Trout – Species Breakdown
Trout are one of the most popular freshwater fish that anglers target. They put up a great fight, can be found throughout the country, and they taste great. There are 14 different types of trout.
Types of Trout & Identification
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Distinct red pink stripe down their side
- Black spots throughout body
- Square, broad tail
Learn more about rainbow trout
Brook Trout (Salmo trutta)
- Worm like markings along back & head
- White edges along fins
- Found in eastern North America, Europe, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia
Learn more about brook trout
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
- Silver & golden brown
- Orange to red spots with silver rings around them
- Found throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, and Western Asia
Learn more about brown trout
Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarkii)
- Red coloring under lower jaw, looks like it is bleeding from it’s throat
- Black spots on the top half of it’s body
- Found in western United States & southwest Canada
Learn more about cutthroat trout
Where to Find Trout
Trout can be found throughout the United States in rivers, creek, ponds, and lakes. Trout can also be found in Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. They are most often fished for in rivers and streams with a fly rod.
Best Time to Fish for Trout
The best time to fish for trout is early mornings during spring. You can refer to the table below to find the best time of year for your area.
| Location | Best Months |
|---|---|
| Eastern US | Mid-March to June |
| Western US | July to Early-September |
| Southern US | December to March |
| Northern US/Canada | June |
Frequently Asked Questions
What trout taste the best?
Brook trout are often considered the best tasting trout species. They have a sweet flavor that pairs nicely with a light butter and herbs.
What trout has pink meat?
Most wild trout will have pink meat. Most attribute this to wild trout’s diet consisting of crustaceans, krill, and scuds. Farm raised trout will often have white meat due to cheaper mass produced feeding.
Which trout fight the hardest?
Rainbow trout are the hardest fighting trout, especially sea run rainbows. The time they spend in the strong current of the ocean builds up their strength that they put to use once you hook them in a stream.
Which trout gets the biggest?
Lake trout are the largest species of trout. The world record lake trout is 72 lbs and was caught in 1995 by Lloyd Bull.
Which trout have teeth?
All trout have teeth along their upper jaw and bottom jaw. Rainbow trout also have vomerine teeth in the roof of their mouth. Brown and cutthroat trout have teeth along their gills and at the base of their tongue.
Do trout have scales?
Trout have scales but they are so thin you don’t need to remove them before eating.