California State Fish - Golden Trout

Golden trout (GT), scientific name Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita, was considered as a different species previously, mainly because of its bright, distinctive color pattern. Because of its magnificent color, it is also referred to as 'Fish from Heaven'. It was formerly known as Volcano Creek golden trout. This fish was declared as the state fish of California by the state jurisdiction in the year 1947. Let's take a look at the identification tips, habit and habitats of Golden trout.

Characteristics

Golden trout is a magnificent, small-sized fish with orange or red colored cheeks, olive-green back and golden color in the lower sides. Parr marks are present along the lateral line, larger spots in the fin and tail portion, bright orange color in the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. The size of an adult may range from 19-20 cm in streams and 35-43 cm in lakes.

Among the several species of trout, Golden trout is the least productive species. This is more evident from the various conditions that are required for spawning of Golden trout. The favorable conditions for spawning include warm temperature (at least 10 degree Celsius, more preferable 16-18 degree Celsius), fine substrate and minimum water velocity. When this fish finds the suitable substrate, it lays many eggs on or under the substrate. However, hatching of the eggs is disturbed by many factors like flooding of habitat and/or drying of water.

Habit and Habitat

The adult Golden trout feeds on insects like mayflies, stoneflies, ants, spiders, worms, beetles and larvae of other insects. It also relies on planktons, plant detritus, small fish and at times eggs of trout for food. These types of food are more abundant in warm climatic conditions. It is due to high altitude and prolonged winter conditions that food is available in less amount.

Golden trout prefers to survive in high-elevation watersheds, as those are basically very clear and cold. The CGT is a native to the watersheds of Sierra Nevada Mountain range. It is believed that the Golden trout once inhabit the upper South Fork Kern River and adjacent Golden Trout Creek.

Various conservation methods have been implemented at the state and federal level in order to preserve the Golden trout, some of which include making the Golden Trout Wilderness of 300,000 acres in 1978, enlisting the Golden trout at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Endangered Species List in 1991 and Forest Services Sensitive Species List.

Though several measures have been enforced to conserve the Golden trout, there is no significant increase in the population. The main reason behind this may be hybridization of Golden trout with the Rainbow trout that is non-native to the habitat. Studies have revealed that Golden trout is very sensitive to breeding with other trout species, especially the Rainbow trout.

The rate of hybridization is increased by poor land management plans, particularly in the Inyo National Forest. In order to minimize the chances of hybridization, a management strategy is implemented whereby the water of the South Fork Kern River is chemically treated to remove other non-native trout species.

Another reason for decrease in the population of Golden trout is destruction and/or modification of the natural habitat and competition of food and territory with the non-native species. Despite the state and federal regulatory activities, the Golden trout population has decreased to such an extent that it is in the verge of extinction. In 2000, the Trout Unlimited filed a petition to the USFWS to include the Golden trout in the list of endangered species.