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National Factsheet - Brook Trout

General Description

The brook trout is a member of the salmon family of fishes and has the following characteristics:

• an elongate, slightly laterally compressed body and a large head;
• a rounded snout, and a hook at the front of the lower jaw may develop in breeding males;
• in stream populations, the back, upper sides and the top of the head are dark brown to black, becoming lighter on the sides and silvery white on the underside. There are pale spots and small red spots surrounded with bluish halos on the sides;
• at spawning time, the lower sides and underside of males become orange-red with black pigmentation. In sea-run populations, they become silvery with purple iridescence and only red spots are visible on the sides;
• the dorsal and caudal fins haveblack lines and the anal, pelvic and pectoral fins are a reddish colour with black pigmentation and white leading edges.

Distribution

The brook trout is a native North American fish species. In Canada, the brook trout is widely distributed throughout the Maritime Provinces, Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, the Great Lakes drainage basin in Ontario, north to James and Hudson Bays, and in the Nelson and Hayes River systems in northeastern Manitoba

Habitat and Life History

The brook trout is a cold-water species that is found in clear, cool, well-oxygenated streams and lakes. When temperatures rise in the summer, brook trout seek cooler water and move downstream to the lake or out to the sea. Brook trout spawn in late summer or fall, usually during late September, October, or November in southern and eastern Canada. The usual spawning site is in shallow, gravelly headwaters of streams to which the mature fish may travel many kilometres upstream. Spawning occurs during the day after the female fans silt and debris away from the nesting area with her caudal fin. When spawning is completed, the female covers the eggs with gravel. The time of hatching and growth rate varies greatly with region and habitat. The fry become free-swimming when they are about 38 mm (1.5 inches) long. Brook trout habitat and spawning requirements are similar to the brown trout, with which it is usually in competition.

Food Habits

Brook trout are carnivorous and feed on a variety of organisms, which includes worms, leeches, aquatic and terrestrial insects, spiders, molluscs, crustaceans, salamanders, frogs, rodents, and fishes.

Economic Importance

The brook trout is one of the most popular game fishes in eastern Canada.

Fishing Facts

Because of its popularity as a game fish, the brook trout has been introduced widely around the world.
Brook trout can be hybridized with brown trout to produce a “tiger trout”. Also, a fertile hybrid called “splake” is produced from the hybridization of brook trout and lake trout.

Further Information

Referrals Coordinator
Ontario-Great Lakes Area
Fish Habitat Management Program
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
867 Lakeshore Road
Burlington, ON L7R 4A6
Telephone (905) 336-4595
referralsontario@dfo-mpo.gc.ca