CatchRules

Trout Identification

Trout and char are the species anglers misidentify most, and slot limits often differ between them. Upload a photo, or use the marks below.

Drop a fish photo here

or take one with your camera

1 free identification · No sign-up · 1,494 species · Photos aren't stored

Commonly confused species

These are the pairs anglers mix up most often, and where an identification mistake most often becomes a regulation mistake.

Brook Trout vs Brown Trout

Brook trout are char: light worm-like vermiculations over a dark back, and white leading edges on the lower fins. Brown trout reverse the contrast: dark spots on a light body, often with pale-haloed red spots.

Rainbow Trout vs Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat have a red or orange slash under each side of the lower jaw. Rainbows lack the slash and show a pink to magenta band along the flank.

Lake Trout vs Brook Trout

Lake trout have a deeply forked tail and pale spots scattered over the body without vermiculation. Brook trout have a square tail and clear worm-track markings on the back.

Brown Trout vs Atlantic Salmon

Atlantic salmon have a slimmer wrist at the tail, a deeply forked tail, and spots mostly above the lateral line. Brown trout are thicker-tailed with spots scattered well below it.

Trout & char in the reference (24)

Every species here has a profile with range, IUCN status, and the jurisdictions where it's regulated.

Identify other groups