Great Lakes Fish Species

Brown Trout

Identification - The interior of the mouth is entirely white. Lake run brown trout usually are silver, just like coho. However, once out of the water the typical large round spots, accented by a light colored hollow, begin to show. Normally the anal fin has only 9-10 rays, which separate it from other trout and salmon with the exception of the occasionally caught Atlantic salmon.

Habits - In the Great Lakes brown trout are near-shore fish and are taken by shallow water trolling, surf casting or pier fishing. Usually brown trout in the Great Lakes are plumper than their inland lake and stream counterparts (similar to football shape) because of the super abundance of forage in the Great Lakes.