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| Rainbow Trout |
Rainbow trout, native to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range
in the western United States, were introduced into North Carolina as
early as the 1880s. Since then they have been stocked in most trout
waters in the state, and have become the backbone of our trout fishery.
Rainbows are distinguished by the presence of a pinkish to red
longitudinal band, varying numbers of black spots, and a frequently
pink or red gill cover. The typical rainbow trout taken from North
Carolina waters is 10 inches or less in length. Fish up to 12 inches
long are common, and occasionally larger specimens are taken. Rainbow
trout do best in clear, cool, cascading type streams, but can survive
in waters too warm or too silt-laden for brook trout. In streams where
both rainbow and brook trout occur, rainbow usually dominate. Rainbow
trout are known as spectacular fighters, and frequently jump from the
water when hooked. |
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