Freshwater Trout and Char Artwork

Wildlife enthusiasts and collectors often choose crafts and works of art which depict members of the Salmonidae family of fish. This family of fish includes salmon, arctic char, Dolly Varden, trout, freshwater whitefishes and graylings. Representatives of this special family of fish are found worldwide in freshwater and saltwater environments. Some members of the Salmonidae  are anadromous; they are spawned in rivers and streams, then migrate to the ocean, returning to freshwater only to spawn.

Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) are often depicted in works of art. These beautiful fish are found in both freshwater and saltwater in Arctic, sub-Arctic and alpine lakes and coastal waters. Char are found in the Canadian Arctic, the United Kingdom, Northern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. Other names for this fish include, charr, goletst,  iqaluk or tariungmiutaq.

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are gray, with patterns of red, yellow and orange, topped off with cream spots and white tipped fins. They are typically smaller than other trout. Brook trout are typically 7-12 inches in length, but sometimes reach sizes of 18 inches or more. Brook trout belong to the Salvelinus genus, which includes lake trout, Dolly Varden, arctic char and others. These colorful fish are the only stream-dwelling trout native to the Great Lakes. The brook trout is also Pennsylvania's official state fish. The brook trout's pattern of bright colors make it a favorite subject for illustrators and other visual artists.

Brown trout (Salmo trutta morpha) vary color from silvery with few spots and a white belly, to the typical brown fading to creamy white on the fish's belly, with medium-sized spots surrounded by lighter coloration. The silver forms of brown trout are sometimes mistaken for rainbow trout. Brown trout are native to Europe and Asia but has been stocked successfully in the North America and other regions. Sea trout (S. trutta morpha trutta) are fish of the same species that adopt an anadromous lifestyle. Brown trout art is very popular, both in its native countries as well as in North American culture.

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are another freshwater trout, belonging to the salmonine genus; distinct from the "true" trout and salmon. Lake trout have small, light, irregular shaped spots on a silvery-to-dark background although color can vary considerably depending on seasons and local conditions. Male and female lake trout are similar, with males having a slightly longer and more pointed snout. Lake trout can be distinguished from other char species by the absence of pink spots and their deeply forked tail. They average one to three pounds, but  occasionally exceed 25 pounds. Lake trout were originally found in many large Northern lakes including the Finger Lakes, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, Lake George, and many Adirondack lakes.

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are one of the most respected and sought after game fish of North America. These colorful trout are native to western North America from the Aleutian Islands to northern Mexico, but have been widely introduced to waters throughout North America and the rest of the world. A typical life cycle of this species begins with a stream for spawning followed by a larger body of water for maturation. Rainbow trout sometimes migrate to the ocean where they are known as steelhead. Steelhead survive after spawning in freshwater, usually returning to the ocean to start the cycle once again. Steelhead and freshwater rainbow trout are quite different in appearance. Both fish are popular fish depicted in works of art.