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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The California golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) is a brilliantly colored trout native to two stream systems in California’s southern Sierra Nevada: Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River. It is a California Species of Special Concern—not a fish that should simply be described as endangered—and many golden trout reported elsewhere were moved there by people. For anglers, the native waters offer remote fishing, but access, hybridization risk and regulations vary by location.
How to identify a California golden trout
The fish’s most striking feature is its color: a deep olive-green back fades into bright gold along the sides. Its belly, gill covers, lower jaws and lateral line are vivid red to red-orange. About ten dark parr marks run along the lateral line and usually remain visible even in adult fish. Dark, round spots are concentrated toward the tail and on the dorsal and tail fins; they are usually absent below the lateral line. These field marks are described by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
“Golden trout” can also be used loosely for golden-colored trout or for transplanted populations. Color alone does not establish that a fish belongs to a genetically intact native population.
Where California golden trout are native
CDFW identifies Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River, both in Tulare County on the eastern side of the Kern River system, as the species’ native stream systems. Golden Trout Creek is designated Heritage and Wild Trout Water; the South Fork Kern River is designated Wild Trout Water. Much of this country lies within the Golden Trout Wilderness and is reached by trail, although some lower South Fork locations are near forest roads.
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Golden trout were widely transplanted beyond their native range, particularly to high-elevation lakes and streams in the Sierra Nevada and to Wyoming’s Wind River Range. CDFW describes an early transfer from Golden Trout Creek to Mulkey Creek around 1872, followed by 13 fish carried from Mulkey Creek to Cottonwood Creek in 1876. Those movements helped seed later propagation and distribution. As a result, a fish or water described as “golden trout” elsewhere may represent an introduced population, not a native one.
California golden trout and Little Kern golden trout
The California golden trout is distinct from the Little Kern golden trout. CDFW describes the Little Kern golden trout as federally threatened; that federal status should not be applied to the California golden trout. Scientific naming also varies by authority: CDFW and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Nonindigenous Aquatic Species profile use Oncorhynchus aguabonita, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and CalTrout use Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita, treating it as a subspecies of rainbow trout.
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Conservation and status
CDFW calls the California golden trout a State Species of Special Concern. The species was proposed for federal Endangered Species Act listing in 2000 but was determined not to merit listing at that time, largely in light of conservation actions and a multi-agency strategy. “Species of Special Concern” is the precise state designation; it is not the same as federally endangered or threatened status.
Why native populations are at risk
Non-native trout can compete with native golden trout, prey on them or interbreed with them. CDFW reports that introgression with rainbow trout varies by location and generally increases farther downstream in the South Fork Kern watershed. It identifies the highest genetic integrity in Mulkey Creek, Golden Trout Creek and tributaries. Lower South Fork populations nearer forest roads are more likely to be hybridized and may be less brightly colored.
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CDFW also identifies impacts from long-term, historically intensive grazing as a threat. Management has included barriers to protect refuge populations in the upper South Fork Kern system, chemical treatments to remove non-native fish, netting hybridized fish in selected lakes, reduced or excluded grazing, habitat work, and ongoing population and habitat monitoring.
The California Fish and Game Commission’s adopted policy says: “Within these waters golden trout will be preserved and maintained in as genetically pure a state as possible.” Its next sentence says rainbow trout and other trout species shall not be planted in designated golden trout waters. The Commission page lists an amendment date of May 14, 1993.
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What population estimates do—and do not—say
CalTrout reports an estimate of 40,000 California golden trout in Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River in 1965. Its page, accessed in 2026, gives a current estimate of 400–2,600 “pure” California golden trout in about 5 km (about 3 mi) of native Volcano Creek habitat, and characterizes this as a 95% decrease from historical numbers. These are CalTrout estimates, not a government census. The historical figure covers two stream systems, while the later estimate concerns a short reach and specifically qualifies fish as “pure” in terms of genetic integrity, so the two figures are not a like-for-like count.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fishing for golden trout
CDFW says all Kern Plateau waters are open to angling under its general guidance, but that does not provide a complete rule set for each stream or date. Before setting out, check the current CDFW sport fishing regulations for the exact water, season, gear restrictions, bag limits and any closures. Regulations are water-specific and can change.
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Choosing a destination
- Golden Trout Creek: A Heritage and Wild Trout Water in the native range; much of the area requires trail access.
- South Fork Kern River: A Wild Trout Water and native stream system. Some lower locations are nearer forest roads, but CDFW says these populations are more likely to be hybridized.
- Other waters: Golden trout populations outside the native range may have resulted from transplantation. Confirm what population and regulations apply to the particular water rather than assuming it is native or genetically intact.
Flies, lures and casting constraints
CDFW says golden trout in many Golden Trout Wilderness creeks readily take flies, especially dry flies and terrestrial patterns. Small lures are another option. Narrow tributaries and vegetation along riparian areas and meadows can restrict casting, so compact tackle and accurate short casts suit the setting better than assuming there is room for a long backcast. This is general CDFW guidance, not a guarantee of a bite or a substitute for checking local rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can you find golden trout on the Kern River?
A reader might phrase the question as “Looking for golden trout on the Kern River.” The more precise target is the South Fork Kern River, one of the California golden trout’s two native stream systems; Golden Trout Creek is the other. The Kern River name alone does not identify a particular reach, population or applicable fishing regulation.
Are golden trout endangered?
The California golden trout is a California Species of Special Concern. It was proposed for federal listing in 2000 but did not merit listing then. The Little Kern golden trout is a separate fish that CDFW describes as federally threatened.
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