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Golden Trout Information
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California Golden Trout
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Natural History
The Golden Trout is a relative of the lost California native, the Sea Run Coastal Rainbow Trout. Tectonic movement combined with glaciations and volcanoes isolated the Kern Plateau and created a barrier for the Golden trout around 20,000 years ago. High outlet falls, hanging valleys and volcanic lava cut off created this high elevation plateau for the trout. Isolated, and no longer able to be a migrating sea run fish like it's soon to be ancestors, the Rainbow trout it was forced to adapt to its permanent high elevation habitat.

There are sporadic riparian communities that provide the bulk of this trout's food. These riparian communities are in the form of mountain meadows with bunch grass and wild flowers strung about the shallow streams the trout inhabit.

Appearance
This particular sub-species of trout found in mid- latitude Southern California has become one of the world's most coveted species because of its vibrant colors.

The waters at the elevation where the trout are found are very cold and very clear with a high reflective rate. The Golden Trout's appearance has adapted to this environment. It has a yellow gold to olive green tint on its sides and belly. The fish also developed two very brilliant red stripes; one on its belly which runs from the last lower fin to the front of the gill, the other stripe is on the lateral line that typically begins at the seventh lateral spot which also runs to the gill.

These colors are both passive and aggressive. The gold and red when viewed from out of the water make the trout virtually invisible in the shallow creeks of the high Sierras. Having this advantage makes it difficult for predators and prey alike to locate it.

Golden Trout are small only about five to seven inches although ten inches has been recorded. Its body's depth is 3.5 inches with noticeably small scales. The fins have small black spots with a black border with white tips. Golden Trout have more spots on their back and tail than your average Rainbow or Brown Trout.

The number and brilliance of spots and colors depend greatly on its environmental factors and degenerate quickly if the trout is placed in streams at lower elevation and warmer water.

Feeding Habits
The insects that come from these meadows; mayflies, gnats, mosquitoes, stoneflies, ants, beetles, spiders, dobsonflies, worms and larvae, are among the prey of the adult trout. Vegetable detritus, Plankton, trout eggs, and other small fish are also sources of nutrients. As the temperature increases with the changing seasons, the portion of plankton and vegetable detritus in the trout's diet increases as well.

Reproduction
Golden Trout are the least reproductive of the trout family because of long cold winters and high elevation make food scarce. Stream production, riparian production, and trout growth all come to a halt with the onset of fall.

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