The redband trout are a distinctive form of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) that sport a dark red colors their lateral line. Redband trout can be regarded as an inland or interior form of rainbow trout. Redband trout subspecies include:
Columbia River redband trout (O.m. gairdneri) of the Columbia River drainage,
Great Basin redband trout (O.m. newberrii) of the northwestern Great Basin, and
Sacramento River redband trout (O.m. stonei) of the upper Sacramento River drainage.
Native redband trout are present in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alberta and British Columbia. Their historic range also extends into Utah and Wyoming as well.
A redband trout
This article was authored by Kurt Zeilenga as part of our Western States Trout Species series.
Suggestions on how to improve this article may be sent to Kurt@TroutAdventures.org.
Trout and Salmon of North America by Robert Behnke
Distribution and Status of Redband Trout in the Interior Columbia River Basin and Portions of the Klamath River and Great Basins by Russell Thurow, et. al., 2007.
Status and Conservation of the Interior Redband Trout in the Western United States by Clint Muhlfeld, et. al., 2015.
Interior Redband Trout Species by Western Native Trout Initiative