![]() ![]() ![]() Spawning is triggered by decreasing day length and water temperature. In most park streams, age at maturation (breeding) is probably two years.īrook trout spawn in the fall, most typically from early October to mid November within park streams. Exceptionally large individuals encountered in large pools or other large stream habitats may attain ages of four, five or over six years. Nonbreeding adults are similar except that the pale pattern has less contrast, red spots are pale or unapparent and the orange or red lower sides are pale to absent.īrook trout found within mountain stream habitats are fairly short lived, averaging about three years. Lower fins including the pectoral, pelvic and anal have milky white margins, paralleled just above by a black streak and are otherwise orange-red. The dorsal fin is typically pale olive-yellow with black bars. Undersides including lower jaw are milky-white. Coloration transitions from olive-yellow to orange to orange-red bordered by black along the lower sides. Their sides contain scattered small red spots, haloed with pale blue. Breeding male brook trout are medium to dark olive from dorsum to mid-side with a pale yellow-olive or yellow vermiculate pattern. In contrast, the true trout have light base coloration with a pattern of dark spots. The current state record specimen (5 pounds, 10 ounces) was captured in a large stream in ShenandoahCounty on October 22, 1987.Īs a rule, char are visually distinguishable from other trout having dark base coloration with a pale pattern of spots. The largest brook trout from Virginia waters are typically stocked brood fish released into large stream and lake habitats. Brook trout tend to grow larger in larger bodies of water. Brook trout have cooler water temperature requirements than the non-native brown and rainbow trouts.Īdult brook trout in typical headwater stream habitats typically range from 6 to 13 inches in total length with exceptional individuals in large stream habitats approaching 16 inches. Char are distinguished from other trout and salmon species by the absence of teeth in the roof of the mouth, the presence of light colored spots on a dark colored body, their smaller scales, and differences in skeletal structure.Īlso known by the vernacular names "native trout" or "natives", "brookie", speckled trout, and brook char, the species name fontinalis means "living in springs". ![]() Fish and Wildlife Service and West Virginia DNRīrook trout are members of the char subgroup of the salmon family (Salmonidae) which also includes the Arctic char, bull trout, Dolly Varden and lake trout. Although these fish are elegant, we ask most fisherman to avoid the park from late October through November to give these fish a chance to spawn peacefully.Duane Raver, U.S. ![]() Because these fish are so wary, keeping a good distance and casting into pools over rocks or other obstructions is a must.īrook trout are considered some of the most beautiful of all gamefish, particularly when in their spawning colors in the fall. Keep this in mind when hiking thru the park, as water snakes and copperhead snakes have similar colors and patterns. Their diet ranges from mayflies, beetles, ants, crickets, aquatic worms, mosquito larvae, caddisflies, stoneflies, crayfish, grasshoppers, freshwater crustaceans, hellgrammites, and any other winged insect that might fall in the water.īrook trout have natural predators including herons, minks, kingfishers, and water snakes. They prefer colder water and like most salmonids thrive in water from 45-60 degrees. Hike up the trailhead until you think you're a decent distance away from the lot and start fishing.īrookies are a good indicator of water quality. Find a blue line and hike the trail adjacent to it from the base of the mountain range where there will conveniently be parking at most of the popular streams. The real benefit is the exercise you get hiking to and from the fishing spots on most of these remote streams. Shenandoah Park offers the Washington DC area trout fisherman a chance to find native brook trout in truly beautiful places less than 2 hours from home. ![]()
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