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California hosts many kinds of native trout and other salmonids, including char and freshwater whitefish, that have resident forms. This includes subspecies of golden trout, redband trout, rainbow trout, Lahontan cutthroat trout, as well as the coastal cutthroat trout, the mountain whitefish, and the extirpated bull trout, a char. This article covers 12 extant natives and 1 extirpated native.
To help in the identification of native trout, I recommend:
Golden Trout
Golden trout (O. aguabonita) are a species of trout native to Kern River drainage in the southern Sierra in California. The golden trout complex is comprised of:
The California golden trout (O.a. aguabonita), the type subspecies,
The Little Kern golden trout (O.a. whitei), and
The Kern River rainbow trout (O. mykiss gilberti).
Note: The Kern River rainbow trout is currently recognized as a subspecies of rainbow trout. It was previously thought that the subspecies was the result of natural hybridization between the Little Kern golden trout and the coastal rainbow trout thousands of years ago. Recent studies have found them to be more closely related to California golden trout than anything else and should be regarded as a golden trout subspecies.
Each of these subspecies separately qualifies for both California's Heritage Trout Challenge and the Western Native Trout Challenge.
Golden trout should not be confused with the palomino trout or golden rainbow trout, which are mutated forms of rainbow trout.
California Golden Trout
California golden trout (O.a. aguabonita), are native to two drainages: the Golden Trout Creek, a tributary of the Kern River, and the South Fork of the Kern River. It is also known as the Volcano Golden Trout. Golden Trout Creek, a designated Wild and Heritage Trout Water, was previously called Volcano Creek. The California golden trout is the State Freshwater Fish of California.
If you want to catch California golden trout in Golden Trout Creek, you'll need to put in a multi-day hike. The hike to Golden Trout Creek is 8 miles long over Cottonwood Pass. Alternatively, Mulkey Creek is a 5 mile hike over Trail Pass. Both of these hikes start from the Cottonwood Pass & Trail Pass trailhead at Horseshoe Meadow above Lone Pine.
Golden trout can be found in the Cottonwood Lakes / Horseshoe Meadow area but these are out-of-native-range populations.
Golden trout can also be found on high-clearance 4x4 accessible portions of the South Fork of the Kern River, such as in Monache Meadows, but they typically show significant signs of hybridization with stocked rainbow trout.
California golden trout (USGS photo)
Golden x rainbow hybrid
Little Kern golden trout
Little Kern Golden Trout
Little Kern golden trout (O.a. whitei) are native to the Little Kern River and its tributaries, including Clicks, Fish, Mountaineer, Soda Springs, and WIllow creeks.
Of these, the most commonly fished is Clicks Creek as you can basically drive up to it and start fishing. Nearby the Lewis Camp Trailhead provides access to the Little Kern River itself, dropping nearly 2000 feet in a bit over 4 miles. The trail parallels Fish Creek, my favorite creek for targeting Little Kern golden trout.
Kern River Rainbow Trout
Kern River rainbow trout (O. mykiss gilberti) are native to the Kern River. It has been extirpated from most of its historic range. They now can only be found in the Kern River and its tributaries above the confluence of Durrwood Creek. They can be found in upper Ninemile, Osa, and Rattlesnake creeks.
To get into a nice Kern River rainbow trout in its namesake waterway, I recommend you fish the Kern River near the Forks of the Kern. It's a bit of a hike, it's roughly a 5 mile hike round trip with an 1100+ foot climb out. But you'll be hopefully be rewarded with a might fine catch. Note that there is no bridge to cross the Little Kern River so best to go when the flows are low.
Kern River rainbow trout (CDFW photo)
Redband Trout
Redband trout are a group of subspecies of rainbow trout (O. mykiss). The native range of three of these subspecies includes portions of northern California:
Great Basin redband trout (O.m. newberrii),
McCloud River redband trout (O.m. calisulat), and
Pit River redband trout (O.m. stonei).
Note: The McCloud River redband trout and the Pit River redband trout were regarded as distinct populations of the Sacramento River redband trout (O.m. stonei). Recent studies have shown the Pit River redband to be more closely related to Great Basin redband trout of the Warner Mountains, especially those of the Warner Lakes and Surprise Valley. A separate subspecies description for the McCloud River redband trout (O.m. calisulat) has been proposed for the McClould River population. This subspecies is sometimes referred to as the Sheepheaven Creek redband trout.
Great Basin Redband Trout
Great Basin redband trout (O.m. newberri) are native to Great Basin. Most of their range is in southeastern Oregon but it does extend into northeastern California and northwestern Nevada. They occur in six isolated basins, two of which include waters of northern California, and the Klamath River drainage. The six extant populations of Great Basin redband trout in California are:
Goose Lake redband trout and
Klamath River redband trout, and
Warner Lakes redband trout.
Goose Lake redband trout are native to waters that drain to Goose Lake. Warner Lakes redband trout is native to waters of the Warner Lakes basin. Each separately qualifies for California's Heritage Trout Challenge. Both qualify for the Western Native Trout Challenge simply as redband trout.
Klamath River redband trout are native to the Klamath River drainage. While still abundant in portions of drainage in Oregon, it has been extirpated from almost all of the California portion of the drainage and, hence, can be difficult to catch in California. The California populations are excluded from California's Heritage Trout Challenge and Western Native Trout Challenge.
The best fishing in California for Great Basin redband trout can be found in the northern portion of Warner Mountains. The Warner Mountains is an 85-mile long range that runs north-south east of Goose Lake and forks of the Pit River and west of the Warner Lakes and Surprise Valley.
For the Goose Lake redband trout, any of these creeks will do: Cottonwood, Davis, Lassen, Pine, or Willow Creek. My personal favorite is Lassen Creek.
For the Warner Lakes redband trout, your choices are basically Dismal Creek and Twelvemile Creek and tributaries of the latter, namely Tenmile Creek and Elevenmile Creek. My favorite is Dismal Creek. It's easily accessible from Goose Lake area via Pine Creek Canyon Road. It offers a mix of types of waters, from the alpine meadow section known as the Dismal Swamp, down a canyon section to the beaver ponds before entering Oregon. Note that access to this fishery can be blocked by deep snow drifts that can persist into through late spring if not into early summer.
Goose Lake redband trout
Warner Lakes redband trout
McCloud River Redband Trout
McCloud River redband trout (O.m. calisulat) are native to the McCloud River and its tributaries above the McCloud River Falls. This population of redband trout is also known as Sheepheaven Creek redband trout.
McCloud River redband trout caught within the native drainage qualify for California's Heritage Trout Challenge. They qualify for the Western Native Trout Challenge simply as redband trout.
The Cattle Camp area is a popular location for targeting McCloud River redband trout on the McCloud River itself. It holds redband x rainbow hybrids. To catch pure strain redband trout, try one of few small tributaries of the McCloud River that are open to fishing. Streams available include Ash, Swamp, and Trout creek. Sheepheaven, Moosehead, Edson, and Bull creek, as well as portions of Dry Creek are closed to fishing year round.
McCloud River redband trout (hybrid).
McCloud River redband trout (pure).
Pit River Redband Trout
Pit River redband trout (O.m. stonei) are native to the Pit River drainage. It is currently only found in a few isolated headwater streams of the Pit River.
Pit River redband trout caught within the Pit River drainage qualify for California's Heritage Trout Challenge as Goose Lake redband trout. They qualify for the Western Native Trout Challenge simply as redband trout.
Pit River redband trout are most easily found near headwater creeks near springs in the Warner Mountains.
Pit River redband trout. Caught in the Warner Mountains.
Rainbow Trout
Two additional subspecies of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) are native to California:
Coastal rainbow trout (O.m. irideus) and
Eagle Lake rainbow trout (O.m. aquilarum).
Coastal Rainbow Trout
Coastal rainbow trout (O.m. irideus) are native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean across northeastern Asia and western North America. The North American portion of the range extends from Southern California up to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Anadromous (see-run) forms of rainbow trout are commonly called steelhead.
The coastal rainbow trout qualifies for California's Heritage Trout Challenge. Qualifying catches can be reported as either steelhead or coastal rainbow trout to select artwork depicting, anadromous and non-anadromous forms, respectively. The coastal rainbow trout are not included in the Western Native Trout Challenge.
For steelhead, my favorite fishery is the Trinity River. For non-anadromous forms, I'm a fan of waters of the western Sierra, such as the upper Mokelumne River and its tributaries.
A steelhead parr
Eagle Lake rainbow trout
Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout
Eagle Lake rainbow trout (O.m. aquilarum) are native to Eagle Lake and its tributaries, namely Pine Creek, in Lassen County. They are also called Eagle Lake trout
Pine Creek is closed to fishing below CA 44. Above CA 44, it's mostly brookies. Hence, only reasonable location within their native range to catch an Eagle Lake trout is on Eagle Lake itself. While Eagle Lake can be fished from the shore, it is best fished afloat. Typically, the best fishing is during the early mornings and late evenings as the fish tend to go deep when the sun is high.
Eagle Lake rainbow trout caught in a select few nearby waters do qualify for the Western Native Trout Challenge. For the California Heritage Trout Challenge, only catches in Eagle Lake and its tributaries, namely Pine Creek, qualify.
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Coastal cutthroat trout (O. clarkii) is a species of cutthroat trout native to coastal waters of western North America, including the north coast of California from the Eel River north to the state line. This subspecies qualifies for both California's Heritage Trout Challenge and the Western Native Trout Challenge.
Of the northern California rivers, the Smith River system is known to have the greatest population of coastal cutthroat trout and is my favorite fishery for this species. Sea-run cutties are only present below the first fish barrier. While resident coastal can be found thoughout the system, they are readily caught above the first fish barrier.
A resident coastal cutthroat trout. Caught on a tributary of the Smith River.
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Lahontan cutthroat trout (O. henshawi) is a species of cutthroat trout native to the greater Lahontan basin. Two subspecies of Lahontan cutthroat trout are native to east slope of the Sierra:
Lahontan cutthroat trout (O.h. henshawi, the type subspecies, and
Paiute cutthroat trout (O.h. seleniris).
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Lahontan cutthroat trout (O.h. henshawi) (LCT), the type subspecies, can be found in waters of the western Lahontan basin, including the Carson, Truckee, or Walker river drainages.
They can be found in a number of Eastern Sierra waters, including the Truckee and Upper Truckee rivers and the forks of the Carson River. They are especially pretty in stream form. Decent sized lake-form specimens can also be found in Fallen Leaf, Heenan, Independence, Kirman and various other lakes in the area, including even Lake Tahoe.
If you'd like a LCT in lake form, I suggest fishing either Heenan Lake or Independence Lake. My favorite is Independence Lake due to it being surrounded by some stunning scenery. However, It does require a high-clearance 4x4 to access and, being located in a preserve with a few restrictions to abide to.
If you'd like a LCT in stream form, I suggest fishing one of the small streams in the Tahoe or Walker basins known for their self-sustaining populations, such as the Meiss Meadows area of the Upper Truckee River.
The Lahontan cutthroat trout qualifies for both California's Heritage Trout Challenge and the Western Native Trout Challenge.
Lahontan cutthroat trout being stocked in Lake Tahoe. USFWS Photo.
Lahontan cutthroat trout in stream form.
Paiute cutthroat trout. Photo by Jeff Weaver (CDFW).
Paiute Cutthroat Trout
Paiute cutthroat trout (O.h. seleniris) are native to the Silver King Creek drainage. Silver King Creek is a tributary of the East Carson River. The Silver King is currently the subject of a recovery program and is closed to fishing.
While few out-of-basin self-sustaining refuge populations exist, we recommend sport fishers avoid targeting these populations as they are under considerable stress.
While the Paiute cutthroat trout is a qualifying trout for the California's Heritage Trout Challenge, all waters in which they are native to are currently closed to fishing. The subspecies is not included in the Western Native Trout Challenge.
Mountain Whitefish
The mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) is a salmonid native to western North America. Their native range extends across eastern Sierra, overlapping with the historic range of Lahontan cutthrout trout within California. They can be found within the Carson, Truckee, and Walker river drainages.
This species is not included in either California's Heritage Trout Challenge or the Western Native Trout Challenge.
In California, your best bet to catch one is probably on the Truckee River, the East Walker River, or the West Walker River. I've caught them on tributaries of the West Fork of the Carson River as well. They can also be found in various lakes in the area, including Cascade Lake and Independence Lake.
Mountain whitefish typically forage for food on the bottom of river beds, using their fins to kick up aquatic insect larvae and other macro invertebrates, especially in the evening hours. They will also consume food that drifts by while resting. They are rarely seen feeding on top but are known to eat emerging aquatic insects such as midges and mayflies. To specifically target mountain fish, I recommend using a dropper/dropper rig with two fast sinking flies, with the lead fly being the larger of the two. For most of the year, a #14 beadhead pheasant tail nymph trailed by a #18 beadhead zebra midge is a good combo. Then target gravel bottom runs in the evenings, presenting the flies on the bottom in a dead drift. Use additional weight if need be. Bobber optional.
Mountain whitefish.
Bull Trout
Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is a char native to the northwestern North America. Their historic range extended into northern California, namely to waters of the McCloud River drainage below the Lower Falls.. Bull trout has been extirpated from the California portion of their historic range. The last documented catch occured a half century ago.
The species is not included in the California's Heritage Trout Challenge. While species is included Western Native Trout Challenge, the California portion of their historic range is excluded from the challenge.
While bull trout were commonly referred to as Dolly Varden trout, they should not be confused with Dolly Varden trout (Salvelinus malma).
Bull trout. Caught in Nevada.
This article was authored by Kurt Zeilenga.
If you have suggestions on how to improve these articles or other content on this site, please send them to info@TroutAdventures.org.
Additional Reading
Fish of the Eastern Sierra, Hunting California's Native Trout, and Backcountry Fly Fishing Essentials by Kurt Zeilenga
An Angler's Guide to the California Heritage Trout Challenge by CDFW
Fish Species of Special Concern in California by Peter M. Moyle, et. al.
Trout and Salmon of North America by Robert Behnke
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