BROOK ­ ( fontinalis)

Common Names: , Eastern brook trout, speckled trout, brookie, brook, coaster

Lake Sport Catch in Wisconsi n : 5,000‐11,000 per year

Preferred Temperature Range: 53‐57 ºF, 12‐14 ºC

Predators for Adults – Sea , humans for Juveniles – Larger carnivorous , mergansers

Length: 10‐20 inches

Weight: ¾‐4 pounds

State Record: 9/22/44; 9 pounds, 15 oz.; from Prairie River, Lincoln Co.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Fisheries Management

PUBL‐FM‐103 08 July 2008

Identification: Brook trout are identified by known as a . At the present time splake having an elongated and compressed body, a are experimentally planted in Green Bay. Brook squarish tail and wormlike markings on their trout can also be crossed with to back and head. Their color is dark green or produce what is called a “ trout.” brown on their back, lighter colored on their were stocked in Michigan from 1974 sides, and silvery to white on their belly. They through 1977 but this stocking program was have many light spots on their sides along with discontinued due to high mortality of the red spots surrounded by bluish halos. The lower hatchery offspring. fins are red with a characteristic white leading Once in , the brook trout edge followed by a black border. feast on a diet of insects, crayfish, leeches, and Distribution: Native to northeastern small fish. Within 2 to 3 years they usually from the east coast to weigh 1 to 2 pounds. Brook trout mature at north to Hudson Bay and the North Atlantic about three years of age and in streams or . These trout have been introduced into rarely along shoreline areas adjacent to stocking many parts of western North America, South locations. During the spawning season, the male America (including the ), New develops vivid colors and a hooked lower jaw Zealand, , and many parts of . Brook known as a “.” After spawning, they return trout are found along the Lake Michigan to the lake. Brook trout may repeat the shoreline from Sheboygan north. spawning each year thereafter during a Many trout can be found in maximum 5 to 6 year lifespan. Little successful Wisconsin waters, but the brook trout is the only natural reproduction occurs in Lake Michigan stream trout native to this area. Brook trout, because tributary streams are too warm in the however, are not restricted to living in streams summer to rear juveniles. Thus, brook trout are and can frequently be found in . At on time stocked annually to maintain the fishery. this beautiful gamefish was quite common to the Brook trout are caught from piers and bays and estuaries of Lake Michigan, and while rocky shores in the spring and summer. Stream in the lake, was called a “coaster.” Through loss for brook trout occurs from Sheboygan of habitat, , predation, and north in the spring and autumn. Trolling also , the coasters disappeared from many occasionally produces catches of brook trout shores of the . Since 1967, a stocking during the spring and summer from Sheboygan program has been under way and now about north to Bailey’s Harbor. Ice fishing in bays and 200,000 brook trout are stocked each year into especially in river mouths is popular during the the Lake Michigan waters of Wisconsin. winter months, making the brook trout a fish for The life of the Lake Michigan coaster of all seasons. Some of the better ice fishing today begins at the St. Croix State Fish Hatchery. locations include the harbor areas of Sheboygan Brook trout brood stock are spawned in October and Manitowoc. Favorite baits for all types of in a carefully executed spawning program. fishing are artificial , small spoons, spinners, Fertilized eggs are shipped to Brule River, night crawlers, and spawn. Bayfield, and Kettle Moraine State Fish The Lake Michigan brook trout stocking Hatcheries for incubation. The eggs hatch in program is funded by Great Lakes fishermen about 75 days in 48ºF waters. The young brook through their purchase of fishing licenses and trout are raised in the hatchery and planted in the Great Lakes and Trout Stamp. Future Lake Michigan either the following autumn as plans call for stocking nearly a quarter million fingerlings or held until the next spring and brook trout each year in the Wisconsin waters of planted as yearlings. Lake Michigan. Attempts are currently being Brook trout are also used in the made to obtain and introduce additional wild Wisconsin splake stocking program. Male brook strains of brook trout to help infuse added trout are crossed with female from the strength and vigor into the stocked fish and Apostle Islands to produce a fertile reestablish the “coaster” in Lake Michigan.

By Terrance Dehring and Charles C. Krueger, Wisconsin Departm ent of Natural Resources; Madison, WI