Brown trout are a prize game fish that make their home in fresh bodies of water. Though these fish are native to Eurasia, they are an invasive species that have been introduced to most parts of the world. Brown trout can grow quite large and are especially difficult to catch due to their wariness and unpredictability.
Species Overview — Brown Trout
Brown trout (Salmo trutta) belong to a subgroup of the salmon family (Salmonidae). They are native Eurasian species that have been introduced almost everywhere in the world. Brown trout are sometimes referred to by other names, such as German brown, Lochleven trout, English trout, or simply “brownies,” according to National Park Services.
These fish are typically tawny to olive brown dorsally, with olive-brown or black spots on their back and sides. Brown trout’s color fades to tan or yellow on their sides and white to pearl on their bellies. Breeding males often brighten in overall coloration.
Brown trout make their homes in fresh bodies of water throughout most of the world. Their average lifespan is around 5 years. They typically begin breeding at 3-4 years of age during autumn and winter.
According to Lake Superior Streams, brown trout often move up to headwater areas to spawn. They prefer gravel bottoms, where the female can make a saucer-shaped depression in the earth. The female lays eggs while the male fertilizes them.
A female brown trout can lay up to 2,000 eggs, depending on her size. The average adult brown trout grows from 7-14 inches in length and weighs 1-9.5 pounds. This makes the world record brown trout catch all the more impressive.
Who Caught the Largest Brown Trout Ever?
Seumas Petrie captured the largest brown trout in the world in Twizel, New Zealand’s Ohau Canal on October 27, 2020, according to the International Game Fish Association. The behemoth catch measured 38.58 inches long with a 34-inch girth and weighed 44 pounds, 5 ounces.
Petrie made the catch using an Okuma rod with a Shimano reel. The fish took a Nitro Jighead spooled with a light, 6-pound Berkely line. Petrie’s catch is all the more impressive considering the difficulty of catching brown trout.
These freshwater fish are known for being elusive and suspicious. They are unlikely to bite if they sense humans nearby, and their patterns and behavior can be quite difficult to predict. In some instances, brown trout even become completely nocturnal. They have also been known to shift from eating insects to primarily preying on smaller fish.
The world record brown trout was caught in Twizel, New Zealand.
©Jesse Kunerth/Shutterstock.com
“Brown trout can be challenging because they basically behave like little (or big) devils in the river,” Montana fly fishing guide James Mugele told MeatEater.
“You can find them sipping mayflies like the rest of the trout in the system, or you can find them laying in ambush, acting more like a pike or muskie than a salmonid.”
This is not to mention the fact that once brown trout are hooked, they will put up a fight. While not considered the strongest fighting fish, reeling in a brown trout as heavy as Petrie’s certainly presents a challenge.
Brown Trout in New Zealand
Brown trout are not native to New Zealand. According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the species was introduced to the country in the late 1860s, from British stock that was first established in Tasmania. Today brown trout are the most widespread and commonly introduced species in New Zealand.
Unfortunately, brown trout are also one of the world’s worst invasive species. They occur virtually everywhere in the world other than the Arctic and Antarctica. These fish naturally make their home in Europe, West Asia, and parts of North Africa.
As time went on they were introduced into other parts of the world as game fish. Brown trout are invasive thanks to their ability to prey on other fish and their tendency to use up natural resources that native fish need. Brown trout are hardy creatures. Though they prefer cold water habitats like lakes, streams, and rivers, they can survive in salt water for a time.
Brown trout are an invasive species that have spread throughout most of the country.
©CSNafzger/Shutterstock.com
Other Noteworthy Brown Trout
Seumas Petrie’s world record-breaking brown trout is an incredible feat in the angling world. However, it’s not the only impressive brown trout catch. Several others have come close to Petrie’s and have weighed over 40 pounds.
Tom Healy
On Sept. 9, 2009, Tom Healy set an IGFA world record when he reeled in a 41-pound, 7-ounce brown trout from the Manistee River in Michigan. According to ESPN, Healy was originally fishing for salmon with two friends when he captured the behemoth brown trout.
Otwin Kandolf
Seumas Petrie broke the record for the largest brown trout. In New Zealand, the record was previously held by Otwin Kandolf. Kandolf caught an incredible 42-pound, 1-ounce brown trout in the same canal as Petrie (Ohua Canal) on March 8, 2013.
