Brook Trout

 

Illustration by: Rick Hill

Identification: The Brook Trout has a deeper body than Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout, especially in the largest adults. The mouth is large and the upper jaw extends well beyond the rear margin of the eye. It is distinguished from Rainbow and Brown Trout by having pale worm-like markings on a dark-colored back and white leading edges of the lower fins. It also lacks the red-orange slash on each side of the lower jaw found on Cutthroat Trout. Breeding males develop bright orange-red with black color on the belly and lower fins. Adults usually range from 10-16 inches and 1-2 pounds.

Distribution and Habitat: Native to the Appalachian uplands east of the Cumberland Plateau, particularly the Blue Ridge from northern Georgia to Maryland. Brook Trout have been introduced into a few small, high-quality forested streams on the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Kentucky where they persist through limited natural reproduction.