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MPCA Home > Kids > Minnesota
Fish > Brook Trout
Brooktrout Coloring Sheet
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)
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