The Largest Brown Trout Ever Caught in Tennessee Was as Big as a Beaver

Fishing is a popular sport and hobby in Tennessee. Some of the most popular fish to catch include trout, bass, crappie, and catfish. Tennessee also has some of the most impressive records! Can you guess just how big the largest brown trout ever caught in Tennessee was? Keep reading to find out.

On August 30, 1988, Greg Ensor caught the largest brown trout in Tennessee in the Clinch River. It weighed an impressive 28 pounds and 12 ounces. It’s been 35 years since this massive catch and no one in the state has beaten it! This impressive brown trout was as large as a beaver. Beavers weigh about 20 to 70 pounds. Although Greg Ensor caught a large brown trout, it’s nowhere near as big as the world record. The world record brown trout weighs nearly 20 pounds more.

About Brown Trout

Brown trout are large salmonid fish found throughout the world. Although they aren’t native to the Americas, they are abundant. Interestingly, some brown trout are anadromous (fish that migrate up rivers from the sea to spawn), while others are non-anadromous. Brown trout are sometimes called lake trout or sea trout. The scientific name for this fish is Salmo trutta.

Size and Description

Did you know that sometimes the brown trout is mistaken for the rainbow trout? The coloration of this species varies. Some freshwater brown trout are nearly entirely silver with light brown spots and red coloration. Others, however, are reddish-brown with white bellies. The reddish-brown trout use their coloration to blend into rocky environments.

Brown trout are long and slender, with narrow heads. Brown trout are medium-sized fish that can weigh as little as 2 pounds or as much as 44 pounds. They are also about 16 to 55 inches long.

Distribution

So, where can you find brown trout? It’s easier to ask where they don’t live. These versatile fish are native to parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia. You can find them in northern Norway and the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. They also live in the North Atlantic in Iceland.

Brown trout were introduced to the rest of the world starting in the 1800s. Now, they are common throughout the world, including the United States and Australia. In Australia, brown trout first arrived in 1864. By 1866, there were about 171 young brown trout in Tasmania. A few decades later and there were self-sufficient brown trout populations in Kenya, South Africa, Kashmir, and Madras.

Around the same time, brown trout were introduced to North America. Brown trout have been in the United States since 1833.

Diet

Brown trout aren’t picky eaters. Although they mainly consume aquatic invertebrates, as they grow larger, they consume fish. Brown trout also consume crustaceans. They’ve also been recorded eating other brown trout. Although not as common, brown trout over 12 inches long also consume reptiles, frogs, and other small animals.

Predators

Brown trout have many predators. These large fish live in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Brown trout are common prey for other piscivores. Some of their most common predators include North American river otters, large fish, snakes, and birds. Although ducks can consume mature brown trout, young brown trout are most vulnerable. Brown trout aren’t overly aggressive fish. While they can try to put up a fight against predators, they mainly take cover, run, and hide. Brown trout feed at night and use their coloration to camouflage. They also look for cover underneath logs and rocks.

Largest Brown Trout Ever Caught in the World

The world’s largest recorded brown trout weighed 44 pounds and 5 ounces. Seumas Petrie caught this massive brown trout in Ohau Canal, Twizel, New Zealand using a Conventional Spinning Rod. The IGFA confirmed this impressive world record in October 2022. The previous world record was also caught in New Zealand. Otwin Kandolf caught a 42-pound and 1-ounce brown trout using a conventional spinning setup. Interestingly, before catching this massive brown trout, he observed it eating pellets nearby.

A close third to this world record is the United States’ record for the largest brown trout. Tom Healy used a Conventional Spinning Rod with a 30-pound Braided Line to reel in a massive 41-pound and 7.25-ounce brown trout in 2009. He was fishing in the Manistee River in Michigan. Tom Healy loved to fish in the Manistee River. It wasn’t his first time. However, he typically looked for chinook salmon. On this day though, he fought for 15 minutes with this strong catch.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/KevinCass