion Hopper Cicada Hare & Copper Stone Fly Pheasant tail Cadillac Nymph Green Caddis Stimulators Beetles