Trouts and Salmons
Identifying the Rainbow Trout
The most obvious identifying characteristic on the rainbow trout--the rosy band running horizontally down the fish's side--is rarely visible on individuals found in the Great Lakes. Lake-run rainbow trouts, called steelheads, tend to be entirely silver or bluish-silver. Spawning or recently spawned fish may be quite dark. Breeding males have an extended, hooked jaw.
The best way to identify the Great Lakes rainbow trout is the spotting--the tail and adipose fins are distinctly and profusely spotted in black or brown. However, rainbow trouts do not have the reddish spots shown by the brook and brown trouts.
Look for:
-brown or black spots (not red), especially profuse on the tail and adipose
fins.
-Caudal fin broad but not long, moderately forked
-8-12 principal rays in caudal fin
-lateral line with 100-150 pored scales
Complete rainbow trout profile | Main
trouts and salmons page
Sources: "Fishes of Isle Royale," by K.F. Lagler and C. R.
Goldman, Isle Royale Natural History Association, 1982.
Fishes of Wisconsin, by George C. Becker, University of Wisconsin Press,
1983.
Freshwater Fishes of Canada, by W.B. Scott and E.J. Crossman, Fisheries
Research Board of Canada, 1973.
copyright 2001 University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute
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