Closely related to rainbow trout, the golden trout has fewer spots on the body, and these are mostly located in the tail region. The body itself is lighter with a yellowish cast. The gill covers, belly, and fins are reddish, and there is a bright red splash of color on the sides. The fins may have white on the tips. Golden trout are adapted to cold, alpine lakes.
Growth is slow, mainly due to the cold temperatures and low productivity of the lakes they inhabit.
The largest individual reported from Alberta weighed about 2 kg. Lakes that support golden trout have angling permitted only between July 16 and Oct. 31 as spawning occurs in runoff channels in July. Angling in the runoff channels is strictly prohibited. The trout limit is 1 on these lakes, and all trout less than 40 cm. must be released. Golden trout populations are not very high in these lakes, and catch and release angling is strongly encouraged.