Learning trout habitat and behavior is beneficial for an angler. You will be able to know where and when to find the fish. Catching a fish you need to find the preferred habitat for the species. The habitat of trout is overlooked by many anglers. They fish the stocked areas and quit fishing the spots once stocking ceases.

You can catch trout all year if you know where to fish. In many states, there are streams and other waters with natural trout reproduction. The waters do have tighter regulations but offer good fishing for an avid trout angler. The common element in these waters is temperature and water quality.
Water Temperature
The water temperature affects a trout’s behavior. The fish feed, grow and spawn in a preferred temperature range. All trout will be stressed and inactive in waters above 66-67 degrees. Catching trout above 66 degrees likely causes death. The temperature is lower for cutthroat. Do not target cutthroat if the water is above 62 degrees
Species | Active Temperature Range | Stress Temperature | Spawning |
Brook | 44-64 | 65 | 45-50 |
Brown | 44-66 | 68 | 46-52 |
Rainbow | 44-66 | 68 | 46-52 |
Cutthroat | 39-59 | 60 | 45-50 |
The chart above shows the active, spawning, and stress temperatures for trout. A simple way to judge water temperature is to use a thermometer. A small unit will work, a folding digital model is available on Amazon. You can carry it in your tackle bag or pocket on a vest.
Waters in the 70s, trout quit growing, and in the higher 70s death occurs. This is why native trout are found in mountain areas with cooler waters. Stocked trout are placed in the spring and fall when the water is cool. The majority of stocked waters have few or no fish in the summer. The temperatures become too high for trout to survive.
The temperature control when certain prey hatches also. Fish will feed heavily during these times. You need to match the hatch. Using the proper fly pattern is critical during a hatch. The majority of prey hatches between 44-54 degrees. It is best to go by the time of year for hatches. The prey species and variations hatch starting in early spring and go into the fall.
Streams and Lakes
Alpine lakes and high country streams hold trout all year. In other words, the mountain regions are better for trout and fishing. In other areas, some streams and lakes will have trout also. The water has to have the temperature and other conditions a trout needs.
Streams
Streams need to have elements beneficial to trout. The water has to have little or no pollution. A healthy stream has plenty of small aquatic life. This is the food for trout. Streams need specific structural aspects also. A gravel bottom, solid banks, riffles, rapids, and brush or logs for cover.
A gravel bottom holds eggs during the spawn. Plus controls the amount of silt suspended in the water. Gravel gives small prey such as insects a place to hide. The prey needs the gravel to thrive.
The riffles or rapids add oxygen to the water. Trout need high oxygen levels compared to many other fish. At the ends of rapids or riffles, a pool is usually formed. Trout will use this area for feeding. The faster water washes the food to the fish waiting at the top of a pool.
The brush and logs offer cover to trout. Trout use the cover to rest and ambush prey. A nice clear stream with a manicured lawn adjacent is likely a bad place for a trout. You want natural elements littering the waterway. The bank should be covered in brush, grasses, and trees. These provide stability to the bank and shade the streams.
Lakes
Lakes need the same elements as streams. The exemption is the riffles and rapids. A lake depends on wind creating waves to create oxygen and keep the water from stagnating. Calm lakes tend to have algae and other blooms. These have negative effects on fish.
Lakes will have changes in depth more dramatic than streams. Trout take advantage of the depth to find a preferred temperature. They will rest in the area with the best temperature. When it is time to feed they move to the areas with prey. Feeding areas will have gravel bottoms, weeds, and other types of cover.
Prior to the spawning season. The trout will move towards streams and stage near the mouth. When the time is right the fish swim up the streams and spawn.
Conclusion
Trout habitat and behavior are important to catching fish. Stocked fish are easily caught. Catching fish outside of stockings takes skills many people lack. You need to know the habitat and behaviors of the trout.