"Blue halo" markings on trout

[TylerKunz]

So I was going through all my fish porn pics and noticed a "blue halo" on a nice brownie I picked up last winter (or what looks likes like one) Is this an indicator of a wild trout? Do these develop from diet or something else? Do other trout besides browns have them? I'm curious to know everyone's thoughts on this since I haven't heard much on this topic...
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[a_bow_nut]

Spawning Colors?
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[TylerKunz]

Good thought... I think this picture was right around November
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[riverdog]

I see that a fair bit on brown trout. Especially common in the waters in Spanish Fork Drainage. Don't think it has anything to do with spawning.
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[GEEZER]

I've seen a blue halo around the red spots on the sides of both browns and brookies. Beautiful!!
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[TylerKunz]

Also I have seen a handful come from the lower weber... From what I hear its "the holy grail" for spotting wild trout. Who knows though... It sure it pretty!
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[TroutMan93]

I don't believe its spawning colors either but more likely diet. I've caught brownies out of City Creek and Mill Creek that have the same "halo" marks on the gill plate. Tiger trout get some pretty blues and teals in their vermiculations as well.
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[riverdog]

Besides some of the browns in the Weber I think most browns in the northern third of Utah are wild. The degree of silver vs yellow of brown trout as well as color of spots and presence of halo probable have more to do with genetics and diet than wild or hatchery raised initially. The Lock Leven stock of brown trout looks different from the German stock. Sea run browns are very silvery and don't have halos typically. If there is a mix of Lock Leven and German stock maybe only some fish get certain genes that influence the presence of the halo. I've certainly caught browns right next to each other where some had the halo and some didn't.
Maybe some body that worked with various strains of browns can chime in with some information.
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[TylerKunz]

Interesting, good to know. Thanks for the input! I don't typically pay that close attention to those halo markings but I will now for sure. I guess if we hook one now with the blue that would answer the spawning question. So some have them and some don't, I wonder what one is eating vs the other? I also tend to see them on larger fish so maybe they take longer to appear.
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[TroutMan93]

[quote TylerKunz] So some have them and some don't, I wonder what one is eating vs the other? I also tend to see them on larger fish so maybe they take longer to appear.[/quote]

I think its probably from how much they eat fish vs insects. Thats the only thing I can think of...
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[brookieguy1]

It's when they get close enough and lucky enough to hug or kiss a brook trout.[]
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[Joe_Dizzy]

Blue halo on the cheek... good indicator of a (probable) wild brown. Reddish adipose fins are another thing to look for.








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[TylerKunz]

I think you just wanted an excuse to show is those sexy brownies! Awesome looking fish... And thanks for the input!
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[TylerKunz]

[quote brookieguy1]It's when they get close enough and lucky enough to hug or kiss a brook trout.[][/quote] I apparently need to target more Brookies... My biggest so far is a whopping 4" whoo! [:/]
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[riverdog]

Nothing to be ashamed about with that brookie- it's the average size brook trout in this state. Comparable to catching a 12 in bow or cutt or a 15 inch brown.
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[TylerKunz]

Well that's a relief... At least it's been checked off my bucket list. I hear you can get into bigger ones higher up in the Uintas?
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[TroutMan93]

Have you heard of Diamond Lake? It feeds into trial and it has some nice brooks in there. The first time I went I caught 3 brooks and two tigers ranging from 8"-14". PM ME Lake has some really nice fish in there. I'm heading there this weekend and I am stoked!
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[riverdog]

The key is to get the list of the 3% of lakes that have brookies but aren't overfull of stunted ones. I here BG1 has a nice list of where to fish for them and where not to bother[]. Either that or a few hundred hours of field work should get you in the right places.
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[STEVEF39]

Tyler you need to come up with us to the uintas next week going to get some brookies, average size is around 12 to 14 inches some a little bigger. And you may luck into some goldens
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[brookieguy1]

[quote STEVEF39]Tyler you need to come up with us to the uintas next week going to get some brookies, average size is around 12 to 14 inches some a little bigger. And you may luck into some goldens [/quote]12 to 14 inches? Yawn. JUST KIDDING! That's decent brookies for the Uintas. Lottsa chasing required to find the 17-18 inch specimens. Then they'll dissapear the next year on ya. That's what keeps it interesting though!
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