What water temperature does the rainbow trout model feed best at?

It peaks at 57 °F (14 °C), the model's optimum for this species. Metabolism stays at or above 80% from 53 °F to 63 °F. These are model parameters, not field measurements.

At what temperature does the rainbow trout model stop feeding?

Outside 34 °F to 72 °F (1 to 22 °C) the model sets metabolism to 2%. Below 20% it is treated as shut down: it will not chase.

Metabolism model · Rainbow trout

Water temperature and the rainbow trout: where the model feeds, and where it stops

The rainbow trout model runs hottest at 57 °F (14 °C). It holds 80% of that or better from 53 °F to 63 °F, and switches off outside 34 °F to 72 °F. Those numbers are the model's working assumptions for the species, not measurements; the curve between them is the part you can check.

Peak (≥ 80%): 53 °F to 63 °F
Active (≥ 50%): 47 °F to 67 °F
Not shut down (≥ 20%): 40 °F to 70 °F
Feeds at all: 34 °F to 72 °F

The curve

Metabolism climbs steadily from the cold limit to the optimum, then falls much faster on the warm side, because oxygen demand outruns supply. The dashed red line is the 20% cut-off below which the model says the fish is not moving far for anything.

Horizontal: water temperature, °F above and °C below. Vertical: model metabolism.

Try a temperature

Drag to any water temperature. The readout uses the same functions the Fish uses.

Water temperature57 °F · 14 °C

State: Peak
Metabolism: 100%
Strike reach: 1.8 m
Top chase speed: 1.5 m/s

Every 5 °F

Strike reach is the rainbow trout model's reaction distance (1.8 m) scaled by metabolism. Top chase speed is the fastest retrieve it can keep up with. Both come straight from the equations in How it works.

°F	°C	Metabolism	State	Strike reach	Top chase
30	-1.1	2%	Shut down	1.01 m	0.37 m/s
35	1.7	8%	Shut down	1.05 m	0.44 m/s
40	4.4	22%	Sluggish	1.17 m	0.60 m/s
45	7.2	41%	Sluggish	1.32 m	0.82 m/s
50	10.0	63%	Active	1.50 m	1.08 m/s
55	12.8	88%	Peak	1.70 m	1.37 m/s
60	15.6	93%	Peak	1.74 m	1.42 m/s
65	18.3	64%	Active	1.51 m	1.09 m/s
70	21.1	21%	Sluggish	1.16 m	0.60 m/s
75	23.9	2%	Shut down	1.01 m	0.37 m/s

The row nearest the optimum is shaded. Below 34 °F and above 72 °F the model holds metabolism at 2%.

What it does to lure verdicts

The same 11 lure archetypes, clear water, neutral mood, a fixed 2 m depth, run at three temperatures on this species' own curve. The retrieve speed is capped at 1.0 m/s or the fish's top chase speed, whichever is lower.

Band	Temperature	Retrieve	Eaten	Best result
Cold water	41 °F · 5 °C	0.6 m/s	0 of 11	Trout minnow (refused, nothing eaten)
Near optimum	57 °F · 14 °C	1.0 m/s	2 of 11	Trout minnow
Too warm	66 °F · 19 °C	0.9 m/s	0 of 11	Trout minnow (refused, nothing eaten)

"Eaten" counts archetypes the model ate in at least one of eight colours. Full rankings, with the refusal message for each lure, are on the linked scenario pages and theRainbow trout scenario hub.

Go further

ToolRun it yourself in The Fishpick the species and set the water temperature ToolBuild a lure in the Tankthen see what this fish makes of it TemperatureLargemouth basspeak 81 °F · feeds 45 °F to 93 °F TemperatureSmallmouth basspeak 70 °F · feeds 41 °F to 84 °F TemperatureWalleyepeak 68 °F · feeds 36 °F to 81 °F TemperatureNorthern pikepeak 64 °F · feeds 34 °F to 79 °F TemperatureBluegillpeak 75 °F · feeds 46 °F to 90 °F

Species values are working assumptions, not calibrated field measurements. The model has no thermocline, no seasonal acclimation and no spawning-temperature triggers; see where this model is wrong.