how big are trout caught in southern california?

Am from the state of Ahhhh'nold aka California. Southern Cal., doesn't produce any great size trout cept' Irvine Lake (links). CDF&G (California Department of Fish & Game) plant/stock Rainbow trout at various locations/times of year dependin' on water temps (link) and they can run anywhere from 12 ta' 15"s. Biggest bow that I ever managed was a 24" but, in N. Cal., and she was a' native. Now Steelhead, that be a' different story all together buttttt, one has to go north for them or into Oregon and or Washington. Most of the fishin' I ever done for trout (or any species far as that goes) on the other side of the Grapevine (live in the Central Valley) was in the Mountains up from San Bernadino. Check your rivers out before fishin' because a' lot of them only permit barbless hooks and artificial baits (least up here it be that way)... <);-3

Irvine lake trout photos:

http://irvinelake.net/photos2.htm

Irvine Lake Home:

http://irvinelake.net/irv/vt.php?t=3

CDF&G plants map:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Hatcheries/FishPlanting...

Note: This time of the year CDF&G are just plantin' catfish (your area) because of the water temps to high for trout. Might want ta' put site on your computers bookmarks/favorites so ya' can refer back to it when it cools off a' bit...

Added: No offense meant at all but, the link that The American Worm gave ya' on the state record 27' 4oz., rainbow trout caught on the Smith River (N. CA.) was a' Steelhead. Only made mention because of my statement bout' going north...

(thumbs to American Worm for the links)

Record almost broken (think you'd like that fisheee at the end of your rod). http://fishwithjd.com/2007/01/14/almost-a-new-cali...

Biggest for myself was a' 22 1/2 # buck out of the Mattole River (N. CA., tiny town of Petrolia) YEARS AGO ~ same day a' 19+ hen. Ahhh' them good old days. C _ _ _ _ t got a' regular book goin' here........................................

Head for the mountains and get faraway from the towns and the community ponds. in the mountain lakes, you should be waiting to fish for trout the comparable way you probably did in the 4 states you reported. I extremely have fished in all 5 of those states and given my determination of the 5, California may be the final selection....particularly southern California. If in any respect achievable, evaluate yet another state wherein to call homestead via fact if fishing is substantial to you, you're out of your factor. good success!

They range of course with the different species. But what i did is put two links at the bottom of the page to help you understand what your getting yourself into.

I put the species of trout as well as the state record page up so you know what you can catch as well as its state record.