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Photo of Rainbow Trout (stocked) (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Photo: Public domain — Eric Engbretson/USFWS, Wikimedia Commons

Freshwater

Rainbow Trout (stocked)

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Regularly stocked by CDFW through the cooler months, making it the most accessible fish for beginners and kids in LA.

Size

Stocked at 10–12"+

Season

Fall–Spring (stocking season)

Difficulty

Habitat

Stocked urban lakes and ponds, especially right after a CDFW stocking truck visit.

Best lures & bait

Small inline spinner (e.g. Panther Martin, Rooster Tail)
PowerBait on a still-fished bottom rig
Small casting spoon

How to catch them

Cast and retrieve spinners at a steady medium speed
Still-fish PowerBait off the bottom on a slip-sinker rig, especially right after stocking
Fish shortly after a stock report for the most active bite

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