Trout ID

Over the coming months I will talk a little about trout ID.  In this first little diddy I will discuss how to tell the difference between Splake, Lake Trout, Brook Trout and Tiger Trout.  While we may not even catch all of these in our lifetime, it is interesting to study the subtle differences that allow us to ID these fish.

Since a Splake is a Brook Trout/Lake Trout hybrid it can exhibit a variety of physical characteristics shared by both species.  Also, to make it more confusing there is quite a bit of variance amongst splake in difference geographical regions that can really make it tricky.  Brook trout exhibit blue halos around their spots and some have said that splake cannot have these halos.  I have found this to not be the case.

I have also heard others say that splake don’t have heavy vermiculation (wormlike markings) on the dorsal surface of their body.  Once again I have found this to be misleading.

The main thing that I am looking at to ID a splake versus a brook trout is the tail.  Splake exhibit a slight forking of the tail, although not as extreme as the lake trout.  Brook Trout have a very “square” tail.  Lake Trout will not exhibit halos around their spots and so they should be the easiest to ID of the three.

Tiger Trout should be the easiest to ID but can be tricky in the spring before they begin to darken up with fall “spawning” colors, (they are sterile hybrids but will still attempt to spawn).  With Tigers you are definitely focusing on the vermiculation and connected spots covering most of the top portions of their bodies.  Keep in mind these can be faded during the early part of the season.

I hope you all get a chance to chase some of these in your lifetime and will now be able to figure out which species you have landed in lakes that feature some of these varied trout species!

Mark Knoch