Fish live in the water. Fly anglers
like to fool them with flies, catch them and usually release them after
admiring and reviving them.
Fish are cold blooded, which is one of
the reason they are fish. Their body temperatures are monitored by their
environs. When and where it is cold, the fish are cold and don't eat as much
food as
when and where it is hot. Too cold is death to some fish, while too hot is
death to others.
Most fish are found in areas in which
they will thrive. Before going fishing we should know basic water
temperatures and conditions so we know how actively the fish may be feeding.
Even though fish are cold blooded,
some fish types are referred to as "warm water fish" and others are referred
to as "cold water fish". In general, trout and other salmonids are referred
to as being "cold water fish" even though certain warm and cold water fish
in the same areas.
Here are pictures of fish types and
basic areas where they are found. As time goes on we'll add information as
required by readers. Thanks for reading! Enjoy.
Fish ID
Note: This information is not scientific and is not designed
to be used as such. It is for fun! The information dispensed here is
what I have in my head concerning fish that I've caught and nothing more. I
know enough to help you identify and understand fish basics. If you want
more, talk to an ichthyologist.
Trout: are
found primarily in cold water. There are exceptions; nature has a way of
doing that. In North America there are four basic trout types: Cutthroat,
Rainbow, Brook and Brown.
Cutthroat Trout
are indigenous to the Rocky Mountains. All along
the
spine of the Rockies Cutthroat Trout thrive - or used to. In many area
specific strains are extinct. Yellowstone Cutthroat, Snake River Cutthroat,
Colorado River Cutthroat, Rio Grande Cutthroat, Greenback Cutthroat and many
others are still with us and thrive in many areas. Cutthroat trout are an
indicator species, disappearing the quickest when water conditions - high
temperatures, low oxygen content or pollution - change for the worse. So,
Cutthroat trout are usually found in pristine areas of the Rocky Mountain
West.
Cutthroat Trout can be most sizes,
from very small to very large
depending on their environs and how long they live. The fish have few to no
spots near the back of the head, but spots become more abundant and very
close together toward the tail. There is an orange or red slash along the
lower edge of their jaw, giving them their name. At spawning time, in
spring, Cutts turn fire red all along their sides.
Rainbow Trout
are indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, from the coast of California all
the way through Alaska and along the Russian
border of the Pacific. As with Cutthroat trout there are various strains of
Rainbow Trout. A Steelhead Trout is basically an andronomous rainbow that
goes to sea, then returns to the stream in which it was spawned to continue
the family cycle of life. They spawn in spring.
Rainbow Trout have been stocked all
over the world. The fish are apparently easy to rear in captivity and are
turned loose as catch and keep stockers. Some fish will survive and
repopulate a stream, becoming "wild" even though they live in an area where
they were not indigenous. Well, look at us!
Rainbow Trout are hearty fish. They
are often brightly colored with a long red slash along their sides and a red
gill plate. Their spots are often small and close together, including the
spots on their dorsal and tail fins. Rainbows may be more "silver" than most
other trout types.
Brown Trout
were brought from Ireland, Iceland, Britain and Germany and are found around
the world. They were introduced in
the
US in about 1893 and have done very well, running out wild populations of
every other type of trout in the process. These sturdy fish can withstand
the widest range of conditions, including warm water and higher levels of
pollution and lower levels of oxygen. They are lovely, too.
Brown trout are found at many
elevations and populate lakes and streams. They spawn in the fall.
Brown trout are often a buttery color
with brown and dark olive
hues. their spots are large and may be black but mixed with bright red or
orange. The spots are inside a lighter surrounding circle. It is thought
that Brown Trout are "smarter" than other trout types. Angler often agree
that browns are aggressive feeders and grow large due to a long life. I
guess you'll have to hook a few to make up your own mind.
Brook Trout
are actually Artic Char. Interesting, huh? They are in the same group as
Bull Trout, Lake Trout, Char, Dolly Varden and
so
on. Still, we refer to them as trout. When they are large, we refer to them
as Mr. Brook Trout, Sir! Brook Trout are from the Eastern Seaboard, from way
up in Canada down to North Carolina and Georgia. Again, there are multiple
strains of fish.
In the west, Brook Trout often
reproduce so successfully that they stunt because there are too many mouths
to feed for the food that's available. Brook Trout spawn in fall, with the
brown trout.
Brook Trout have an olive back with
worm-shaped figures toward
the top of the fish. Blue spots are inside other spots. At spawning time the
fish get very colorful, as above, with orange-red fins that are tipped with
white and black markings. The inside of a Brook Trout's mouth is black.
This is a large
Cutthroat Trout. This fish was caught on the Rio Grande River, but is
not a Rio Grande Cutthroat, which is an endangered species, I think.
Note the bright orange "gash" near the fish's jaw, which identifies it
as a Cutt.
This is a Greenback
Cutthroat, for all we know. It was caught in Rocky Mountain National
Park. Note the red gill plate and the spots which are widely separated
near the head, but get closer together and more abundant near the tail.
That's a sign of a Cutt.
Cuttbow, which is a
hybrid between a Cutthroat and a Rainbow. Note the orange gash on the
jaw, but the small, close spots and silver coloration of the fish.
A colorful rainbow
trout. Note the band of red along the lateral line and the small,
close-spaced spots all along the fish's side. The bottom of the fish is
bright, but hidden when the fish lies on the bottom of a stream, looking
up to refuse my fly.
Red gill plate; close
spots; bright bottom. Rainbow Trout! This one liked the caddis it took.
Little did it know; little did it know.
Butter colored side,
large even-spaced spots = Brown Trout! This one is being drug in by a
dry fly, and was later released. It was not a happy fish, but most
likely forgot.
This particular Brown
Trout does not have as many red spots as do many others. Still, it has a
buttery bottom, an olive top and large spots that are evenly spaced
throughout the length of its body. Lovely, eh?
Well, at least the
Brown Trout is handsome. This is a classic local fish caught on the Big
Thompson River between Loveland and Estes Park. Note the colors and
shape; a perfect trout specimen. I love trout; they don't fool around.
A lovely little Brook
Trout. Note the shape and colors - white fins tippet in black, and
orange belly which are common to Brook Trout.
This is a washed out
Brook Trout, caught earlier in the season and well before spawning time.
Still, the worm shapes and olive back are there, as are the white tipped
fins.
This page will continue to be under
construction and additions will be made as questions are sent, then
answered. Please submit your questions by filling out the form found here:
Terms & Definitions. See what's there,
and ask any question you might have. I'll do my best to answer them and all
of us will enjoy the process!
when and where it is hot. Too cold is death to some fish, while too hot is
death to others.
the
spine of the Rockies Cutthroat Trout thrive - or used to. In many area
specific strains are extinct. Yellowstone Cutthroat, Snake River Cutthroat,
Colorado River Cutthroat, Rio Grande Cutthroat, Greenback Cutthroat and many
others are still with us and thrive in many areas. Cutthroat trout are an
indicator species, disappearing the quickest when water conditions - high
temperatures, low oxygen content or pollution - change for the worse. So,
Cutthroat trout are usually found in pristine areas of the Rocky Mountain
West.
depending on their environs and how long they live. The fish have few to no
spots near the back of the head, but spots become more abundant and very
close together toward the tail. There is an orange or red slash along the
lower edge of their jaw, giving them their name. At spawning time, in
spring, Cutts turn fire red all along their sides.
border of the Pacific. As with Cutthroat trout there are various strains of
Rainbow Trout. A Steelhead Trout is basically an andronomous rainbow that
goes to sea, then returns to the stream in which it was spawned to continue
the family cycle of life. They spawn in spring.
the
US in about 1893 and have done very well, running out wild populations of
every other type of trout in the process. These sturdy fish can withstand
the widest range of conditions, including warm water and higher levels of
pollution and lower levels of oxygen. They are lovely, too.
hues. their spots are large and may be black but mixed with bright red or
orange. The spots are inside a lighter surrounding circle. It is thought
that Brown Trout are "smarter" than other trout types. Angler often agree
that browns are aggressive feeders and grow large due to a long life. I
guess you'll have to hook a few to make up your own mind.
so
on. Still, we refer to them as trout. When they are large, we refer to them
as Mr. Brook Trout, Sir! Brook Trout are from the Eastern Seaboard, from way
up in Canada down to North Carolina and Georgia. Again, there are multiple
strains of fish.
the top of the fish. Blue spots are inside other spots. At spawning time the
fish get very colorful, as above, with orange-red fins that are tipped with
white and black markings. The inside of a Brook Trout's mouth is black.
