These progeny known as 'leopard trout' have only been produced artificially among captives and are morphologically different in external comparison to tiger trout. Reciprocal crosses between male brown trout and female brook trout have never been observed in the wild. Interestingly, tiger trout observations seem to occur during periods when the brown trout population is depressed creating conditions where female brown trout are more likely to be encountered and spawned by male brook trout. Within the few park streams where both species coexist, tiger trout are occasionally encountered. The progeny resulting from male brook trout and female brown trout are known generally as 'tiger trout'. Hybridization with brown trout has been documented in park streams that contain populations of both species. In most park streams, juvenile brook trout reach sizes of three to four inches by the end of their first summer. Growth is defined by the quality and availability of forage and habitat. Hatching typically commences during mid to late January within park streams and juvenile fish begin to vacate redds by mid March. Redds are initially defended by both sexes followed by abandonment upon the completion of spawning. Shallow depressions know as redds are excavated by female brook trout on typically gravel substrates. 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.

Shenandoah national park predators