The Great Basin redband trout (O.m. newberri) is one of three redband trout subspecies of rainbow trout. They are native to the Great Basin east of the Cascades. Most of their historic range is in southeastern Oregon but the range does extend into northeastern California and northwestern Nevada. They occur in six isolated drainages as well as upper Klamath River drainage. They are:
Catlow Valley redband trout
Chewaucan redband trout
Fort Rock redband trout,
Goose Lake redband trout,
Harney-Malheur Lakes redband trout,
Warner Lakes redband trout, and
Klamath redband trout
Catlow Valley redband trout are native to the Catlow Valley basin in southeastern Oregon. There are five populations: Home, Threemile, Skull, Rock, and Guano.
Chewuacan redband trout are native to ancient Lake Chewauchan basin. Lake Abert and Summer Lake are its remnants. There are four populations: Chewaucan River, and Crooked, Foster, Willow creeks.
Chewaucan River as it emerges from the Fremont National Forest.
Chewaucan redband trout
Fort Rock redband trout
Fort Rock redband trout are native to Silver Lake basin. There are three populations: Buck Creek, Bridge Creek and Silver Creek.
Buck Creek
Goose Lake redband trout are native to waters of the Goose Lake basin. They can be found in various tributaries of the lake. The best options in California include Lassen and Willow creeks and their tributaries. In Oregon, the best options include Crane, Dry, and Thomas creeks and their tributaries.
Goose Lake redband trout
A small Goose Lake tributary emerging from the Warner Mountains.
Malheur Lakes redband trout are native to the Harney and Maleur Lakes basin and includes ten populations.
Warner Lakes redband trout are native to waters of the Warner Lakes basin. They can be readily caught in upper Deep Creek and Honey Creek, as well as their tributaries in Oregon. In California, Dismal Creek, a tributary of Deep Creek, is your best option.
Warner Lakes redband trout caught in the Warner Mountains
Klamath redband trout are native to waters of the upper Klamath River drainage and includes ten populations.
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
Oregon Native Fish Status Report, Volumes I and II, by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife