The Brook Trout Or Brookie
The brook trout, or speckled trout is actually a member of the char family and can only exist in habitat that meets it’s strict requirements for water quality and temperature. Brook trout must have well-oxygenated water and prefer temperatures between 52F (11C) and 61F (16C). Brook trout can be found in both streams/rivers and lakes, seeking out cooler temperatures in the latter as the season progresses. Wild speckled trout are aggressive feeders~aquatic insects, leeches, minnows/baitfish and crustaceans make up the majority of the brookies diet.
Brook Trout - Salvelinus Fontinalis
Native fish:North America~ North East
Spawn:late summer/fall
Special Traits:colors intensify near spawning
aka brookie, speckled trout, square tail, mud trout
Brook Trout Regional variations:
Sea-run brook trout.
Where possible, many trout leave their freshwater environs and head to sea. Unlike salmon, they stay relatively close to shore, cruising in and out of brackish estuaries in search of food~returning to their freshwater roots to spawn. Sea-run brookies take on a more silvery appearance than their freshwater counterparts, depending on their diet and the length of time at sea.Coaster Brook Trout
Like sea-runs, coaster brook trout leave their home tributaries and enter large freshwater lakes, returning only to spawn.The number of lakes that have the water quality/temperature and forage coasters require to thrive are numbered. In North America, the north shore of Lake Superior is believed to be one of the only surviving coaster brook trout fisheries.
Related reading;
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout & Steelhead
