The American States Where Native Trout Live

Which states have native rainbow trout?

Native populations of rainbow trout are found throughout the states which drain into the Pacific Basin. These include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The only pacific state that does not have native trout is Hawaii.

Outside of the United States, Rainbow trout are also native to Mexico, Canada, and parts of Siberia.

Other than a couple of isolated populations in Mexico, native rainbow trout are not found in any of the rivers that flow towards the Atlantic.

Which states have native cutthroat trout?

Most native populations of Cutthroat trout occur throughout the Pacific Basin drainage. Cutthroat trout range from Prince William Sound, Alaska, to Eel River in northern California.

Natively occurring Cutthroat trout populations do exist east of the continental divide in the headwaters tributaries of the Mississippi River.

Researchers believed they made it there via Two Ocean Pass some 3-5 million years ago or via Summit Lake at Marias Pass which was at one time connected to the flathead river drainage.

Native populations of Cutthroat trout occur in the following states Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

As recently as the mid-1900’s Rio Grande Cutthroat trout were reported to have lived in some Western Texas spring fed streams but they died out there due to the impact of irrigation reducing flow levels and increasing salinity.

If true, this makes Texas the only state to lose a species of native trout. There are conservation efforts that will hopefully see their eventual return.

Outside of America, Cutthroat trout are also native to Canada, with some evidence suggesting several of the native trout found in Mexico are also descendants of historical Cutthroat trout populations.

Which States have native brook trout?

Brook trout are native throughout the eastern seaboard, including along higher elevations in the Appalachian mountains. Their historical range has shrunk significantly since the introduction of more competitive trout species.

Brook trout are native to the following states. Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,  South Carolina, Tennesse, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Are brown trout native to America?

There are no populations of native brown trout in America. They are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

The nearest thing to a native Brown trout in America is the endangered Atlantic salmon that run up the rivers in the North East.

There is also native brown trout in Iceland which technically spans both the Eurasian and North American continental parts. So, from a geological perspective, there are native brown trout in North America.

Which states have native lake trout?

Lake trout are native to the northernmost parts of North America. The largest population is in Canada, but also Alaska, Great Lakes, and to some extent, the northeastern United States. A relict population exists in Montana.

Which States have no native trout?

12 states, all located in the south or the prairies do not have native freshwater trout.

These are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas.

Alabama: It is very unlikely that any native brook trout are in Alabama. Some ponds are stocked during the cooler months, and there is a year round rainbow trout fishery in the tailwater of the Lewis Smith Dam.

Arkansas: There are no native trout in Arkansas, although close to 1.5 million of all major trout varieties are stocked yearly and there is some excellent trout fishing to be had. Arkansas is home to a rather impressive 40lb state record brown trout that was caught in the little red river.

Florida: Native freshwater trout do not exist in Florida. Over the winter I know of one private managed pond that gets stocked with rainbow trout in Tallahassee.

Hawaii: There is no native trout in Hawaii. Rainbow trout have become established and are still being stocked on the island of Kauai.

Kansas: Trout are not native to Kansas, but rainbow trout are stocked in ponds across the state during the cooler months.

Kentucky: Trout are not native to Kentucky, but all four main species of trout can be found in Kentucky. There is some quality fishing to be had especially in the tailwaters.

Louisiana: Trout are not native trout to Louisiana, although some limited stocking of rainbow trout does occur in ponds throughout the state during the winter.

Mississippi: There is no native trout in Mississippi, rainbow trout are stocked in very limited numbers. Mississippi has the smallest state record for rainbow trout.

Nebraska: Trout are not considered native to Nebraska, although there is a very slight possibility of native cutthroat from the eastern slopes of the rocky mountains.

Today trout are widely stocked in Nebraska and the state offers some of the best trout fishing of any state which does not have a natural population.

North Dakota: North Dakota is the northernmost state without native trout. Although they are now stocked.

South Dakota: There are no native trout in South Dakota, although they are stocked . Currently rainbow, brown, brook, and cutthroat trout can be found in the black hills.

Texas: There were unverifiable reports of a relict population of cutthroat trout in the Davis Mountains, Texas.

They were last reported sometime in the mid 1900s. Trout are still stocked in some areas and there is one population of wild rainbow trout.

The saying goes that everything is bigger in Texas, except the Brook trout, the state record is the smallest in country at just 10.72 oz