Trout Species of the World
Around the world, there are around 20 species of trout belonging to the Oncorynchus and Salmo genus. This number does not include members of the Chars genus (Salvelinus) Such as the Brook Trout or Bull Trout which still use the trout name. These 20 or so species can also vary due to some of these fish species distinction which is still debated in some scientific circles. We dive into what makes each of these species and what makes them special.
Trout Species of North America
​ Native Trout Species
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Rainbow Trout
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Cutthroat Trout
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Mexican Golden Trout
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Gila Trout
Chars referred to as Trout
Lake Trout
Bull Trout
Brook Trout
Sunapee Trout
​ Introduced Trout Species
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Brown Trout
Notable Trout Subspecies/hybrids
Tiger Trout (Brown/Brook)
Cutbow (Cutthroat/Rainbow)
Golden Trout
Apache Trout
Redband Trout
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Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) can be found on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. They are native to the coastal streams of Northeast Asia, around the Pacific Northwest and extending downward into Baja California. Their sea going counterpart is known as the Steelhead. As a species, they are the ultimate colonizers of cold waters. Their popularity as both a food fish and sport fish has encouraged their spread around the globe.
Rainbow Trout Subspecies
California Golden Trout
A native to the Kern River in Central California, The Callifornia Golden Trout can be found in a handful of streams and lakes throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Goldens are stocked in several alpine lakes in California which you can read about in our article on fly fishing California. They are also stocked in several alpine lakes throughout the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming.
Redband Trout
Several small streams and rivers from Northern California to Washington State are home to several variants of the Redband Trout. The vivid lateral red line that is more distinct than on traditional rainbow trout is easily identifiable for anglers seeking these fish. The McCloud River and Metolius River have healthy populations of Redband Trout for adventurous anglers looking to put these species on their lists.
Steelhead
Steelhead, while not considered a subspecies, offer a very different fishing experience than your traditional rainbow trout. They are native to the Northern Pacific Ocean and the larger rivers and streams that feed them. These anadromous fish rim in and out of freshwater at different periods of the year with Summer and Winter often being the most prolific runs.
Cutthroat Trout
With dozens of subspecies found throughout the Rocky Mountains of the American west, The Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) is the posterchild of North American Trout. Always willing to rise to a well presented dry fly, cutthroat trout off tremendous fly fishing opportunities in the American West. While some subspecies of Cutthroat, such as the Paiute, rarely grow to more than 12 inches in total length, others, such as the Lahontan can grow to lengths greater than 36 inches in their native waters. Each of these subspecies are remnants of ice ages of the past and tell a different story about the geography of western North America.
Cutthroat Trout Subspecies
Greenback Cutthroat Trout
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Colorado River Cutthroat Trout
Paiute Cutthroat Trout
Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Gila Trout
The Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae) alongside the Apache Trout, its notable subspecies, can be found in a small area of southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. The Gila has fought its way back form an endangered status and now pure strain Apache and Gila trout can be found in a handful of small streams in this region.
Mexican Golden Trout
The Mexican Golden Trout (Oncorhynchus chrysogaster) of the Sierra Occidental Mountains in central/western Mexico is the rarest trout species of North America. These native trout are limited to the different Pacific drainages of western Mexico above 2500 meters of elevation. These high elevation headwaters found toward the peaks of the Sierras have suffered from habitat loss, poor land/water management, and use as a food source for the indigenous locals threaten the unprotected species. Limited documentation is available on these fish as they struggle for survival in their native range.
Hybrid Trout
Tiger Trout
Hybrids of Brook and Brown Trout, the Tiger trout are certainly the most photogenic trout hybrids. Wild tigers are found by lucky anglers in the small streams of Southern Appalachia but are more commonly stocked in the high alpine lakes of the western United States. Colorado and Utah have established healthy populations where they are well known by locals to be incredibly aggressive and a great fly fishing target.
Splake
Hybrids of Lake and Brook Trout, the Splake is stocked in lakes of Maine, Michigan, and the western United States. Used in fisheries to control populations of smaller fish, they serve as an effective population control method as they are not able reproduce keeping their population in control. They offer great fly fishing opportunity to visiting anglers looking to wet a line.
Cutbow
Seen as a nuisance in native cutthroat streams Cutbow inhibit the genetic viability of the native trout. These hybrids of Rainbow and Cutthroat trout are willing fly eaters where they can be found. While wild populations can be found, cutbows have been intentionally stocked in some rivers, such as the White River in Arkansas.
Trout Species of Europe
​ Native Trout Species of Europe
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Gillaroo Trout
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Sonaghan Trout
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Softmouth Trout
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Marble Trout
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Ohrid Trout
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Brown Trout
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Fibreno Trout
​ Introduced Trout Species
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Rainbow Trout
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Brook Trout
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Lake Trout
Notable Trout Subspecies
Zebra Trout
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Brown Trout
The Brown Trout, Salmo trutta, has the largest native range of any trout in the world. Like the rainbow trout it can be found on every continent with exception of Antarctica. Its native range stretches from Iceland in the West, to the western drainages of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and Central Asia. The Mediterranean Sea serves as the center for speciation with the Salmo genus and is home to the most diversity within the brown trout species. Many subspecies of brown trout can be found from Northern Africa to Turkey in the East, and northward to Southern Europe. Known for their prowess as cunning and selective feeders, they are a worthy target for anglers of all skill levels.
Gillaroo Trout
The Gillaroo Trout of Northwest Ireland cand be found in a handful of lakes with Lough Melvin possessing the most renown populations. A distant relative of the Brown Trout, the Gillaroo patrols the shallower reaches of the lake and it outlet on the Drowes River. Here it feeds mainly on benthic mollusks, crustaceans, and insect larvae. During larger hatches the Gillaroo can be found feeding on the surface. Its golden cheeks and more ventrally positioned mouth distinguishes it from the native Brown Trout and Sonaghan Trout found in the lake. You can lean more about each of these fish in our article on Fly Fishing Ireland.
Sonaghan Trout
The Sonaghan Trout, Salmo nigripinnis, is another resident of Lough Melvin in Ireland. Unlike the Gillaroo, Lough Melvin is the Sonaghan's only home. This trout is a pelagic feeder, roaming the open areas of the lake feeding on larger shoals of Daphnia and the occasional hatch of mayflies and caddis. The darker body, near black back, and larger spots differentiate this trout from others in the lake. The prevailing winds often designate which parts of the lake the food and in turn the Sonaghan will congregate in.
Softmouth Trout
Found in the Adriatic Sea drainages of the Western Balkans, the Softmouth Trout, Salmo obtusirostris, is one of the most unique trout species in Europe. Its ventrally located mouth resembles that of a grayling more than a trout. The small spots along its side flanks and spotless back and caudal region are also unique amongst its cousins. While populations of Softmouth trout are small, health populations can be found in the Neretva River of Bosnia and Zeta River of Montenegro.
Marble Trout
The Marble Trout, Salmo marmorata, calls the rivers and streams of the Northern Adriatic Sea home. From the Dolomites in Italy, through the Southern Alps of Slovenia, southward to a few streams of western Bosnia, the Marble Trout attracts anglers from all over the world. The vermiculated pattern along its back are where the marble trout gets its name and what makes it the most aesthetic member of the Salmo genus. Its behavior is quite similar to its brown trout cousins, starting it life with a diet of small insects and making a transition to a more piscivorous diet once reaching larger sizes.
Ohrid Trout
Ohrid Trout, Salmo letnica, can only be found in Lake Ohrid. Falling on the border of Macedonia and Albania, the trout are normally pelagic roamers of the lake with small populations existing in the Black Drin River and its tributaries. Populations have rebounded due to new fishing regulations and regulations around local fish hatcheries. This trout was also stocked within the US at a handful of lakes in Tennessee, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Fibreno Trout
The Fibreno Trout, Salmo fibreni, can only be found in Posta Fibreno, a small spring fed lake of the Apennine Mountain range of Central Italy. While this species doesn't offer much of a fishery for anglers, it occupies a fascinating niche in the lake where it lives in the underground springs of the lake, leaving only to spawn in the winter months. Rarely growing larger than 6 inches or so, the Fibreno trout feeds majoritily on aquatic insect nymphs.
Trout Species of Africa
​ Native Trout Species of Africa
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Brown Trout
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Moroccan Trout
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Green Trout
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Fine Spotted Trout
​ Introduced Trout Species
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Rainbow Trout
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Brook Trout
Notable Trout Subspecies
Tensift Trout
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Moroccan Trout
The Moroccan or Ifni Trout, Salmo akairos, can only be found in one lake in the would. Ifni Lake sits in the shadow of Mount Toubkal, the tallest peak of the Atlas Mountains. The lake is heavily protected by locals from poachers which had nearly fished the trout to extinction. The population is currently doing much better thanks to these conservation efforts. Its color pattern resembles that of a marble trout with a few additional unique markings. Despite once being called the Dwarf Ifni Trout by biologists, the trout can indeed reach much larger sizes in the 24" range or larger.
Green Trout
The Green Trout, Salmo viridis, is likely to be the rarest trout species on the planet. Like the Ifni trout, the Green Trout can only be found in one lake in the world. Lake Isli lies in the higher elevations of the Middle Atlas. The lake was thought to be formed from a meteor impact millions of years ago. Though the lake is found on the high plateau, its shoreline drops drastically into deeper water. The Green Trout spends much of its time in the depths, only patrolling the shallows in the winter months during its spawning period. Midges can be found throughout the lake along with free swimming caddis and mayfly nymphs which serve as the Green Trout's forage base. Heavy regulations have been place on Lac Isli in efforts to improve the population of trout. These regulations change annually to better serve the Green Trout.
Fine Spotted Trout
Salmo multipunctata, or the Fine Spotted/Dades Trout is native to the Draa and Dades River watershed. Now limited to the uppermost portions of its watershed, habitat loss and overfishing has drastically affected the population on the Dades River and its tributaries. Regulations have been placed in areas where viable populations can be found and with hope numbers will increase and spread to adjacent sections. You can learn more about the trout of Dades, Green, Ifni, and Tensift trout in the article on Fly Fishing Morocco.
Trout Species of Asia
​ Native Trout Species of Asia
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Brown Trout
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Rainbow Trout
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Sevan Trout
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Turkish Trout
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Alakir Trout
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Goksu Trout
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Euphrates Trout
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Tigris Trout
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Coruh Trout
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Cherry Trout
Notable Trout Subspecies
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Rize Trout
Munzur Trout
Caspian Trout
Abant Trout
Aras Trout
​Ecemis Trout
Oxus Trout
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Sevan Trout
The Sevan Trout, Salmo ischican, is only native to Lake Sevan of Armenia. In the lake several subspecies of the Sevan Trout exist. Each of these subspecies spawn during different times of the year as well as occupying different niches and areas of the lake. Large black spots down visually differentiate the Sevan Trout from their brown trout cousins. During the Soviet era, the Sevan was also stocked in a handful of other high elevation lakes in Armenia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The Sevan trout was also introduced into several rivers in central Asia.
Turkish Trout
The Turkish or Flathead Trout, Salmo platycephalus, can be found in the headwaters of the Zamanti River of Central Turkey. Once abundant in the highland plateau of Turkey, this trout is now limited to several small stretches of the river. Angling restrictions overseen by locals have helped the Flathead Trout maintain healthy populations in these areas.
Alakir Trout
Salmo kottelati, the Alakir Trout is native to a handful of small streams in Southwest Turkiye near the city of Antalya. Much like many of the trout species of Turkey, populations are limited to the high elevation streams protected from overfishing by locals. These fish have found adequate cover and shelter in the boulder strewn streams of the southern Taurus Mountains.
Goksu Trout
The Goksu Trout, Salmo okmusi, calls the westernmost drainages of the Euphrates river home. One of the more aesthetically unique trout of Turkey, it is easily identifiable from the small spots along its flanks and large red spots found on its adipose fin. The Goksu Trout's population is in relative health compared to many of its cousins. The rural area along the upper Goksu river watershed has allowed an effective refuge for the trout.
Euphrates Trout
Salmo euphrateus, or the Euphrates Trout, is home to one of the only two species of trout native to an Indian Ocean drainage. The upper Euphrates watershed has been severely degraded by the fragmentation caused by numerous dams as well as overfishing, and poor land use practices. Luckily the Euphrates trout has managed to find refuge in several remaining stretches of high elevation streams located above these reserviors.
Tigris Trout
The headwaters of the Tigris River are home to the other only trout native to an Indian Ocean Drainage. The Tigris Trout, Salmo tigridis occupies the smaller headwater streams between the city of Van, Turkey and the smaller town of Catak. While far from abundant, this trout can be found sporadically throughout the area. You can learn more about the Tigris trout and its cousins in this article on Fly Fishing Turkey.
Coruh Trout
The Coruh and Rize Trout, Salmo coruhensis and Salmo rizeensis, are native to several rivers draining into the Black Sea in Northern Turkey. While they do have rivers that give them their names, they also share some of the same waters on specific stretches of stream. While they may be their own species, it is more probable that one is a subspecies of the other. More research delineating the trout of the Black Sea drainage is needed. The streams of the area are at a very steep gradient with trout hiding amungst the many boulders and plunges.
Cherry Trout
The only unique trout of the Oncorhynchus family found outside of North America, the Cherry Trout or Oncorhynchus masou can only be found in Japan, the Korean peninsula, and the coastal streams of Eastern Russia. Referred to as the Yamame in Japan, the trout's life history and behavior mirrors that of the rainbow trout in America. Their unique coloration and exaggerated parr marks differentiate them from the other members of the Oncorhynchus genus. Sea going individuals found mostly in the Northern stretches of their range are referred to as Cherry salmon and closer resemble Sockeye salmon with there bright red coloring after returning to fresh water.