05/29/2026
Brook trout are not actually trout.
That one surprises a lot of anglers, but it is one of the easiest ways to start understanding the difference between trout and char. This infographic breaks down 10 native trout and char found in the United States.
A simple field clue:
🐟 Trout usually have dark spots on a lighter body.
🔥 Char usually have light spots on a darker body.
It is not the only detail that matters, but it is a solid starting point when you are trying to identify fish on the water.
Brook trout, lake trout, bull trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic char all belong to the char group. Rainbow, cutthroat, golden, Gila, and Apache trout fall on the trout side.
Knowing the difference helps you become a better angler, a better observer, and a better steward of native coldwater fish.
I put together a full guide on how to identify trout vs. char here:
https://flylifeoutdoors.com/blogs/on-the-water/trout-vs-char-identification-guide
Please share if you found this useful! 🤝
