Red Band Native Trout

A discovery for many: the Red Band trout! You might say, “Well, it’s a rainbow trout!” Well, no, it’s not far off, but it’s a separate cousin!

Voilà pour bien commencer le mois, une découverte pour beaucoup d’entre nous, la Truite à Ligne Rouge aka Red Band Trout. Une cousine de l’Arc en Ciel, une truite que l’on ne trouve qu’en Californie, et pas partout. Bref, une vraie aventure pour faire fonctionner nos méninges car quoi de mieux que d’apprendre ! Y’en a pour presque une heure et on a simplement envie de filer les attraper !

There’s not much out here… This northeast corner of California couldn’t feel further from the sprawling urban centers and overrun national parks you’ve probably heard too much about. But, if you’re into native trout you might want to make the pilgrimage to this part of the Golden State. Redbands are the main attraction. An ancient form of rainbow trout, these fish have been geographically isolated from their coastal cousins for millennia. Over the years they’ve adapted to their unique environments, and gotten seriously colorful. On this two day trip, I was after three. Maybe you’ve heard of the McCloud River Redband, but the other two might be new to you. Finding these rare fish will test your research skills, but catching them is a whole different challenge. If you’re into stunning native fish in remote small streams, this one is for you.