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Yellow-fin Trout
This interesting and beautiful trout is known only from Twin Lakes, Colorado, where it occurs in company with the greenback trout. The 2 are entirely distinct, the size, colouration and habits being notably different.
The yellow-fin reaches a weight of 8 or 9 pounds while the other rarely exceeds a pound. The former lives on gravel bottom in water of some depth while the latter is a shallow-water trout running into small brooks. The yellow-fin trout is apparently derived from the Colorado River trout which may be descended from the Rio Grande trout which, in turn, is probably derived from the green-back trout of the Arkansas.
As a game-fish the yellow-fin trout has attracted much attention from local anglers by whom it is very highly regarded. It is taken chiefly by trolling, though it rises promptly to the fly and is a splendid fighter.
Head 4; depth 4 1/2 to 5; eye 5 1/2; snout 4 1/8; D. 12; A. 11; Br. 10; scales 40-184-37, about 125 pores. Head long, compressed, the snout moderately pointed; mouth rather large, maxillary 1 3/4 to 2 in head; hyoid teeth present; scales small, irregularly placed. Colour, light olive; a broad shade of lemon-yellow along side; lower fins bright yellow; no red anywhere except on throat; posterior part of body, and dorsal and caudal fins profusely covered with small dark spots smaller than the nostril; head and anterior part of body with few spots or none.
KEY TO SPECIES OF STEELHEAD TROUT SERIES:
a. Scales rather small, averaging 150 to 155.
b. Sides bright silvery, usually with a broad flesh-coloured or rosy lateral wash, brightest on opercles. Sea-running forms, reaching a large size; .....gairdneri
bb. No silvery or rosy anywhere. Probably not sea-running; crescentis
aa. Scales larger, about 130 to 145.
c. Sides very silvery and bright silvery below; a broad band of bright light rose colour; spots few; ......kamloops
cc. Sides little silvery; under parts white, not silvery; no rosy lateral band; ........beardsleei