Trouts and Salmons/Fish of the Great Lakes by Wisconsin Sea Grant

Trouts and Salmons

Is it a trout or a salmon?

Identifying trouts and salmons can be challenging. Colors vary, depending on sex, age, and habitat (inland lake or Great Lake). Also, dead fish often show less color than living fish. You shouldn't rely on color alone to identify a trout or salmon, but this page will show you some other ways to tell.

Can you identify these fish correctly?

Answer

On this and the following pages, choose the one of the two options that best describes the fish. Or select directly from the complete list of fish in each category at the bottom of each page.

Rays in anal fin usually 9 to 11 (ranging from 7 to 12) and outer edge of anal fin nearly vertical when stretched
OR

Rays in anal fin ranging from 13 to 19 and outer edge of anal fin at an angle when fin is stretched

All trout and salmon IDs on this site: rainbow trout, atlantic salmon, brown trout, lake trout, brook trout, sockeye salmon, pink salmon, chinook salmon, coho salmon

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.

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copyright University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute
Photograph from the Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Studies.
Last updated 11 February 2002 by Seaman