| In Alaska, there are so many fish that | | | | black gums of king salmon are absent here. |
| there's always a chance when you're angling | | | | |
| for a particular type of fish that you may | | | | Rainbow Trout |
| catch another type. With so many different | | | | |
| species available, it's a good idea to know | | | | One of the most easily identifiable species |
| your rainbow trout from your dolly varden. | | | | in Alaska, rainbow trout are hard to miss. |
| Read on to find the major characteristics of | | | | These colorful fish have sides that range |
| Alaska's most popular species for | | | | from silver to gray in color. Their backs |
| recreational fishing. | | | | are dark green to green blue and the sides |
| | | | are colored with a bold stripe of reddish |
| King Salmon | | | | color. The side stripe on rainbows can range |
| | | | in color from red to mauve to lavender. You |
| Also known as chinook salmon, kings are | | | | can further identify rainbow trout by the |
| typically 30 inches or longer. Average | | | | small black spots that mark the top sides and |
| weights are around 18 pounds or so, but kings | | | | tail fins. In Alaska, rainbow trout |
| can weigh as much as 100 pounds or more. | | | | generally are about 3 pounds in weight, but |
| Chinook salmon are silver on the sides with a | | | | these fish can grow to be 20 pounds and |
| deep blue band on their backs and | | | | above. They average about 19 inches in |
| criss-crosses on the fins and top sides. The | | | | length. |
| tail is wide and forked with spots on the | | | | |
| lobes. Kings have black gums on their lower | | | | Dolly Varden |
| jawline and this is what you can always use | | | | |
| to differentiate between king salmon and | | | | A type of Alaskan charr, dolly varden weigh |
| other types of fish. | | | | in at around 4 pounds and average about 17 |
| | | | inches in length. When dolly varden are |
| Silver Salmon | | | | immature youths, they feature dark blotchy |
| | | | markings and brownish green bodies. As |
| Commonly mistaken for king salmon, silver | | | | adults, these fish become silvery with the |
| salmon have some of the same characteristics | | | | remaining brownish green coloring on their |
| as kings but also have some distinctive | | | | backs and reddish orange spotted markings on |
| features of their own. Silver salmon, or | | | | the sides. You can tell dolly varden from |
| coho salmon measure about in 26 inches in | | | | other types of fish by the light spots on |
| length. Weights for cohos are usually about | | | | their sides. |
| 8 pounds, but fish that weigh around 20 | | | | |
| pounds are not uncommon. Cohos have shiny | | | | Now that you know how to identify Alaska's |
| silver sides, wide deep green or blue bands | | | | well known sport fishing species, you're |
| on their backs and blackish marks on the | | | | ready to get out there and catch a few fish |
| upper sides. They also have smaller tails | | | | of your own. Happy Fishing! |
| with spotting on the upper lobe only. The | | | | |