Splake or Brook Trout

[bigredfishing]

Lets see what you guys think.

Here are three pictures of fish, two of which I know for sure what they are, the other was caught by a fellow MFF'er

splake or brookie?


splake or brookie?


splake or brookie?

[Goatskin]

Last two are brookies and Im not sure about the first one. Im pretty sure its a splake but Im not 100% sure.

[Reel Force]

Pic 1 - Brookie - Square tail

Pic 2 - Splake - Forked tail

Pic 3 - Hard to tell without seeing the tail - going with Brookie

[bluemountainlaker]

splake
brooky-look at the vibrant halos on the fish
brooky

[MGK]

Splake- looks more like a laker than a brookie
Brookie- as BML stated, Vibrant halos
Brookie- halo's as well

[camo_fish]

ditto to .....

splake
brookie
brookie

Some awesome trout 

[filetandrelease]

 splake , brookie , brookie , nice catch for sure , and nice pics to thanks for sharing

[fishit]

Number1: Nice
Number2: Nice
Number3: Nice

Thanks for sharing!

[outdoorsman]

Fish 1: Splake.  Notice the lake trout head and patterning on the cheek. 

Fish 2: Brookie. 

Fish 3: Brookie. 

Many folks use the blue halos as an indicator, but I have found that to be unreliable since some brookies have very faint halos, and I have caught colorful splake with blue halos.  Besides cutting the fish open, I have found that the patterning on the cheek can be a relatively reliable indicator of splake vs. brookie.  Splake have spots and patterning on their cheeks and gill plate, while brook trout do not have such patterning (very smooth looking).

[bugman1964]

Pic 1 - Brookie - Square tail

Pic 2 - Splake - Forked tail

Pic 3 - Hard to tell without seeing the tail - going with Brookie

x2

It can be difficult to differentiate between a splake and an Eastern brook trout. Splake have many creamy white spots on their sides with a few red spots mostly located on the lower sides of the fish.  They do not have the distinct blue halos around the red dots that brook trout prominently exhibit. Splake also have forked tails.  Eastern brook trout have creamy white spots along with many red spots with very distinguishable blue halos.  Brook trout also have square caudal fins (tails).

[Rickl1968]

I've gotta say .........

Splake
Splake
Brookie!

[fontona19]

Thats what I was thinking.

Splake
Splake
Brookie

[bassinbrian]

Being i'm a bass guy ... i going to take a shot and say they are ALL Trout 

[bigredfishing]

 Splake have spots and patterning on their cheeks and gill plate, while brook trout do not have such patterning (very smooth looking).

first time I've ever heard that, its an awesome way to tell the difference.  thank you

[Jimmy]

Number1: Nice
Number2: Nice
Number3: Nice

Thanks for sharing!

x2 for sure.  That last fish is incredible, especially.