Golden Trout Native Range

Golden Trout Creek is thought to have once formed the headwaters of the South Fork Kern River but due to volcanic activity thousands of years ago it was diverted west near Tunnel Meadow and now.

Golden trout native range. 02072020 Golden trout are native to only high elevations above 7000 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Golden Trout Creek and Volcano Creek tributary and the South Fork of the Kern River. Native to the California Sierra Nevada and the state fish of California the species was transplanted to several other states including Montana Utah Colorado and Wyoming.

These small fish are famed for their beautiful bright yellow and red bodies. Sadly they are now endangered in their native range due to years of over-fishing and introduced trout species. They were originally found only in two streams within the Kern River system.

They have also been stocked all around the world. Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River Tulare County. Courtesy of California Department of Fish and Wildlife Since then goldens have been introduced around the west in both lakes and streams.

The belly opercula lower jaws and lateral line are a vivid red to red-orange. The endemic range of Mexican native trout extends from near the USMexican border in western Chihuahua and eastern Sonora south through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains of Durango. They have an olive back with distinctive golden sides that give them their name.

On the Bighorns the Golden trout is an introduced species from California. 05032021 California golden trout are native to two stream systems on the eastern side of the Kern River. Within their native range California golden trout occur at both low densities 002 - 017 fish per m2 in streams Knapp and Dudley 1990 and at high densities 13-27 fish per m2.

They have been introduced far beyond this native range though. Despite its limited distribution there are two recognized subspecies of golden trout. California Golden trout are native to the South Fork Kern River and its tributaries Golden Trout Creek and Volcano Creek.