Speckled trout is another popular species that can be found along North America’s eastern and southern coasts in brackish water. Although they have the name trout, they belong to the drum family, along with red drum (also known as redfish and black drum). We can see why trout identification is so confusing. Even though they may not technically be trout, we’ll still take a look at each one. Brook Trout Brook trout Aren’t actually trout, they are part the char family. They are usually one to two pounds smaller than other chars.
They are distinguished by their markings: a marble pattern that consists of browns and blacks as well as grays and yellows running along their bodies. The United States is home to Brook trout, which are found from Georgia to the Midwest. This trout is caught by anglers fishing in streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds. Brown Trout Don’t be surprised if the brown trout that you catch isn’t brown.
They can be yellow or silver in color, with red and brown spots running down their bodies from head to tail. They are native to European rivers and lakes, but were introduced to North American bodies of water in Georgia and Canada.
Brown trout are adapted to cold water and eat plankton and insects. Brown trout can grow up to 18 inches depending on where they are caught. Cutthroat Trout Anglers from western North America love fly fishing for cutthroat trout. Cutthroat trout are known for their striking red and orange coloring on the lower jaw and around the gills. They can be found near rivers and tributaries of Rocky Mountains. There are many subspecies and official state fishes for the western states of the United States. They are very common and can vary in size depending on where you fish.
Dolly Varden Trout Although technically Dolly Varden belong to the char family many anglers refer to them as trout. Dolly Varden Trout are named after Charles Dickens’ colorful character. They can be found in the Pacific Northwest, Canada and parts of Alaska. They are able to thrive in streams, lakes, streams, and tributaries of cold mountain lakes. Because of their similarity, they are often called bull trout.
Golden Trout, the smallest member of the trout family and also known as California golden trout, has a distinct appearance. They have a brown top and a yellow bottom with red and orange stripes and black dots in the middle. They are a subspecies in the rainbow trout family and live in mountainous regions in western North America, where they can be found in cold freshwater rivers and lakes. They are small and enjoy eating insects. Lake Trout – The best way to recognize a lake trout’s size is by looking at its body. Depending on the body of water, they can reach 70 pounds.
Lake trout can be found all across North America, including in the Rocky Mountain rivers and tributaries as well as the Great Lakes and northeastern bodies of water. Their body color ranges from brown to silver, with spots that are tan or cream-colored. The lake trout is technically a char, despite being called a trout. Rainbow Trout Rainbow trout is a west coast species that is native to Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, and Washington. They are now being introduced to freshwater areas such as the Great Lakes or other bodies of water in the midwest. Rainbow trout are identified by their bright red or pink stripes that run along their bodies. They typically weigh between one and five pounds. They are at home in rivers and tributaries. Pacific coast rainbow trout that have access to the ocean migrate to saltwater to become adults, which leads us to the next type of trout: the steelhead trout.
Steelhead Trout. The name steelhead trout can be misleading. Great Lakes anglers refer to a specific species of steelhead as steelhead trout, but it is very different from the steelhead trout found along the Pacific coast. For now, we’ll be focusing on the Pacific species. This trout can live in both saltwater or freshwater environments. They start out as rainbow trout and then move to saltwater to become adults. Then they return to freshwater to spawn. This species is known for swimming upstream. It’s a hard feat that few of them can accomplish. Steelhead and rainbow trout can often be interchangeable.
Spotted Seatrout Spotted seatrout is an exception to all other trout species. The spotted seatrout is not a freshwater species, and can thrive in either brackish or salted environments. You may get confused if you visit the Gulf of Mexico and hear that trout can be caught in nearby bays, inlets, or canals. They are the spotted trout, also known by speckled trout or just “specks”, and they are extremely popular from Texas to Florida. Trout Fishing Trips There are many trout species available for anglers. Trout include everything from salmon to char to even drum species.
All are welcome to join you for a great day fishing. It doesn’t matter what type of trout you are after, it’s an adventure that will lure them to the line. Anglers all across the country are fishing for trout throughout the year. You don’t have to be an expert to join the fun. Fishing with an experienced friend or professional guide can help you learn the basics for your next outings. FishAnywhere.com can help you find a local guide to catch a fish on your line. Even if the fish isn’t technically a trout, it will still be an exciting day of catching a trophy.
The article was written by a professional charter captain at Salty Knots Fishing Charters with 15+ years of experience in the Gulf of Mexico. Salty Knots Fishing Charters is a local fishing charter service based out of St. Pete Beach, Florida. “We know what it takes to catch a giant trophy fish!” Salty Knots Is the best when it comes to St Pete Fishing Charters.