Rainbow Trout are true trout.  This means that the word "trout" is not just in their name as it is for a lake trout, but actually classifies them in their proper family - trout.  All trout have black spots.  What distinguishes rainbow trout from other true trout is the lack of distinguishing markings.  If a fish has black spots and lacks pale halos around their black spots, and lacks the red slash under the jaw, then by process of elimination you have a rainbow trout.  Rainbows usually possess a pink stripe that runs down the length of their sides for which they were named.  The rest of their body is a shimmering silver, and that, paired with their tremendous fighting characteristics, have earned them the name Bow River Bullets.

Rainbow Trout spawn in the spring.  Water conditions are not very favourable in the spring, but Rainbow's have overcome this, and have established strong populations wherever they reside.  Pair them in a river with a fall spawner such as Brown Trout, and you have continuous fishing action all year round without a drop in the action due to spawning fish.

While many Rainbow Trout in Alberta are wild fish, only those from the Athabasca River drainage are native fish.  All Rainbow Trout in the world have come from the westward draining rivers in North America.  They have been used extensively for stocking for their hearty nature, ease of raising in a hatchery, and their tremendous fighting style.

Rainbow Trout are perhaps the most fun fresh water fish to hook.  They are not as wary as the Brown Trout, and are the most showy fighters of any other fresh water fish.  They are cousins of the powerful West Coast Steelhead, and jump and run much like their salt water counterparts.  Rainbow Trout almost always go airborne once, twice, three times or more after being hooked.  They can run you quickly into your backing and always pull hard. 

Rainbows are usually not as selective as Browns.   There is usually good fishing for them throughout the day and the season, but like any fish who has flying predators, they don't really like direct sunlight.  If you match the size and colour to whatever is hatching you will catch Rainbows.

Rainbow Trout are all over the province in lakes and rivers, but are world famous in the Crowsnest and Bow Rivers.  The Lower Bow river is home to the famous Bow River Bullets - truly in all the world these are a unique and powerful strain.

The Rainbow Trout is truly a fish for fly fishermen.  Acrobatic, fast, and eager to take surface insects - perfect. While some of the biggest Rainbows will be in lakes, the strongest and best Rainbows come from moving waters and embody what a flowing water fish should be.  Catching your first Bow River Bullet is an experience you will never forget - hook, high out of the water, a big run, out of the water again...  What fly fishing dreams are made of.

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