Rare Trout Species

There are 21 species of trout in North America. Some trout species, like the Sunapee, are very rare. Trout are also known to hybridize (interbreed species), meaning it is possible to catch a practically unique trout. Hybridization can eventually lead to the development of new and beautiful trout species, like the California golden trout.

  1. Sunapee

    • True Sunapee trout are found only in Floods Pond, Maine.

      The Sunapee is the rarest trout species in North America. Bob Willis of Trout Site says there is a lot of confusion about the Sunapee species among biologists, taxonomists and fisheries. At one time, these trout were found in Sunapee Lake, New Hampshire, as well as in a few selected other ponds across New England. However, lake trout were introduced to these areas and interbred with the Sunapee. The only known original population of true Sunapee trout today is at Floods Pond, Maine.

    California golden trout

    • California golden trout (CGT) were once known as Volcano Creek golden trout. These fish display stunning color, and have been the official state fish of California since 1947. According to Trout Unlimited California, CGT probably evolved in Kern River drainage areas from successive generations of Sacramento-San Joaquin redband rainbow trout. The California golden trout is native to only two watersheds in California: the upper South Fork Kern River and Golden Trout Creek, which are at high altitude and run adjacent to each other. Like most other trout, CGT are very likely to interbreed with other species, and several subspecies are known.

    Little Kern Golden Trout

    • The Little Kern golden trout is a subspecies of CGT and inhabits the same waterways. Little Kern trout have bright red or red-orange cheeks, bright gold sides and olive green backs. Unlike other CGT subspecies, the Little Kern golden trout typically has many spots on the head and below the lateral line.

    Mystery Trout

    • Due to hybridization, it is possible to catch an entirely unknown and unique trout. At Phelps Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada, there is a "mystery trout" species/hybrid which has been caught only four times since 1995. While it's taxonomy is still unclear, Dr.Robert Behnke of Colorado State University, feels it is similar to a hybrid of a brown trout and a char. Dr. E. J. Crossman of the Royal Ontario Museum theorizes that the fish is a Brook trout/Brown trout hybrid. Still others, like Steven J. Herrington from Auburn University, believe that the fish is a genetic mutant/color variant of the Lake Trout.