What kind of fish are we catching?

• 

  Chinook Salmon

  In tribute to their size and character, they are also known as "king salmon." In Lake Michigan, Chinook salmon attain an average weight of seven to eight pounds but often top out at 15 pounds or more.
  Chinook have spots on both upper and lower parts lobes of tail.
  Look for:
  Black mouth and black lower gums.
  Spots small and round to oval (no larger than half diameter of eye).
  Rays in anal fin ranging from 15-19 rays.
  

• 

  Coho Salmon

  It can be quite difficult to distinguish Coho salmon from Chinook salmon. Pay particular attention to the gums, anal fin rays, and spotting on the tail. In Lake Michigan, Coho's attain an average weight of 5 to 6 lbs but often top out at 10 lbs or more.
  Look for:
  Coloring: steel-blue to slightly green on back.
  Bright silver on sides; white underside.
  Spots only on upper half (lobe) of tail with spots being small and round to oval (no larger than half the diameter of the eye).
  Rays in anal fin ranging from 13 to 15 rays.
  Coho's have a black mouth with white gums.

• 

  Brown Lake Trout

  Look for:
  More than 120 scales in lateral line.
  Large black spots over entire body.
  Usually has many spots on gill cover.
  Rusty-red spots often on margin of adipose fin and sides of body.
  No radiating rows of black spots on tail fin, which is usually square and entirely without spots.
  Pelvic and anal fins usually without white edging.
  Rays in anal fin ranging from 10-12 rays.

• 

  Rainbow Trout or Steelhead

  The most obvious identifying characteristic on the rainbow trout, the rosy band running horizontally down the fish's side, is rarely visible on individuals found in the Great Lakes. Lake-run rainbow trout, called steelheads, tend to be entirely silver or bluish-silver. Spawning or recently spawned fish may be quite dark. Breeding males have an extended, hooked jaw. The best way to identify the Great Lakes rainbow trout is the spotting. The tail and adipose fins are distinctly and profusely spotted in black or brown. However, rainbow trout do not have the reddish spots shown by the brook and brown trout.
  Look for:
  Brown or black spots (not red), especially profuse on the tail and adipose fins.
  Caudal fin broad but not long, moderately forked.
  8-12 principal rays in caudal fin.
  Lateral line with 100-150 pored scales.
  

 

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