2026 regulation year
California Trout (rainbow, brown, brook) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Oncorhynchus mykiss / Salmo trutta / Salvelinus fontinalis
Last updated
California's trout fishery is split between Sierra district streams (traditional Last-Saturday-in-April opener) and lowland year-round waters. Wild-trout streams carry a separate set of artificial-only / barbless / catch-and-release rules.
Season
Sierra district streams: last Sat in April – Nov 15. Lowland waters and most stocked lakes: year-round.
– Sierra district streams
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day on most general-regulation waters; 2 / day on listed wild-trout streams
- Possession
- 10 in possession (general waters)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- No statewide minimum; wild-trout waters carry 10–18 in minimums
Gear restrictions
- Wild-trout waters: artificial lures only, single barbless hook, often catch-and-release
- General waters: bait, lure, or fly permitted
- Sierra wilderness lakes: float tubes and shore-fishing only on some lakes
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific California waters:
Hot Creek (Mono County)
Wild-trout water: artificial lures only, single barbless, catch-and-release year-round
Upper Sacramento River
Special slot, barbless single hook in catch-and-release sections
Lake Tahoe
Above 8,000 ft trout season July 1 – Sep 30; lake-trout slot applies
Fall River (Shasta County)
Drift-boat-only sections; artificial lures, barbless
Crowley Lake
Stocked rainbows + Sacramento perch — annual special opener
Official source
California Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Californiafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.