The Palomino Trout is a visually stunning fish that immediately captures attention with its bright coloration. Often described as a swimming streak of gold, this fish is highly sought after by anglers due to its novelty and unmistakable appearance. The Palomino Trout is not a distinct species of fish but is instead a specific, selectively bred color variant. This unique pigmentation results from a natural genetic mutation cultivated by fish hatcheries.
Defining the Palomino Trout
The Palomino Trout is taxonomically classified as Oncorhynchus mykiss, meaning it is genetically the same species as the common Rainbow Trout. Its unusual coloration is a stable strain developed through controlled breeding programs. The name “Palomino” reflects the fish’s creamy, light-gold hue, drawing a comparison to the light-colored horse breed.
It is often referred to by several other names, which can cause confusion. These alternate nicknames include the “Golden Rainbow Trout,” “Lightning Trout,” or the “Banana Trout” due to its vivid yellow appearance. Despite these different monikers, the fish remains the same hatchery-derived color strain of the Rainbow Trout.
Unique Physical Characteristics and Genetics
The Palomino Trout has a pale, creamy yellow to light gold body, often with white or translucent fins. This striking lack of typical pigment is caused by leucism, a condition involving a partial reduction in all types of pigment. Leucism is distinct from albinism because the fish retains dark eyes and some localized pigmentation.
True albinism involves a complete lack of melanin, resulting in red or pink eyes, which is not seen in the Palomino Trout. The Palomino’s leucistic gene allows it to retain the distinct pink or reddish lateral stripe along its side, a clear reminder of its Rainbow Trout heritage. This preserved lateral band and its dark eyes separate its partial-pigment mutation from true albinism.
Origin and Stocking Programs
The history of the Palomino Trout traces back to a single genetic anomaly discovered in a West Virginia state fish hatchery in the mid-1950s. In 1954, a female Rainbow Trout fry was found to exhibit an unusual golden coloration. Hatchery workers recognized the potential of this mutation and began a program of selective breeding to isolate and enhance the trait.
The descendants of this single fish were initially branded as “Golden Rainbow Trout” and first introduced to public waters in West Virginia in the early 1960s. Palomino Trout are nearly non-existent in the wild because their bright color makes them highly visible to predators, drastically reducing their survival rate. Consequently, almost every Palomino Trout encountered by anglers today is the direct result of large-scale, controlled hatchery stocking programs, often stocked alongside traditionally colored Rainbow Trout.
Palomino Trout vs. Golden Trout
The Palomino Trout is frequently confused with the true Golden Trout, Oncorhynchus aguabonita, a separate species native to high-altitude streams in California. The two fish are easily differentiated by examining their natural history and physical markings. The Palomino is a modern, hatchery-developed color strain of the widespread Rainbow Trout, primarily stocked in the eastern United States.
In contrast, the true Golden Trout is a naturally occurring species that evolved in the rugged environment of California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Visually, the Palomino Trout has a paler, more uniform yellow or cream body with a pronounced pink lateral stripe and typically no spots. The native Golden Trout is a deeper, more brilliant gold or orange color and often retains prominent dark oval markings, known as parr marks, along its sides.