The Golden Trout is one of the smallest trout species and is typically indigenous to California and the Northwest United States. Bret made this catch in the Mass/Connecticut area so there is a strong possibility it is a different species of trout. The eye is can be seen at the very edge of the picture but but the mouth and head are not clearly visible. The most striking characteristic in the above picture is the large dark oval shaped markings. While these markings are typical of Golden Trout, they are also typical in the majority of adolescent trout and salmon. The fish could easily be a young trout of another species. In the picture the shiny skin that covers the opercular bones (gill cover posterior to the eye and anterior to the pectoral fin) is clearly visible, almost like a large eye. The picture on the bottom shows a confirmed Golden Trout caught in California.
Nice fish, to us it looks like a young brookie, we catch a lot that look just like it. Really pretty fish either way! We love your blog...
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