Fishing has always been one of my favorite outdoor activities. I spent many summers fishing at my favorite lake during our annual family camping trips. I went camping at the same campground for 22 years straight, and every year Rainbow Trout were the fish we caught! It is kind of a secret spot so I will keep it on the down-low :)

From going with my family when I was just 6 weeks old, to riding my bike with friends down to the lake, to driving myself there in high school and college with our 14-foot aluminum fishing boat, and now taking my own little family back to the lake where I spent so many formative years — this place has always been my happy place.

This model was designed to be hyper-realistic, and I love all of the little details that make it feel so lifelike. Out of all the fish we’ve designed so far, I think this one is my favorite.

These photos were taken at the Sacramento River near where I live and have caught a bunch of trout and steelhead as well as Salmon over the years. I once caught a 65lb Salmon on this very river not far from where these photos were taken.

Interesting Trout Facts: Rainbow trout are highly adaptable carnivores native to North America that have been successfully introduced to every continent except Antarctica. One of their most fascinating secrets is that a steelhead is actually just a rainbow trout that migrates to the ocean; while freshwater residents stay smaller and colorful, these sea-run travelers turn silver and grow massive. They are incredible athletes capable of leaping 11 feet into the air to clear waterfalls while rushing upstream to spawn. Back in their home rivers, females dig gravel nests called "redds" where they lay up to 3,000 eggs per kilogram of their body weight. These opportunistic predators will eat almost anything, ranging from insects and fish to small mice that accidentally fall into the water.

Print Settings:

For best results use the included 3mf files for my settings.

Coloring

The trout has been mostly colored using the paint tools in the slicer

The eyes and some of the body parts are colored by object.

Print Settings: 🖨️

3 Walls and 15% Gyroid infill ( 2 walls and 10% works too)

0.2 layer height

Supports needed (use 3mf settings)

Needed for last section of body before tail. I have manual painted tree supports enabled in the 3mf.

Tested down to 50% (115mm long) but I'm sure it will go down smaller like the Largemouth Bass to 75mm but the joints may not be too strong.

Keychain

For this keychain version I have a negative part added to the assembly. This will cut a hole in the trout tail when you slice. The hole is 4mm wide cylinder in the tail.