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