Trout SpeciesThere are a number of different species of trout. Some are more likely to be found in certain waters than others, but the following will help you identify them by their size, habitat, coloration and markings.
Brook Trout - Salvelinus fontinalis
Generally found in small to moderate-sized streams, lakes, and ponds with cool clean water, the Brook Trout lives only about 5 years and rarely exceeds 2 pounds. Brown Trout - Salmo trutta
Brown Trout are primarily found in streams, but can be caught in ponds and lakes, as well. They tolerate warmer water than either Brook Trout or Lake Trout. In streams, they rarely exceed 2 pounds, but Brown Trout in the 10 pound range are commonly caught in larger lakes Cutthroat Trout - Oncorhynchus clarki
The best Cutthroat Trout fishing will usually be found in isolated mountain lakes and streams, with fish reaching lengths of 30 inches.
Lake Trout - Salvelinus namaycush
The Lake Trout generally inhabits deep, cold, well-oxygenated lakes, lives more than 20 years and can exceed 30 pounds. Rainbow Trout - Oncorhynchus mykiss
Like Brown Trout, Rainbows are more tolerant of warm water than the Brook Trout or Lake Trout. Mature Rainbow Trout may weigh one or two pounds in streams, but can tip the scales at over 15 pounds in large lakes.
Steelhead Trout - Oncorhynchus mykiss
During their adolescent years, and again during spawning, Steelhead will develop the characteristic red stripe of the Rainbow Trout and revert to their more silvery coloring shortly after.
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The Brook (speckled) Trout has a dark olive-green
back with pink or reddish spots inside
light blue halos and light wavy markings. Sides are lighter,
sometimes with a bluish cast. The tail is slightly notched and the lower fins are mostly red with a black line separating the
distinct, white leading edge.
The Brown Trout is generally brownish/yellow with a mixture of dark
spots and reddish/orange spots. They are lighter on the sides,
brilliant yellow-gold on their
underside, with yellowish-green, unspotted fins. The tail fin of the Brown Trout is
almost square with very few (or no) spots, and the back corner of the upper jaw extends well past rear edge of
the eye. 
The sides of the Cutthroat Trout are brownish yellow and are
highlighted with small black spots on the head and body, and on all the
fins. They have a square tail (no notch) and can be easily
identified by their most identifiable feature - the two red slashes under
and on the outside of its lower jaw. 
The tail of the Lake Trout is deeply notched. It has light spots on
a silvery or darker grey background. Unlike Brook Trout and Brown
Trout, there are no red spots.
There
are a variety of Rainbow Trout, and this results in a variety of colors,
hues and markings. Normally, rainbows have gray-blue to dark olive
green backs and light colored sides
with dark spots. The pink or red band that's usually found on the side of
the Rainbow Trout extends from its cheek to near its tail and is what led to its common name. There are small,
widely spaced spots on the body, and the tail fin is very square with many
dark spots. In lakes, the Rainbow Trout often has a more
"silvery" appearance.
The
Steelhead trout shares its scientific name with the Rainbow Trout
because they are, in fact, the same species. The Steelhead is a
Rainbow Trout that spawns in streams but lives most of its life at sea.
There are no major genetic differences between Rainbow and Steelhead
Trout although the nature of their differing lifestyles has resulted in
subtle differences in color, shape, and general appearance. 
