Freshwater · South Central
Trout - Brook
These notes are district-general defaults. Search your lake or stream first — special waters override these rules. Full booklet: 2026 Freshwater Guide. Catch reports: Fish data.
Species group
TROUT
Season
District general (CCR §7.00(e)): 1) Portion of any stream west of any Highway 1 bridge (except Special Regulations waters): Dec. 1 through Mar. 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays, and opening/closing days; barbless hooks. 2) Other anadromous streams / portions not covered above and not listed specially: CLOSED to all fishing all year. Lakes & reservoirs (unless named in Special Regulations): generally open all year — verify in the freshwater guide. IMPORTANT: If your lake, river, or stream is named in the Alphabetical List of Waters with Special Fishing Regulations (2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide), those special rules override this district default.
Season notes
Hatchery trout/steelhead = healed adipose fin clip (adipose absent). Unless otherwise provided, wild trout/steelhead must be released immediately.
Daily bag limit
Open §7.00(e)(1) waters: 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead per day; 4 in possession. Closed to salmon unless Special Regulations allow. Typical lakes/reservoirs (if not listed specially): 5 trout per day / 10 in possession — confirm in the guide. IMPORTANT: If your lake, river, or stream is named in the Alphabetical List of Waters with Special Fishing Regulations (2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide), those special rules override this district default.
Minimum size
See district / special-water rules for the water you fish.
Gear restrictions
§7.00(e)(1) waters: barbless hooks. Named Special Regulation waters may require artificial lures only — check the listing.
Identification
The brook trout has a dark green to brown color, with a distinctive marbled pattern (called vermiculation) of lighter shades across the flanks and back and extending at least to the dorsal fin, and often to the tail. A distinctive sprinkling of red dots, surrounded by blue halos, occurs along the flanks. The belly and lower fins are reddish in color, the latter with white leading edges. Often, the belly, particularly of the males, becomes very red or orange when the fish are spawning