Golden Trout of the Little Kern River
The Little Kern River golden trout are a beautiful fish that can only be found in this small California tributary of the Kern River. Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1978, their decline stemmed primarily from hybridization with introduced rainbows. State and federal agencies have been working assiduously since that time to restore these fish.
Little Kern goldens have an underlying golden hue, with a red belly and cheeks fading to a green back. They are profusely spotted on the back and tail, and usually retain parr marks into adulthood. Unlike the golden trout of the South Fork of the Kern, these fish have spotting that extends onto their head and below the lateral line. They sometimes also have another, smaller, row of parr marks below the main row.
Where else? In the Little Kern River and it's tributaries. The California Department of Fish and Game has been trying to restore these fish for decades. You're allowed to fish for them, but only with artificial flies and lures and barbless hooks. You need to get above the barrier falls about a mile below Trout Meadows Creek to get away from the rainbows.
There may be more information on these fish in the forums, trip reports, and other posts. Click here.
Oncorhynchus mykiss whitei
Oncorhynchus mykiss whitei
