Identifying lake caught trout can sometimes be a real chore. Especially Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout caught in Lake Washington. Cutts can vary in color from mostly pale to bright spawning colors, see photo. These 2 Cutts were caught the week before Christmas. One way to tell a Cutt from a Bow is that Cutthroat Trout have what is called"brasibranchial teeth", that is teeth between the gill arches. All one has to do is to feel them. No Rainbows have teeth there. So instead of counting scales along the medial line, counting the number of pyloric caecum, counting fin rays, etc.....just stick your finger down the throat of your trout and feel the teeth. lol lol I have fished Lake Washington since the late "60's" and can attest that there are trophy sized cutts as well as bows....several of my fishing buddies have a few wall hangers! Tight lines all!

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