Brook Trout Fishing Guide

The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is actually a char, not a true trout, and is the only salmonid native to much of the eastern US. It is arguably the most beautiful freshwater fish in North America: a worm-like pattern of yellow and red lines on the back (called vermiculations), brilliant red spots with blue halos on the flanks, and an orange-red belly edged with black and white on the lower fins during spawning season. Brook trout require exceptionally cold, clean water and are among the most sensitive indicators of watershed health — they have vanished from vast amounts of their original range due to sedimentation, warming, and competition from introduced species. In wilderness settings — remote Canadian lakes and headwater streams — brook trout can reach 10+ pounds. The coaster brook trout, a large lake-dwelling form that enters tributaries to spawn, once sustained significant Great Lakes fisheries.

Brook Trout is a freshwater species.

Habitat

Cold, clean headwater streams and spring-fed rivers throughout the Appalachians, northern New England, and upper Great Lakes; also in western mountain streams where introduced. Require water temperatures below 65°F and are especially sensitive to fine sediment in spawning gravels — an exacting environmental indicator species.

Diet

Aquatic and terrestrial insects, worms, small fish, and crayfish. Unlike brown trout, brook trout remain insectivorous at large sizes and are reliably caught on small flies and live worms — their relative lack of wariness makes them susceptible to a wide range of presentations.

Fishing Techniques

• Fly fishing dry flies and wet flies
• Ultralight spinning with small spinners
• Worm fishing
• Small spoons

Best Seasons

Spring, Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 0.5 lbs. World record: 14.5 lbs (Nipigon River, Ontario, Canada (1915)).