Back is greenish blue with faint speckling and few if any spots. Sides and belly are silvery in color. No distinct spotting in dorsal fin or tails as in Rainbow trout. 13 to 15 rays in the anal fin, while trout has 9 to 11. During spawning (August-December in streams and shoreline gravels), bodies become ‘leathery’ and turn dark red to bright scarlet and heads dusky green. They will also develop hooked jaws and teeth on the males. Spots are visible on the back half of the fish when in spawning coloration. Much smaller and have less color than Sockeye Salmon.