Hi Eric,
Robert Behnke has a great book of Trout and Salmon of North America. He covers size
issues within that. You can find his book at
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=63-0743222202-0
As you mention, size is dependent upon habitat. I've seen rainbows up to 32" at North
Klamath Lake (Oregon), Lahonton Cuts up to 30" at Heenan Lake (Sierras), Golden's up
to 18" in the Golden Trout Wilderness (Sierras), Brookies up to 24" at Kirmen Lake
(Sierras)- Chuck Yeager has an 18" Golden on display at Sierra Outfitters in Lone
Pine, CA. that he caught at Cottonwood Lakes (Sierras).
Most of these species are generally much smaller due to habitat but the monsters that
are frequently caught indicate that their potential to grow quite large exists. In
some of our Sierran Lakes like Lake Crowley, the 'bows will put on 1 inch of length
growth per month.
Steve Schalla
