This evening after my haircut, I thought I'd give spinning for Salmon a go again but in a different stretch of water today, 3 mins from my house, the river Usk. I walked there with my tackle (1 rod, reel, 10lb line and 2 mepps) and found a spot where I saw many rising fish. I set my rod up and cast out to the middle of the river about 30 yards from where I was standing. I began to reel in accross the river and within seconds a fish had taken the lure! I couldn't be too slow reeling in my fish because the river was making the weight of the fish multiply!
It was my first ever game fish ! And even better the river was soclose to my house
When I landed the fish I couldn't tell if it was a Salmon or a Brown Trout.
I think it is a Salmon but could it be verified?

Here are some pics

Thanks,

I don't have a clue but well done on your first lure caught game fish and whatever the species, it is a pretty little devil.

Its a trout, looks a little like a sea trout to me, but could be a brownie.

Someone said it was a brook trout.#?

Thanks .

It looks like a brownie. Congrats on your first catch though, next time it might be the Salmon!

The Brook Trout is a species of Char, you caught an immature Brownie, so be careful about what 'someone' tells you . Have a look here to find how to tell a Salmon from a Trout. There should be no doubt between a Brown trout and a Salmon, however a good Sea Trout is sometimes less easy to distinguish from 'Salar'

Salmon General appearance Slender and streamlined More round and thickset
Head Pointed More round
Position of Eye Maxilla (bony plate usually alongside mouth) does not extend beyond rear rear of eye Maxilla extends beyond eye
Colour Relatively few spots Often heavily spotted
Scale count
(number from adipose fin to lateral line) 10-13 13-16
Fork of tail Usually forked Usually square or convex
Wrist of tail Slender Broader
Handling Easy to pick up by Tail Tail slips through hand



TAIL FIN - When extended salmon have a concave tail. The sea trout's tail is convex or straight edged (when extended).
WRIST OF TAIL - Salmon have a narrow wrist with distinct broadening on the tail side of the wrist. Sea trout have a relatively broad tail. This is particularly prominent in multi-sea winter salmon.
MARKINGS - Salmon have relitively few dark spots below the lateral line. Sea trout have numerous dark spots.
MOUTH - The jaw of a salmon extends no further than the rear edge of the eye. The upper jaw of a sea trout extends beyond the rear edge of the eye.

Thanks very much !

Certainly looks like a Brownie to me. Which Esk did you fish ?

Cyn that wasnt a blue plastic stripey body bag in the background of that picture was it?

Make sure you have the correct licence if you are likely to come into contact with Sea trout or Salmon.