Habitat

Trout waters I've had the good fortune to fish.

Alaska's Bristol Bay Blackfoot River, North Fork Carson River, East Fork - Hangman's Bridge & Below Carson River, East Fork - Carson Iceberg Wilderness Section Clavey River Clavey River -Headwater Trib Cottonwood Lakes Deer Creek Eagle Lake Golden Trout Creek Golden Trout Wilderness Green River Heenan Lake Hot Creek Jones Hole Creek Kelly Creek Kern River - "The Forks" Confluence of Little Kern River and the North Fork Kern River - Johnsondale Bridge to Rincon Trailhead Kern River - Heritage Trout Section Kern River - Upper South Fork Kings River - Lower Section Kings River - South Fork Kings River - Upstream of Pine Flat Kinney Lakes Kirman Lake Lake Alpine Little Kern River McCloud River McCloud River - Nature Conservancy Preserve Merced River - Below Yosemite N.P. Merced River - South Fork Merced River - Yosemite National Park Mill Creek, California Mokelumne River, North Fork below Salt Springs dam Owens River, Upstream of Crowley Lake Piru Creek Pit River Rock Creek Rogue River - Middle Section Sacramento River - Balls Ferry to Red Bluff Sacramento River -Redding Sacramento River, Upper Sagehen Creek Saint Joes River Salmon River - Middle Fork San Joaquin River, Middle Fork Sierra Nevada Small Stream, East-side Sierra Nevada Small Stream, West-side New! Silver King Creek South Warner Wilderness New! Stanislaus River, Clark Fork Stanislaus River, Lower New! Stanislaus River, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, North Fork Updated! Trinity River Truckee River -Upper Section Tule River Tuolumne River, Dana Fork Tuolumne River, Lyell Fork New! Tuolumne River, Poopenaut Valley New! Tuolumne River, Tuolumne Meadows Uintas Small Stream Walker River, East Fork Walker River, West Fork Little Walker River New! Wind River Yuba River - Lower Section Yuba River, North Fork
 

Where to Find Trout

Look for a dramatic change in their habitat. There, you are likely to find trout along the edge of that change. Look for structure such as jagged points, large rocks, steep drop-offs, and submerged trees. Look for change in the water current. Fast to slow or a current seam. You might find a feeder stream trickling into a lake or larger river. This steam may provide additional food or oxygen to trout. These trout will face upstream and hold in slower water waiting for insects to float by.

 

Native Trout Waters of California

Native Trout Waters of California California is home to 11 unique kinds of native trout, and you'll find descriptions for five of these trout and where they live in the pages of my new eBook - Native Trout Waters of California.

Whether your goal is completing the California Heritage Trout Challenge, or just finding some of the Sierra Nevada's most scenic stretches of water to wet a line, Native Trout Waters of California will help you reach your goal. Read More...

Trout Habitat and the Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada is one of California's most beautiful and diverse landscapes. From the foothills to the summit to the dramatic slope down along the east-side, there are vast opportunities for the angler.

Californias Native Trout of the Golden Trout Wilderness

Large and Diverse Coldwater Fisheries

Trout live in coldwater and the Sierra Nevada provides one of North America's premiere coldwater fisheries. The Sierra Nevada and adjacent Great Basin hold a variety of trout species which inhabit the hundreds of streams, ponds, and lakes found throughout this vast range.

I do not know much about gods; but I think the river
Is a strong, brown god--sullen, untamed, and intractable
 T.S. Eliot  

Spotlight on Stream Restoration

You might ask: Why is Restoring Habitat Important to California's Fisheries? Or, maybe you might want to learn about other major habitat restoration efforts:


Restoring Coastal Streams for Coho

With the possible exception of the small population in the Lagunitas Creek watershed, Central California coast coho are on the verge of extinction. The most important factor for these coho's survival is to protect and enhance their spawning and rearing habitat within their native coastal streams.

Watch this video to get a first-hand look at what local watershed groups are doing...

As anglers, it's up to each of us to protect and care for our fisheries.

Bristol Bay Alaska Salmon and Trout Rivers

The Ecological Angler takes a close look at a few of the rivers and the local inhabitants of North America's greatest salmon fishery.

Stream Habitat

When trout are not feeding, they are likely hiding under currents, near the bottom of deep pools, under cut blanks around the shore, or behind structure such as logs or boulders. When they are feeding, trout in a stream move to where the food comes to them. Common places are eddies, along weedbeds, behind boulders, and at the tailouts of pools.

Lake Habitat

Trout living in a lake and pond must move in search of food. When they are cruising you find them along weedbeds and typically closer to the surface of along structured shoreline. On ocassion, trout cruise just below the surface to gulp down aquatic insects.

Program to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species