Distribution: This species, native to North America, occurs in the high country from northern New South Wales to Victoria, in hills near Adelaide, South Australia and in Tasmania. These fish are frequently maintained by stocking and have a more restricted local distribution than brown trout.

Size: Although known to reach more than 110cm and more than 18kg, fish larger than 60cm or weighing more than 4kg are exceptional.

Characteristics: The rainbow trout tends to have a more compressed body than that of the brown trout. Colours vary from silver to pale olive-brownish, darker dorsally with spots on the head, body, dorsal and tail. They have a rosy pink stripe along the mid-line and gill covers. River fish, and those on spawning migrations, tend to display more intense colourations with the pink becoming crimson and the lower fins, lower sides and belly becoming grey.

Confusing Species: Similar to other trout and salmon species.

Fishing rules

• Summary of freshwater fishing rules