Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

Golden Rainbow Trout are a deep golden-yellow in body color, with pinkish lower fins, pink or red tones on their cheeks, and with the rainbow’s reddish lateral stripe.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Streams open 1st Saturday in April Ponds open 1st Saturday in March
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	6 (All Trout species combined) 4 in fly-fishing only waters
Delaware Range	New Castle County - Christina Creek, White Clay Creek, Pike Creek, Mill Creek, Wilson Run, and Beaver Run Kent County - Tidbury Pond Sussex County - Newton Pond
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Common after stocking
General Habitat and Food Preferences	Golden Rainbow Trout prefer clear, cool, well-oxygenated streams. They feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects and small fishes.
Did You Know?	Golden Rainbow Trout are an introduced species to Delaware (meaning they are non-native). Golden Rainbow Trout are not Rainbow Trout hybrids. They are simply color variations of Rainbow Trout. Delaware stocks mainly Rainbow Trout along with a small percentage of Golden Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Brown Trout when available. The Golden Rainbow Trout is raised as a novelty for anglers. Summer temperatures limit trout survival and reproduction in Delaware waters so stocked fish are meant to be taken, but may be released at the anglers discretion.
Common Lures and Baits	Golden Rainbow Trout can be caught with artificial flies and small spinners. Live bait often includes worms. Other common baits include corn, synthetic baits that are purchased in little jars, and even marshmallows.
Typical Sizes Caught	Stocked Golden Rainbow Trout can measure anywhere between 9 and 17 inches in length.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 16 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 15 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament Award Adult: 2 pounds minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 1.5 pounds minimum Golden Rainbow Trout are eligible for the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament and Live Release "Trout" awards, but not currently eligible for an individual species award.
Delaware State Record	11 pounds 10 ounces Edwin Wallace 1997 "Trout" is a general category for Delaware records and can be any trout species. Golden Rainbow Trout are not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

Delaware's Government