Anyone ever hook into an Albino Trout?

[khuzhong]

So, has anyone hooked into an albino trout in our rivers and creeks? Does anyone have any pics of a wild albino rainbow? There is a little pool that I have fished a couple times, bout 10 x 10, below a decent sized boulder that I believe holds one. This creek holds brookies and rainbows all under 12", or atleast "I" haven't caught anything bigger than a 12" er. I am usually sight fishing this pool as the water is pretty clear minus the surface agitation from the run before the boulder. I can see most of the fish are rainbows, and a few brookies, BUT I have also seen a light/ dullish pale almost white fish, with slightly redish/orange tints from the lateral line and below. I have tossed everything at this guy, dries, nymphs, egg patterns... it has rejected them all. My heart pounds every time I toss a fly and I see it make any motions. I can tell it's cruising atleast 4-5' below surface but can not get a full confirmation of what it is. Its been 2 weeks since I've been there... Hope he's there the next trip.

[Sasha]

They are ugly......Actually the term I hear for them up here is either "golden trout" (believe it or not) or the other term (which I like better) is

Sorry I hooked one once in a pond and honestly I didn't even want to take a pic.

[RiverRat]

Quick google search found this info on a couple websites. Sounds like a genetic hatchery mutation. The do lot of weird stuff in Utah hatcheries.




"Albino trout are easily spotted from the bank or underwater. These aren't natural to the lake; they're "planted" along with the rainbows as a "fish counter." For example, if there is one albino per 10 rainbows, the DWR worker opens the spigot until he's seen 20 albino trout fly past and figures he's just planted 200 trout in the lake"

Golden Rainbow Trout
"Golden rainbow trout and the related palomino trout are genetically manipulated fish. In 1954, the West Virginia Conservation Department discovered a single rainbow trout that was partly normally pigmented and partly gold. West Virginia developed the fully golden strain, and by the 1960s, that strain became popular among anglers. In the 1960s, the Commission began producing and stocking the gold-colored palomino trout. The Commission now raises and stocks a slightly different strain, the golden rainbow trout. The rarity of that one partly golden fish was just as uncommon as albino and blue trout. "


shane

[beachbum]

That's an odd looking fish!

[FlyinFish]

LIGHTNING TROUT at the famous Santa Ana River Lakes & Corona Lake!

[rayfound]

Gross

[briansII]

So, has anyone hooked into an albino trout in our rivers and creeks? Does anyone have any pics of a wild albino rainbow? There is a little pool that I have fished a couple times, bout 10 x 10, below a decent sized boulder that I believe holds one. This creek holds brookies and rainbows all under 12", or atleast "I" haven't caught anything bigger than a 12" er. I am usually sight fishing this pool as the water is pretty clear minus the surface agitation from the run before the boulder. I can see most of the fish are rainbows, and a few brookies, BUT I have also seen a light/ dullish pale almost white fish, with slightly redish/orange tints from the lateral line and below. I have tossed everything at this guy, dries, nymphs, egg patterns... it has rejected them all. My heart pounds every time I toss a fly and I see it make any motions. I can tell it's cruising atleast 4-5' below surface but can not get a full confirmation of what it is. Its been 2 weeks since I've been there... Hope he's there the next trip.

I noticed we are from the same area. If I ever land a white trout, I'll throw it up on the bank and smash it with a rock.

I've seen unusually colored hatchery fish before. I don't know if the creek you saw the fish is planted, but it would make sense. When the planters up there don't want to take a dry or nymph, a streamer almost always works. Color doesn't seem to matter as much as keeping it small, and it having some movement.

briansII

[anacrime]

Joe and I saw an albino golden trout somewhere along the JMT. I think I spooked him.

[khuzhong]

So, has anyone hooked into an albino trout in our rivers and creeks? Does anyone have any pics of a wild albino rainbow? There is a little pool that I have fished a couple times, bout 10 x 10, below a decent sized boulder that I believe holds one. This creek holds brookies and rainbows all under 12", or atleast "I" haven't caught anything bigger than a 12" er. I am usually sight fishing this pool as the water is pretty clear minus the surface agitation from the run before the boulder. I can see most of the fish are rainbows, and a few brookies, BUT I have also seen a light/ dullish pale almost white fish, with slightly redish/orange tints from the lateral line and below. I have tossed everything at this guy, dries, nymphs, egg patterns... it has rejected them all. My heart pounds every time I toss a fly and I see it make any motions. I can tell it's cruising atleast 4-5' below surface but can not get a full confirmation of what it is. Its been 2 weeks since I've been there... Hope he's there the next trip.

I noticed we are from the same area. If I ever land a white trout, I'll throw it up on the bank and smash it with a rock.

I've seen unusually colored hatchery fish before. I don't know if the creek you saw the fish is planted, but it would make sense. When the planters up there don't want to take a dry or nymph, a streamer almost always works. Color doesn't seem to matter as much as keeping it small, and it having some movement.

briansII

LOL, "I'll throw it up on the bank and smash it with a rock" AHHAHH that cracked me up
I'm from the "Gateway to Sequoias" city..
and this river is not stocked, wild rainbows and brookies are what I have pulled from this river. My goal is to hook this guy and snap a pic of him..... IF he's still sitting there the next time. If I have to, I will baricade the pool and dry him out, Yeah right.

[Justin]

LIGHTNING TROUT at the famous Santa Ana River Lakes & Corona Lake!

What he said, they had them in the Mt. Baldy trout ponds several years ago, and Ray I do agree kinda gross, but look at that see thru Adipose fin

Justin