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Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Identification
Dark olive-green with a distinctive worm-like (vermiculated) pattern on its back and red spots surrounded by blue halos on its sides.
Where It's Found
The only trout native to the eastern U.S. — small, cold, spring-fed headwater streams and high-elevation lakes.
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Fishing Notes
Often the first fish an angler catches on a backcountry stream; small spinners and dry flies in cold, clear headwaters are the classic approach.
Scientific Classification▾
Family
Salmonidae
Genus
Salvelinus
Order
Salmoniformes
Class
Actinopterygii
Phylum
Chordata
Kingdom
Animalia
Ready to go fishing?
Find a boat ramp near you and check state fishing regulations before you head out.
Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.