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Shelters

Coldwater Species
Raised at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are true trout that are native to northwestern North America. They have been stocked in New York waters since the late 1800's. Migratory rainbows, both sea-run and lake type, are known as steelhead. The tail is heavily spotted with radiating rows of small black spots. A black margin defines the olive colored adipose fin that is just behind the dorsal fin. Scales are conspicuous. The body is heavily spotted with small, well defined black spots. The top of the body varies from steel-blue, blue-green. yellow-green to brownish. Flanks are silvery, white, pale yellow-green, or gray with a pink or reddish stripe that is usually more pronounced in early-spring spawning males. Average length 8-15 inches.

Brown Trout

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) were first brought to New York from their native Europe and western Asia in 1892. Scales are conspicuous on browns, as they are on all members of the genus Salmo. There are no markings on the lower fins, unlike lake and brook trout which have white leading edges on their lower fins. The tail is squared and has only vague, if any, black spots. The mouth extends well past the eye. In streams, browns have a light brown overall coloration. The back is brown and the flanks are lighter or silvery. Spots are reddish intermixed with brown or black spots. Each defined spot is surrounded by a pale halo. In large lakes the overall coloration becomes silvery, masking most of the spotting on the body. Average length 8-18 inches.

Brook Trout

The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), New York's only native stream dwelling trout, is usually easy to identify. Scales are conspicuous compared with the readily apparent scales of rainbow and brown trout. The tail is square, or nearly so, hence the nickname squaretail. It is the only New York trout with wormlike markings over the top 1/3 of its body. The body is well-spotted with light orange or yellow spots, and small bright red spots on circular bases of light gray or blue along the lateral midsection. There are no black spots. The lower fins are orange with a white leading edge followed by a black stripe. Males become brightly colored with an orange belly, as in the illustration, during the fall spawning season. Average length 6-12 inches.