Brown or Salmon

[CanAmPuddleJumpah]

Hello IceShanty members,
I’m a new member and avid ice angler.  Caught this the other day just under the ice jigging. First glance I thought it to be a Salmon even tho the coloring isn’t typical black and silver. After noticing the square tail I was convinced it to be a Brown Trout but oddly enough the body of water doesn’t host Browns.
Hopefully the image will post as it’s only showing the URL address. 

[filetandrelease]

 Salmon

[Jim_C.]

Distinguishing between the 2 can be real tough.  Did you check the vomerine teeth on the roof of the mouth?........2 rows on trout and 1 row on salmon.  Was the adipose fin (the small one on the back between the dorsal and the tail) present?  If yes, what color was it? 

I lean toward salmon.  But without checking those teeth, you often left with more questions than answers.  Congrats on a nice fish either way!  Split the difference and call it a "browlmon".

[Linedogg104]

I'm gonna say salmon. The back edge of the mouth aligns with the eye. A brown mouth will extend past the eye significantly

[CanAmPuddleJumpah]

Thanks guys. I did not look at the teeth and that was the only pic I took.  The fish has been since eaten so I’m going with you guys and that it’s a Salmon. After looking at Smelts hefty 8lb Salmon also with a square tail I had a good idea it wasn’t a Brown. I’ve caught plenty of Salmon but for some reason only remember a v tail.

[Fish Wayniac]

Welcome to the Shanty and Congratz on a nice Salmon. They are tricky to tell the difference.

[Fish Wayniac]

The image is hard to read sorry!

[CanAmPuddleJumpah]

Thanks for illustration Wayniac.

[Seamonkey84]

It always confuses me why they would put browns and salmon into the same waters. Nice fish either way.
Just make sure to check regulations for the lakes your fishing. There are several places your not allowed to pull a salmon out of the water.

[GasBlaster]

Salmon

[CanAmPuddleJumpah]

Yes sir. Moosehead and Beech Hill are 2 waters that I’ll be fishing soon but can’t keep or pull Salmon from the ice for a bit.

[Linedogg104]

Salmon for moosehead is February 15th still I believe

[jfisherman]

Nice salmon! Love the colors

[PenguinIII]

Either way, Brown or Salmon, still a real nice fish.
Congrats

[CanAmPuddleJumpah]

Thanks Penguin, and yes jfish the colors of the Salmon from this water always seem very unique to their usual colors. I’ll post a pic of one my youngest caught last year from the same place.

[TheCrittaC]

Thanks Penguin, and yes jfish the colors of the Salmon from this water always seem very unique to their usual colors. I’ll post a pic of one my youngest caught last year from the same place.

Definitely a salmon, and I've seen a few dark ones come out of there as well.

[Fishn'Rod]

How did it taste?  If it was good , then it was a Salmon...if not...definitely a Brown Trout   

Jim's right.

[CanAmPuddleJumpah]

Lol. Made a Chowdah mixed with Cusk so it was amazing.

[Fish Wayniac]

It always confuses me why they would put browns and salmon into the same waters. Nice fish either way.
Just make sure to check regulations for the lakes your fishing. There are several places your not allowed to pull a salmon out of the water.

Chi, He said the body of water DID NOT HAVE BROWNS IN IT. It can happen that at the hatchery a wrong species gets mixed in. Nice Salmon!

[saltyshores]

I would call the fish a salmon, but as many have mentioned, you need to check the vomerine teeth on the roof of the mouth for positive identification. If you check on all salmon and brown trout, the difference will be obvious.

Based on viewing thousands of salmon and brown trout when I worked for Maine Fish and Wildlife, your fish is a salmon, judging by a narrow base of the tail fin. Browns have a much thicker caudal peduncle.

[Linedogg104]

And don't forget about the eye socket and jawline. That is also a telltale sign between salmon and brown trout

[Seamonkey84]

Chi, He said the body of water DID NOT HAVE BROWNS IN IT. It can happen that at the hatchery a wrong species gets mixed in. Nice Salmon!

My post sounded better in my head when typing it. I did catch that the water doesn’t have browns. I meant it as a why the hell do they put them in the same place, knowing that even the bios have a hard time telling the difference from fall through spring. Hatchery/truck mixups and pen jumping do occurs, how else did the state record bow come a quarry pond that was only ever stocked with brookies.

[CanAmPuddleJumpah]

Thanks Fellas, will definitely be inspecting my next Salmon for these obvious characteristics.