gold sheen rainbow trout

[princetonBC]

Hi there.
I've been lurking around the site for a few months now and finally decided to post something.
My Grandpa caught this trout through the ice Feb. 2012, from a lake in the interior of BC. it was the weirdest looking rainbow trout that either of us had ever seen. I don't know if these are common in other parts of North America but I've only ever caught this variety of golden rainbow trout in this lake. since then we've caught a few here and there but very rarely without ice on the lake. I would have thought that diet or water quality is the reason for this odd colouration but there is a healthy stock of "regular" rainbows in that lake. the only thing i can think of is some sort of recessive gene in the local lake population or if they were a stocked variety. regardless it's one wild looking fish. We released it shortly after the photograph. I have a hard time thumping fish in general, much less a beautiful and strange fish like this.

Thanks for looking and let me know if these are common, and I just haven't been out on the water long enough. haha.

the lake:


the fish:

 

[gangster]

They generally get a lighter based color under the ice. They will also change color during spawning season..im sure you already know that tho. Still a rainbow...just a different pattern.

 

[bassfisher91]

Agree with above. Fish change colors throughout the year. Looks nice though but still a rainbow.

 

[princetonBC]

Hey guys thanks for the replies. I know it's a rainbow trout. Haha. I was thinking water temp could have something to do with it but wouldn't that affect all or most fish in the lake? Many of the rainbows that we pull out of that lake are quite dark, with a blue-green back. I'll see if i can post a pic of a regular rainbow that we pulled out on the same trip.


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[princetonBC]

Here's a typical rainbow trout that we caught about 20 minutes after the gold coloured one popped out of our hole..
My apologies for the dead fish. it made a great supper though.

 

[Matt S]

Check out the rainbow in the middle of the stringer that my grandfathers friend caught.. GOLD!!! Pretty sweet


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[gangster]

They make a trout in hatcheries called a "palamino" trout. Thats what the one in the middle looks like Matt. I have caught bows outta the same river that look totally different. Just like a lot of other fish...they all have different patterns.

 

[princetonBC]

That's one wild looking trout Matt. it almost looks like a goldfish! haha.
I guess I'm used to the trout all looking similar. Most of the bows up here go more to the blue and silver with a small red stripe down the side. I guess that's why they call them rainbow trout?
That being said I've caught bows that were so silver they almost looked like kokanee, it was only after i brought them home that the red stripe and spots started to show up. Interesting fish and always a pleasure to go out fishing for 'em.

 

[Matt S]

They make a trout in hatcheries called a "palamino" trout. Thats what the one in the middle looks like Matt. I have caught bows outta the same river that look totally different. Just like a lot of other fish...they all have different patterns.

I am aware of this gangster however I was not there when he caught it he just sent us the pictures and its probably a 99% shot that that fish was a stocked fish but where I fish in New York any stocked trout or salmon have clipped fins and over the years I have seen some crazy fish caught ... Long fins, fantails, and I did see a trout in the stream in New York that was gold in color with a black dot on his head so he looked to be more piebald then a palamino but I couldn't get him to bite so I never did get to see him better but the fish with the weird fins and tails plus some odd colors have for the most part all been wild fish the only one I have pictures of is this guy though but as you can see he has a decent fantail and my friend caught one that had an even bigger tail but I never got a picture of it but here's the one I did get a pic of
So even though most oddities are stocked fish anything is possible he is suppose to be sending me the fish to mount it for him so when I receive the fish I'm curious to see if any fins are clipped but I would say its stocked but you still have to be a lucky guy to be the one to catch one like that


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[gangster]

Ya that fantail is rad! Hope it went back so it could pass those cool genes on. I love the different markings and colors of fish. SO crazy how they can look so different even when in the same river.