Habitat

Some trout waters I've had the good fortune to fish.

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

 

Coming Soon - Native Trout Waters

Native Trout Waters of California

Look for a special section devoted to Native Trout Waters of California to appear soon. A list of amazing waters which support populations of California's native trout.

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

Learn more about fishing destinations in the Golden Trout Wilderness:

New Content - The EcoAngler Report

Planning a trip to the East Fork Carson River? Get scientific based angling intel in The EcoAngler Report - East Fork Carson River.

The EcoAngler Report - East Fork Carson River Detailed information on the East Fork's native and wild trout populations along with a map and directions can be purchased here.

An Adobe PDF document will be made available with your $1.95 purchase. Select Return to the Ecological Angler to view and save your purchase.

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  

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...

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