Species

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss · family Salmonidae

Live · updated

The most heavily stocked trout in Maryland. Put-and-take fisheries across the state plus holdover/wild fish in Western MD streams (Savage, Youghiogheny tailwater, Gunpowder). Takes PowerBait, small spinners, and standard dry/nymph patterns.

Water temp
45–68°F (ideal 55°F)
Tide
either
Moon
either
Depth
3–20 ft
Active months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov

Blackfoot River

Missoula Co., MT
92/100

Green River below Flaming Gorge

Daggett Co., UT
92/100

Kvichak River (Bristol Bay)

Lake and Peninsula Borough Co., AK · harvest closed
92/100

McKenzie River

Lane Co., OR
92/100

Provo River

Wasatch Co., UT
92/100

Deschutes River (Maupin)

Wasco Co., OR
82/100

Savage River Reservoir

Garrett Co., MD
80/100

North Branch Potomac River — Luke

Allegany Co., MD
80/100

North Branch Potomac River — Barnum

Garrett Co., MD
80/100

Missouri River at Craig

Lewis and Clark Co., MT
80/100

San Juan River below Navajo Dam

San Juan Co., NM
80/100

Kenai River (Soldotna)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Co., AK · harvest closed
80/100

Au Sable River (Grayling/Mio)

Oscoda Co., MI
80/100

Upper Delaware River (Callicoon)

Sullivan Co., NY
80/100

Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows

Allegany Co., MD
74/100

Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge

Washington Co., MD
74/100

Gallatin River

Gallatin Co., MT
74/100

Bighorn River

Big Horn Co., MT
74/100

Henry’s Fork (Island Park)

Fremont Co., ID
74/100

Gunnison River (Black Canyon)

Gunnison Co., CO
74/100

Fryingpan River

Pitkin Co., CO
74/100

Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb

Allegany Co., MD
68/100

Evitts Creek

Allegany Co., MD
68/100

Evitts Creek Ponds

Allegany Co., MD
68/100

Piney Reservoir

Garrett Co., MD
68/100

Patapsco Valley State Park — Daniels Area

Baltimore Co., MD
68/100

Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin

Frederick Co., MD
68/100

Eleven Mile Reservoir

Park Co., CO
68/100

Spinney Mountain Reservoir

Park Co., CO
68/100

Blue Mesa Reservoir

Gunnison Co., CO
68/100

Lake Pueblo

Pueblo Co., CO
68/100

Chatfield Reservoir

Douglas Co., CO
68/100

Horsetooth Reservoir

Larimer Co., CO
68/100

Dillon Reservoir

Summit Co., CO
68/100

Lake Granby

Grand Co., CO
68/100

Georgetown Lake

Deer Lodge Co., MT
68/100

Canyon Ferry Lake

Broadwater Co., MT
68/100

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Daggett Co., UT
68/100

Strawberry Reservoir

Wasatch Co., UT
68/100

Lake Coeur d’Alene

Kootenai Co., ID
68/100

Boysen Reservoir

Fremont Co., WY
68/100

Summersville Lake

Nicholas Co., WV
68/100

Glendo Reservoir

Platte Co., WY
68/100

Lake Tahoe (Nevada)

Douglas Co., NV
68/100

South Holston River

Sullivan Co., TN
68/100

Watauga River

Carter Co., TN
68/100

Clinch River (Norris tailwater)

Anderson Co., TN
68/100

Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)

Russell Co., KY
68/100

Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater)

Fulton Co., GA
68/100

Caney Fork River

DeKalb Co., TN
68/100

Farmington River

Hartford Co., CT
68/100

Housatonic River

Litchfield Co., CT
68/100

Bitterroot River

Ravalli Co., MT
68/100

Big Hole River

Beaverhead Co., MT
68/100

Silver Creek

Blaine Co., ID
68/100

Roaring Fork River

Pitkin Co., CO
68/100

Taylor River

Gunnison Co., CO
68/100

Penns Creek

Centre Co., PA
68/100

Spring Creek (State College)

Centre Co., PA
68/100

Esopus Creek

Ulster Co., NY
68/100

Shasta Lake

Shasta Co., CA
66/100

Beaverkill River

Sullivan Co., NY
65/100

Hiwassee River

Polk Co., TN
58/100

Madison River

Madison Co., MT
55/100

Folsom Lake

Sacramento Co., CA
49/100

South Fork Snake River (Heise)

Bonneville Co., ID
49/100

Yellowstone River at Livingston

Park Co., MT
44/100

Beaverhead River

Beaverhead Co., MT
43/100

Deep Creek Lake

Garrett Co., MD
38/100

North Platte River (Grey Reef)

Natrona Co., WY
35/100

Youghiogheny River — Friendsville

Garrett Co., MD

Lake Berryessa

Napa Co., CA

White River (Bull Shoals tailwater)

Baxter Co., AR

Norfork River

Baxter Co., AR

Maryland (non-tidal)

Stale: last verified 140 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
2

Daily creel 2 in aggregate across all trout species; possession limit 4 in aggregate. No minimum size. Put-and-Take "Closure 1" areas are closed March 8–March 28, 2026 (10pm–6:30am) for pre-season stocking. Special Trout Management Areas (Catch-and-Return, Delayed Harvest, Trophy Trout) have their own regulations — verify per water. Trout stamp required in addition to the standard freshwater license.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction

Stale: last verified 12 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
2

No minimum size; 2 trout/day in aggregate across all trout species (4 in possession). Put-and-take statewide; some waters are catch-and-release or delayed-harvest — check the water.

Source · verified 2026-08-28

Delaware (tidal)

Stale: last verified 140 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
6

Delaware stocked trout program. Daily creel 6 in aggregate across all trout species (4 in fly-fishing-only waters). No minimum size. Rainbow is the primary stocked species. Trout stamp required April–June 30 and October–November 30 for streams; March–April 1 for Tidbury and Newton Ponds. No fishing in designated trout waters within 14 days before opening; no night fishing (half-hour after sunset to half-hour before sunrise) in designated trout waters. Regulations do not differ by trout species.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)

Stale: last verified 140 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Min size
7"
Creel
6

Non-tidal VA stocked trout waters: 7-inch minimum, 6 per day (aggregate across rainbow, brown, brook). Statewide harvest season on stocked waters is October 1–June 15; trout license required. Many special-regulation waters exist: Heritage Trout Waters (single hook, C&R or limited harvest), Fee Fishing Areas (daily permit required, higher creel), and designated Wild Trout Waters (year-round, artificial lures only, often C&R). Rainbow is the primary stocked species, especially in the Shenandoah Valley.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

WV

Stale: last verified 103 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
6

6 trout/day in aggregate (all trout species).

Source · verified 2026-05-29

CA

Stale: last verified 103 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
5

5/day, 10 in possession (12" minimum on most lakes and the Delta).

Source · verified 2026-05-29

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
5

California: 5 trout/day on most inland waters; many coastal and wild-trout reaches are reduced-limit or catch-and-release. A Steelhead Report Card is required in anadromous waters.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

NTCO

Stale: last verified 100 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
4

Statewide trout aggregate: 4/day, 8 in possession (rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat). No statewide minimum size; many waters carry slot or gear restrictions — confirm the water-specific CPW rule.

Source · verified 2026-06-01

NTMTC

Stale: last verified 100 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
3

Central District streams: 3 trout daily and in possession (all species combined), only 1 longer than 18". Many blue-ribbon stretches add catch-and-release, artificial-only, or seasonal rules — confirm the water-specific exception.

Source · verified 2026-06-01

Stale: last verified 100 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
5

Central District lakes: 5 trout daily, 10 in possession (all species combined, includes cutthroat).

Source · verified 2026-06-01

NTMTW

Stale: last verified 100 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
3

Western District streams: 3 trout daily and in possession (all species combined), only 1 longer than 14".

Source · verified 2026-06-01

Stale: last verified 100 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
5

Western District lakes: 5 trout daily, 10 in possession (all species combined), only 1 longer than 22".

Source · verified 2026-06-01

NTUT

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
4

Part of Utah's 4-trout statewide aggregate (8 in possession). Tailwater and blue-ribbon waters add slot/gear rules.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction

Stale: last verified 12 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
4

Utah statewide default: 4/day combined for trout, kokanee and grayling; no statewide size limit. Many waters have exceptions.

Source · verified 2026-08-28

NTID

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
6

Idaho general trout limit: 6/day.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

Stale: last verified 12 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
6

Idaho general limit: 6 trout/day, all trout species combined. No statewide minimum size (Clearwater Region rivers/streams limit is 2). Open year-round.

Source · verified 2026-08-28

NTWY

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
6

Wyoming statewide trout limit: 6/day.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction

Stale: last verified 12 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
6

Wyoming statewide default: 6 trout/day in combination (lakes 6; streams 3, no more than one over 16"). No minimum size. Areas 1–5 may add exceptions.

Source · verified 2026-08-28

NTNV

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
5

Nevada statewide trout limit: 5/day. Lake Mead and most southern reservoirs follow the 5-trout rule.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

NTNM

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
5

New Mexico cold-water limit: 5 trout/salmon per day.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction

NTAK

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
2

Rainbow/steelhead: commonly 2/day with only 1 over 20" (e.g., Bristol Bay, open ~Jun 8–Oct 31); many trophy and wild-trout waters, including much of the Kenai, are catch-and-release. Confirm the drainage. Alaska adjusts limits by Emergency Order in-season — check the ADF&G hotline or app the day you fish.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

AR

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
2

Arkansas (2026, post-hatchery-crisis reduction): 2 trout/day on the White and North Fork tailwaters — on the White below Bull Shoals and the Norfork below Norfork Dam only rainbows under 14" may be kept; from the Norfork confluence down, 2 trout with 1 over 14". Confirm the reach.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

TN

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
7

Tennessee tailwaters: 7 trout/day (only 1 over 22" on the South Holston/Watauga).

Source · verified 2026-06-03

Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction

OR

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Min size
10"
Creel
2

Oregon: trout limits are zone- and reach-specific — the Deschutes redband fishery is 2/day within a 10–13" window and much of it is wild-release. Confirm the zone.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

MI

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Min size
8"
Creel
5

Michigan inland (Type 1/unclassified): 5 trout/day, 8" minimum, no more than 3 over 15". Type 2–4 reaches add gear and size restrictions — confirm the stream type.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

NY

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Min size
12"
Creel
5

New York: 5 trout/day statewide; the West Branch Delaware and many wild reaches are 12" / 2 fish or catch-and-release (artificial-only Oct 16–Mar 31). Confirm the reach.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

PA

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
5

Pennsylvania: 5 trout/day in the regular season; the West Branch Delaware and other special-regulation waters are reduced-creel / artificial-only. Confirm the section.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

KY

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
8

Kentucky: 8 trout/day general limit; a trout permit is required on the tailwaters. Confirm any water-specific slot.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

GA

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
8

Georgia: 8 trout/day. The Chattahoochee tailwater through Atlanta is an artificial-lures-only stream; trophy areas (Dukes Creek) are catch-and-release. Confirm the reach.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

CT

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Min size
9"
Creel
5

Connecticut: 5 trout/day on most rivers (9" min). The Farmington TMA is 2 fish/12"; the Housatonic Trout Management Area is catch-and-release (0 limit). Confirm the section.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

WA

Stale: last verified 98 days ago.

non tidal-trout

Creel
2

Washington: 2 hatchery trout/steelhead per day on most rivers; wild rainbow/cutthroat/steelhead must be released. A Columbia River Salmon & Steelhead Endorsement is required in the Columbia system.

Source · verified 2026-06-03

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