BROWN TROUT

Salmo trutta

German brown, German trout, Lochleven trout, European brown

Brown trout get their name  from an overall golden brown hue that is readily evident  with stream resident fish. Other characteristics include dark spots on the head, along the back and sides and, on the dorsal and adipose fins. Red spots also occur on the sides and adipose fin. The tail is generally square with a few spots on the lobes and, the jaw line extends well beyond the back edge of the eye.

Lake-run browns are silver sided with greenish/gray backs and black spots that closely resemble Atlantic salmon and steelhead. Steelhead are easily identified by the lines of black spots along the anal rays of the entire tail fin (See Rainbow). Atlantic salmon usually have a  less stocky forked tail that can be easily grasped (tailed) and a smaller head with a jaw line that is almost in-line with the back edge of the eye (See Atlantic).

As a final resort the Atlantic vs. Brown can be resolved by closely inspecting the rows of vomerine teeth located on the roof of the fishes mouth. As always, there are a number of variables involved but, in general, Atlantic salmon will have one row and brown's will have two.

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Brown Trout

Atlantic Salmon