Trout

Appears in

The Hog Island Book of Fish & Seafood: Culinary Treasures from Our Waters

Published 2023

About

Trout, along with salmon, all belong to one very large group, the family Salmonidae. Referred to as salmonids, they are found around the world, not only in streams and rivers, but also in cool temperature lakes and oceans, including the Arctic.

The Salmonidae include “true” trout such as rainbow, brown, cutthroat, Gila, Apache, and golden. Other fish that we also call trout aren’t really trout, but are “chars,” like the lake, bull, brook, and Dolly Varden.

Though there are many opinions about which is the “best” trout, my vote would be for rainbows, which are an anadromous salmonid (fish that migrate up rivers from the sea to spawn) and very similar to salmon in terms of fight—if you are a fisherman—and eating quality. Rainbows become “steelheads” when they are at sea, even though they are still the same species. Other trout can be found in the ocean as well. Brook trout also often go to sea from northeastern North American streams but return to their home streams in winter. Anadromous brown trout and brook trout (once believed to be the same species) are both called “sea trout” when they are at sea. Anadromous cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii) is called “sea-run cutthroat” when at sea. Many Dolly Vardens also turn anadromous.