Kokanee Salmon vs Rainbow Trout

Some rainbow trout can look a lot like kokanee salmon. There are some key differences between the fish, and biologically, they’re pretty different. In this article we lay out the differences, similarities, and provide tips for identifying if you’ve got a kokanee or a rainbow trout.

About Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon are sockeye salmon that are landlocked in fresh water. They primarily feed on Zoo plankton and are generally found in larger lakes that can maintain a cool temperature, or have enough depth to maintain a cool temperature. Kokanee are native to many lakes in the western United States and Canada including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho in the United States and British Columbia and Yukon in Canada. Populations of kokanee salmon are also found in Japan and Russia. 

Additionally, kokanee have been introduced to many other lakes in the United States including in those states mentioned above as well as in Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico in the west, as well as in New England, New York and North Carolina in the east. Kokanee have also been introduced to lakes in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.

Kokanee salmon have much softer jaws than trout. This is something that anglers need to be aware of. If you go to set the hook as aggressively as you would with a rainbow, you’ll lose the fish, and probably injure the jaw in the process.

About Rainbow Trout

The rainbow trout is also from the salmonid family and can live in a variety of environments. Rainbow trout can live in streams, rivers, and lakes, and in a much wider area than the kokanee. They’re a very hearty fish, and authorities like to stock them in just about any lake that can support them.

Kokanee Salmon Identification

A kokanee salmon is a silver fish that measures from 14 to 20 inches in length and weighs from 1 to 2 pounds. It has a small head and mouth, and can be distinguished by its red-colored flesh. Kokanee salmon are also known as bluebacks or redsides.

Kokanee salmon live in clear, cold lakes during their adult lives, but migrate to gravel-bottomed streams to spawn. As they approach spawning grounds, their bodies change color, becoming bright red with green heads. Males develop larger heads than females, and both sexes develop hooked noses and sharp teeth.

Rainbow Trout Identification

A rainbow trout is identifiable by the color pattern and speckled markings across its sides. The skin is olive green, with a pinkish hue along the flanks and belly. The top of the fish is deep blue or purple, and the back is usually black in mature adults. A faint lateral line runs down each side of the fish, starting at the gill plate and extending along the entire length of its body. There are also small dark spots on the dorsal surface, near the head, as well as above and below the lateral line. These spots are predominantly black, with a light blue halo surrounding them. As an adult, the rainbow trout can grow to be up to 31 inches long and weigh up to 16 pounds; however, most rainbow trout found in rivers or lakes are less than 12 inches long.

Physical Differences Between Kokanee Salmon and Rainbow Trout

Color

The color patterns descried above can help you differentiate between a rainbow and a kokanee, both with the coloring in most rainbows, and the absence of spots on a kokanee vs all the spots on a rainbow. This isn’t always a fool proof method though. Rainbow trout that are hatchery grown (stocked planter fish) generally come out of the hatchery more pale, and have less of the vibrant coloring that wild grown, or rainbows that have lived in the wild develop, which can lead to some confusion.

Tail

A kokanee’s tail is much more forked than a typical rainbow trout, especially in adults. Most rainbow trout have a more flat and boxy tail. Younger Rainbow trout can have a more forked tail though, so that can present difficulties in identification. If you’re fishing and catch one that small though, just throw it back and catch a bigger one.

Gums and Teeth

Salmon in general usually also have some form of black around their gums. Another way to kokanee and Rainbows apart are by those gums and teeth. White gums and white teeth are most likely a trout.

The Difference in Taste Between Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon taste better. Both generally have a pink flesh, but the kokanee is more of a rich, dark red color. It’s a much more delicate, and more delicious fish. If you have family that don’t like to eat what you catch, go catch them a kokanee. You’ll probably change their mind. Kokanee are one of the most delicious fresh water fish there is, especially if you like a good dark red fillet.

Salmon doesn’t taste as good when Spawning. During the spawn the salmon are more worried about reproducing rather than eating. They’re nearing the end of their life cycle and their flesh is degrading. It isn’t dangerous, but its certainly not as tasty, more due to the mushy texture than the changes in flavor.

The taste of rainbow trout is fairly consistent year round, though there is variation by location. Some trout is more pink, and some is more of a white color, depending on their diet. I personally think the pink looks prettier, but I haven’t noticed any difference in flavor.

In summary, Kokanee Salmon and Rainbow Trout are both good fish to eat and great to catch. Either one will give you a good and exciting fight. Tight lines and happy fishing!