Hey.. is this a brown trout?

[Gorosaurus]

Caught this guy today in a hole I've fished many times before. Put on a great fight, but that spot pattern had me wondering if I really had a brown at all. This isn't nearly as pretty as any other tiger trout I've seen, but I will admit he got me wondering. I've caught a few that fooled me for a minute or two, but this is one I'd definitely like others' opinions on.

Brown trout? Tiger trout? Pumpkinseed/Muskellunge hybrid?

 

[Fishidiot]

It's a brown trout.
That type of blended spotting is not common but you'll see it from time to time, esp in certain batches of hatchery fish.

 

[JackM]

I agree, one of many rare variations.

 

[WildTigerTrout]

I agree it's a Brown Trout.

 

[Gorosaurus]

Thanks for the answers! I definitely was leaning brown, but now I'm glad others agree with me

 

[Swattie87]

Yeah, definitely a Brown, no question.

Agree with what FI said about the pattern. There was a seemingly larger proportion than normal of Browns with this kind of pattern stocked in 2011 I think. I remember catching several like that from Manada and the Quittie that Spring. Goro's is probably a little small for a 2011 holdover, but possible I suppose. I didn't catch many stockies this Spring, so I can't really confirm if there were a bunch with that pattern this year too, but it's possible.

 

[Phish_On]

I have caught those ugly browns in Manada many times. Cant decided if the fish wants to be a brown a brook or a tiger.

 

[osprey]

Genetically Manipulated? They have a Bull Trout look to them , They have Bull genes. We can call 'em "Levis" When i lived in E-Town i used to fish Manada around Edde Rayers and there were some wild browns around , red fin tips , red spots , nice couple of tribs in that area too , just watch out for the Hum-V's n the Tanks.

 

[Gorosaurus]

The fish in the first pic was taken in the ATW of Clarks Creek (Dauphin).


I can confirm that similar patterns have been spotted, especially at Manada:

But I'd just never seen it quite so pronounced. Now I have!

 

[krayfish]

Here's one from the Farmington River. Similar markings. I've never really paid attention before.

 

[Chaz]

I've cught wild fish that have that blended spot pattern.

 

[IdratherbePhishing]

Yea not sure what they're doing at the hatchery on Clark's but this year I've seen the craziest looking fish. Sum were half golden rainbow half normal trout. Sum a qtr vice versa. I also seen a trout that was black. And this all after the hatchery stocked.

 

[Maurice]

IdratherbePhishing wrote:
Yea not sure what they're doing at the hatchery on Clark's but this year I've seen the craziest looking fish. Sum were half golden rainbow half normal trout. Sum a qtr vice versa. I also seen a trout that was black. And this all after the hatchery stocked.

The Dauphin County Anglers on Clarks is just another Cooperative nursery. Its not a "hatchery". They get fingerlings from the PF&BC and feed them to catchable size. So the genetics of the fish are the function of the PF&BC, not the DCA.

 

[IdratherbePhishing]

Well regardless there is some messed up looking fish in there this year. Thanks for info as usual Maurice