Are male rainbows darker than females?

[Bobby B.]

Yesterday, one of our rainbows was much darker in color than the others. Today, when I cleaned them, there were 2 milt sacks in the darker fish. The milt sacks were full of milt. So far, we've caught 3 17" females with plenty of roe in them and, now, this male with milt. It seems a shame these trout will never reproduce and provide us fishermen with more fish to catch.

Bobby B.

[duffy4]

It does seem a shame but where were you fishing. In a stocked lake or pond where trout just do not spawn successfully?

[Don Andersen]

Bobby B.

The females are always much brighter than the males in the same waters. However, both males and females will vary in colour from one water body to another. In some waters, the males may be nearly black [ hence the term "boots" or "black as a boot" or "boot 'em back"] depending on who and where the male is caught.
Prespawn fish generally are stronger tasting than post spawn fish. Some smell as well.

regards,

Don