Species profile
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Identify Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 49 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 39 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Federal Waters (DFO)); the most generous is 25 (Idaho).
Across 12 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 11.8 in.
Confirmed by 10,312 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Colorado, and Ontario the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Despite the name, brook trout are actually a char (genus Salvelinus), not a true trout.
- They have distinctive worm-like markings called vermiculations that cover their upper body.
- Water temperatures above 68°F (20°C) are typically lethal for brook trout.
- Red spots ringed with blue halos make them one of North America's most colorful fish.
- They spawn in fall by fanning gravel nests called redds in cold headwater streams.
Where Brook Trout are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Brook Trout
Background
The brook trout is a species of freshwater fish in the char genus Salvelinus of the salmon family Salmonidae native to Eastern North America in the United States and Canada. Two ecological forms of brook trout have been recognized by the US Forest Service. One ecological form is long-lived potamodromous populations in Lake Superior known as coaster trout or coasters.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Brook Trout article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Brook Trout?
Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 39 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Brook Trout?
Brook Trout is Salvelinus fontinalis.
Is Brook Trout regulated for fishing?
Yes — Brook Trout has fishing regulations in 49 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Brook Trout?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Brook Trout along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.