Help identify this Trout & Have some questions

[xDirty]

Originally Posted by Fishinfire

I have to ask, why the lip clamp? They can do more harm than good at times.

Its not so much of, just a clamp, as it is the top part of my weighing scale. i used that to weigh it and then released it. I tried to be as careful as i can. How else can i weigh the fish quickly without hurting it ?

[NJ Dave]

Rainbow. There is a faint pink lateral line you can see.
as for a hold over, no chance. The fins and tail are all rubbed up feom the hatchery concrete receways. If it was a spring fish the fins would have been more healed up.
None the less its a nice catch.

[Chrisper4694]

Looks like a stocked rainbow to me too. I'd recommend just a length measurement if you want a better release. Anyway, nice catch. They are good to eat or make great bait cut into chunks, for next time!

[Treble Hook Jim]

That's a Tiger Trout! They are a protected species and you better hope that it did not die from you handling it!

[Eskimo]

.

That's a messed up looking Rainbow.

Personally, I don't see any issue with the jaw-holder to restrain the fish. You certainly could do worse things to a fish.

The dead fish probably looked like the fish you just caught because the fish are all born, raised, and released together in the same batch. There is no reason they would look different from each other.


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[Adrenalinerush]

Rainbow, by the way a minute and a half is way too long to keep a fish out of the water after it is exhausted from a fight. Also, if your going to release it and its sluggish when you put it back in the water, hold it by the tail in some calm water and move it gently back and forth to get some water moving through its gills. Support it body weight from under the belly with your other hand until it has enough strength to swim away on its own.

[Mark B.]

Correct, a rainbow. Our guys that are stocking have said that they are very dark in color.

Also, spots on the tail fin = rainbow.

Brooks & browns don't have spots on the tail fin.

[Dave B.]

Definitely a rainbow, looks freshly stocked, and definitely dead due to mis-handling. A minute out of water is too long for a trout generally speaking, especially after being fought on a line. In the future if you want to grab a pic and intend to release the fish keep it in the water until you have your camera/phone ready to shoot. snap a quick pic and back in the water and the fish should be fine.

Also as Mark pointed out rainbows are the only trout that have spots on the tail. Easiest way to tell when you have a darker fish such as yours or one that has taken on the bright silvery coloration of a deep clear lake fish such as those out of RVR.

[baetis]

Your average 14" rainbow is about a pound. No need to weigh the fish and keep him out of the water very long.