Brook Trout

Brook Trout is a freshwater fish native to Eastern North America, specifically the northern areas of the United States and Canada. It is a popular sport fish, especially for fly fishermen. 

It lives in cool, clear water in remote and mountainous areas. Also known as the speckled trout, it has unique coloring with yellow spots over an olive-green background, transitioning to orange and red along its sides and belly.

5 Brook Trout Facts

• Brook Trout is the state fish of nine states in the United States: Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
• Some Brook Trout called “salters” along the Atlantic coast will travel into the ocean to feed for months at a time. In the ocean, they lose their color somewhat and turn to more of a silver color. Once they return to freshwater to spawn, their color returns within 2 weeks.
• Brook Trout only thrive in the cleanest and coldest freshwater streams and rivers. They can be used as a good indicator of the purity of the water.

Brook Trout Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name for Brook Trout is Salvelinus fontinalis. “Fontinalis” comes from Latin for “of a spring or fountain.” This refers to the cool, clear water where the Brook Trout thrive. 

They are in the Order Salmoniformes and the family Salmonidae. This family, known as salmonids, includes salmon, trout, char, and freshwater whitefish. They all spawn in freshwater, but many spend most of their life feeding in saltwater.

Types of Brook Trout: The “Ecological” Forms 

While Brook Trout does not have multiple species, they adapt to different ecological forms depending on their environment. They grow at different rates and act differently, though they have the same appearance. 

Robert J. Behnke described three different forms in his landmark book, Trout and Salmon of North America:

• Large Lake: These Brook Trout are in the larger lakes in the northern extremes of the United States and Canada, and can grow larger than in other areas. They mainly feed on other smaller fish.
• Sea-Run or Salters: These Brook Trout migrate to saltwater along the Atlantic coastline for short periods to feed.
• Small Generalist: Lives in small lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers, and rarely grows larger than 12 inches; and has a shorter life span than others, typically less than 3 years.

Brook Trout Appearance 

Brook Trout have a dark olive green color with lighter yellow dots or speckles. Its body is wide in the middle and tapers to both ends. It has a large mouth and a rounded snout. 

They have a marbled pattern along their back, also called vermiculation. The belly and lower fins are orange-reddish, with the fins having a white leading edge. Full-grown lengths can vary between 10 to 25 inches and weigh between 0.6 to 6.6 pounds. However, most fishermen catch fish that are much smaller.

The world record brook trout was caught in 1915 in the Nipigon River, Ontario, and measured 31.5 inches long and weighed 14.5 pounds.

Brook Trout Distribution, Population, and Habitat

Brook trout can be found in cool, clear freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes in the eastern United States and Canada. These fish were established in their native areas before the 19^th century due to the clear, undisturbed water. 

As the land around the native areas developed, the water became polluted from runoff, streams were dammed, or the water was silted. When the water became too warm from silt or algae growth from fertilizer runoff, the Brook Trout did not thrive and, in some areas, was extirpated. 

Brook Trout is generally not considered threatened in remote areas where they are well established. Sport fishermen will typically catch them with a fly rod during the mornings or evenings when they are most active.

Brook Trout can also be found in the northern Rocky Mountains, where they are considered invasive. They were introduced here outside of their native range and are a threat to the native cutthroat trout. In some areas of Yellowstone National Park, anglers may take an unlimited number of Brook Trout. In the Lamar River, it is required to kill any Brook Trout caught and not return them to the water.

Brook Trout Predators and Prey

Brook Trout are opportunistic feeders, and their diet is diverse. Aquatic insects such as mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies are preferred. 

They will also eat land-based insects, amphibians, smaller fish, and almost any other animal in the water that is smaller than them, even young Brook Trout. Predators are typical of other fish, including larger fish and birds.

What Eats Brook Trout?

Predators include herons, kingfishers, otters, snapping turtles, snakes, and other larger fish.

What Does Brook Trout Eat?

Their typical diet includes insects, amphibians, invertebrates, minnows, and other smaller fish; almost anything they can fit in their mouth.

Brook Trout Reproduction and Lifespan

Brook Trout will spawn in the fall, from October to early November.  The female will create a shallow, “redd” nest in a clean area with small gravel or stones.  She will lay around 100-400 eggs, and multiple males will fertilize the eggs. 

The female will then bury the eggs with the gravel.  The eggs will remain over the winter and hatch about 90-100 days later in the spring. These fish will mature in about 2 to 3 years and typically live about 6 years.

Brook Trout in Fishing and Cooking

Brook Trout are a popular fish for both sport fishermen and for raising commercially. The meat is light and delicate and has a slightly sweet flavor compared to other trout. They are most popular in their native regions. However, they are commercially sold as smoked trout in many areas.

Since Brook Trout require cool, clear water, they are usually found in remote mountainous areas, which can be challenging to reach. They reside in mountain streams and rivers and congregate in small areas where the water flow is slow, along the back side of boulders. 

They can be caught with spinning rods with light tackle, but the most popular way is with a fly rod. With fly fishing, targeting these small areas where Brook Trout rest in slower water is easier.

Brook Trout can be prepared in many ways, from grilled, braised, to pan-fried. Because of its delicate flavoring, minimal seasoning is needed. 

Since they are usually small, pan-frying them whole is the most popular way. A 3-ounce serving contains 18 grams of protein and 2.3 grams of fat.