by: Brett Fogle
Brook Trout: Frequently gullible, yet extremely tasty, Brook Trout are wonderful trout to fish for - especially since they frequently inhabit the most beautiful stream settings in the U.S.
The Brook Trout was originally found in the Midwest and along the East Coast. It is sort of the Eastern counterpart to the Western Cutthroat trout – with its range extending all the way from Canada down to the streams in Georgia. Interestingly, the Brook Trout is not even part of the trout family, but instead belongs to the Char family of fish that also includes the Lake Trout and Dolly Varden.
Brook Trout live in clear, cold waters. Due to the cold waters and the fact that Brook Trout live a shorter life generally than rainbow and Brown Trout, Brook Trout usually do not grow nearly as big.
Today, most of the best Brook Trout fishing is no longer found out East.
The cold, clear water that Brook Trout prefer no longer exists like it use to. Instead, Brook Trout are mainly found in the Western United States (mainly due to transplanting) in the colder rivers and lakes of the Rocky Mountains - especially in higher lakes that often require hiking to reach. Canada also continues of provide excellent fishing for Brook Trout, while Argentina is now also home to some of the worlds’ largest Brook Trout.
Brook Trout are also small due to another factor – over planting. Brook Trout have been so extensively planted in many lakes and streams that there are starting to be too many of them. This overcrowding often leads to stunted growth. Of course, the plus side of this is that these small Brook Trout are extremely easy to catch and they taste good, too! Of all the trout in the world, for the angler who absolutely must take home some fish at the end of the day, taking home some Brook Trout is a good way to satisfy the palette without compromising the overall fishing quality.
The Brook Trout is a beautiful fish. It’s sides and back consist of various shades of gunmetal gray, with highlights of orange, red and cream spots. The fins of a Brook Trout also have a white edge around them and during spawning season, the bottom of the Brook Trout turns a beautiful orange-red color.