Science Name: | Salvelinus fontinalis |
Other Names: | speckled trout, brookies, Eastern brook trout, coaster, salter |
Ideal Temp: | 61 to 70 |
World Record: | 14 lbs. 8 ounces ONT. |
Environment: | Streams, rivers, lakes |
Techniques: | light tackle, casting, fly fishing |
Common Names Eastern brook trout, brookie, speckled trout, native trout and squaretail. A sea-run brook trout is called a salter or sea trout; a brook trout in the Great Lakes that migrates up tributaries to spawn is known as a coaster.
Forms There are two ecologically different forms: a short-lived, slow-growing form common to many small streams and lakes throughout the range; and a longer-lived, faster-growing form found in lakes, rivers and estuaries in the northern part of the range.
Hybrids Male brook trout can be crossed with female lake trout to produce splake. Brook trout also hybridize with brown trout to produce tiger trout, and occasionally with bull trout and Arctic char.
Table Quality A superb table fish, considered better eating than brown or rainbow trout. Depending on the fish's diet, the flesh can vary from white to bright orange.
Sporting Qualities Brook trout are not spectacular leapers, but are powerful fighters for their size. They will take a dry fly, but subsurface flies generally work better. Many are caught on small spoons and spinners, and on worms, leeches, minnows and a variety of other live baits. Brookies are one of the least wary and easiest to catch of the salmonids.
Habitat Brook trout thrive in streams, lakes, and ponds that are cold and clear. They prefer water of 52 to 56F. Because of their coldwater habits, brook trout often are confined to the headwaters of spring-fed streams. Although there is still plenty of good brook trout water in the United States, a great deal of prime habitat has been lost to stream channelization, dam building, pollution, and streambank erosion caused by deforestation and overgrazing. Today, the best brook trout waters are in sparsely populated regions of Labrador, Quebec and Manitoba.
Food Habits The diet is extremely varied, depending on what is available. Some of the food items found in brook trout stomachs include tiny larval insects, small fish, field mice and even snakes.
Spawning Habits Brook trout spawn in late summer or fall at water temperatures of 40 to 49F. The usual spawning site is a gravel bed in the head- waters of a small stream. Sea-run brook trout move into their home streams in spring and early summer, but do not spawn until fall. The female digs several redds, depositing eggs in each. The parents make no attempt to guard the nests. Unlike most stream- dwelling trout and char, brook trout can also spawn successfully in lakes, assuming there is enough up- welling from springs to keep the eggs aerated.
Age and Growth Slow-growing compared to most other trout and char, brook trout tend to overpopulate their habitat and become stunted. Surprisingly, the fastest growth occurs in the northern part of their range. In most populations, males grow slightly faster than females, but do not live as long. Maximum age is about 15 years.
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