Fish, salmonid family
Rainbow trout
- Maximum length
- 122cm
- Maximum weight
- 25kg
- Best water temperature
- 9–17 °C
- Water today (4.1 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 1
About the species Rainbow trout
How to recognise it
A broad pink-violet stripe on the sides and dense dark spotting all over the body and on the tail fin.
Where it lives
Cool clean waters, reservoirs and ponds where it is stocked. Originates from North America.
What it feeds on
Insects, zooplankton, molluscs and small fish.
Spawning
In our waters it reproduces naturally only rarely, so it is maintained by stocking.
It is a non-native species. It is caught on fly, spinner, float and on the bottom.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about rainbow trout. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Minimum size
§ 12 of the Decree27 cm
below the size limit: return it to the waterfrom the size limit: you may keep it
You must not keep a fish shorter than 27 cm. The total length is measured from the front of the head to the end of the longest ray of the tail fin (§ 12, para. 4). The district user may raise the size; the one in the permit and the fishing regulations applies.
Daily limit
§ 14 of the Decree- 4ksYellow grouprainbow trout, brook trout, common nase, vimba bream; added to the green or blue group (at most 4 fish in total)
The limit applies per day, also when fishing in several districts. The district user may set a lower limit in the permit, in which case the stricter one applies.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Tolerates it, but slowed downTypical water on the Slovakia is 4.1 °C today. The species tolerates this temperature (0 to 24 °C), but the water is cooler than the ideal 9 to 17 °C. Fish are slower and more selective. This temperature corresponds to spawning (4 to 10 °C). Fishing restrictions apply during the closed season.
- tolerates 0 to 24 °C
- best 9 to 17 °C
- spawning at 4 to 10 °C
- typical water today 4.1 °C
- Length
- up to 122 cm
- Weight
- up to 25 kg
- Oxygen
- Requires a lot of oxygen
- Position in the food chain
- 4,4predator
The values are indicative and come from the FishBase database. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
1 fishing district in total. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- Rainbow trout: Photo: This image originates from the National Digital Library of the United States Fish and W…, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Brown trout: Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Brook trout: Photo: Karelj, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.