Game fish identification

Tail deeply forked. Inhabits only large, deep lakes. Brook Trout Dark green or blue black on back, to white on belly. Belly and lower fins may turn brilliant red in spawning males. Upper body and dorsal fin with mottled or wormlike markings.

Sides with pale spots and reddish spots which may have bluish rings around them. Lower fins, including tail. Have distinct white leading edge. Tail square, or only slightly forked. Rainbow Trout Body color variable. May be silvery in lakes and reservoirs. Back olive to greenish blue, belly white to silvery.

Sides may show red or pink streak, white tip on pelvic belly and anal fin usually evident. Irregular spots on back, sides, head, dorsal fin and tail. Spots are more evenly distributed from head to tail on rainbow trout than cutthroat trout. Brown Trout Back brown or olive with large black spots. Sides light brown to yellowish with numerous brown, black and red spots surrounded by halos of blue gray. Adipose fin usually with orange border.

Few, if any, spots on tail. Tail slightly forked. Kokanee Blueback Back greenish blue with faint speckling and few if any spots. Sides and belly silvery. Spots are visible on the back half of the fish when in spawning coloration. Kokanee are native to the Payette lakes and the Stanley Basin lakes and have been established in other large lakes and reservoirs throughout the state.

Coho Salmon Appearance similar to kokanee with spotting on back, dorsal and upper lobe of tail fin. Sharp teeth on tongue and roof of mouth. Can be confused with rainbow trout in reservoirs. Chinook salmon can be distinguished from coho by black inside of mouth and gums, while coho have white or gray gums. Adult Steelhead Adults generally inches in length.

Irregularly shaped black spots on back, dorsal fin and tail. Adult Chinook Salmon Adults inches in length. Teeth well developed. Black mouth and gum line. Adults return to Snake, Salmon and Clearwater rivers to spawn after years at sea.

Juveniles migrate to ocean after 18 months in streams. Sockeye Salmon An anadromous ocean going relative of kokanee salmon. Non-spawning color is silver to steel blue. Males turn a bright red on the back and a darker red on the sides at spawning time. Females also turn red, but the red on the sides is somewhat darker.

Sockeye typically spend two years in freshwater and one year in the ocean before returning to spawn in Idaho. Mountain Whitefish Color light grayish blue on back; silvery on sides; and dull whitish on belly. Watch episodes of 'Tow Ready in 2'.

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