Brook Trout
All about Brook Trout
What's In a Name?
Common Name:
Brook trout -- named for the habitat (small streams or "brooks") in which it is found.
Scientific Name:
Salvelinus (sal-veh-lynn´-uss) an old name for char
fontinalis (fon-ten-al´-iss) Latin for "living in springs"
Where do they live?
Brook trout are native to small, spring-fed streams in southeastern Minnesota and the St. Croix drainage. They are also native to Lake Superior and its tributaries downstream of the first barrier falls. Due to extensive stocking, brook trout can now be found in coldwater streams throughout the state. Because they require cold, clear waters with silt-free bottoms, the presence of brook trout is considered an indicator of good water quality.
How big do they get?
How big a brook trout becomes is dependent on where it comes from. The common size that many anglers catch from heavily fished streams or lakes is 6 to 10 inches, but in areas of little fishing, they can reach 15 inches in length. Those that live along the shores of Lake Superior can reach 24 inches. In Minnesota streams brook trout typically don't live beyond 3 years of age, a few may live 5 or 6 years. The state angling record, which was caught in the Pigeon River in Cook County, is 6 lbs. 5oz. The world record is 14.5 lbs.
What do they eat?
Brook trout are aggressive feeders, consuming large amounts of food. The food of the young brook trout is mostly small aquatic (water) insects. Older fish eat larger invertebrates including many types of aquatic insects, snails, and worms. They will also feed on minnows and other small fishes. Availability often dictates what the trout will eat.
What eats them?
Brook trout have few aquatic predators because few piscivorous ("fish-eating") fish live in the same small, coldwater streams they do. Larger trout, especially brown trout, eat smaller brook trout. They are more likely to be eaten by fish-eating birds like herons and kingfishers, otters, and snapping turtles. Brook trout are highly regarded by anglers, for both the sport they provide and the taste of its meat.
"Cool fact"
Female brook trout build nests (called a redd) out of gravel on the bottom of streams to lay their eggs in.
Credits: Photograph by Konrad P. Schmidt. Text modified from Bell Museum of Natural History, Fishes of Minnesota Web site (Nicole Paulson & Jay T. Hatch authors)