Brown Trout
Native to Europe, the Brown Trout is a freshwater fish that derives from the salmon family. Today, Brown Trout can be found in Asia, New Zealand, North America and South America. American anglers have the best luck catching the fish in U.S. trout streams, brooks, lakes, and in the Rocky Mountains.
Closely related to the Sea Trout, the Brown Trout is a brownish or butter colored fish with rusty red and black spots that line its body laterally. While the Sea Trout and Brown Trout are of the same species, the main difference between the two fish is the Sea Trout is a saltwater fish.
Brown Trout are generally medium in size and can weigh more than 40 pounds. In smaller rivers, however, it is common for the mature Brown Trout to weigh only 2 pounds or less. According to the International Game Fish Association, the “all tackle” record Brown Trout was caught from the Little Red River in Arkansas in May 1992. The trout was reeled in by Howard “Rip” Collins and weighed 40 pounds, 4 ounces.
The Brown Trout is a tasty fish that requires very little flavoring. It is best prepared grilled or barbequed. Some fish-eaters also enjoy it poached.
The life expectancy of a Brown Trout is several years. However, as with Atlantic salmon, many of the males die after spawning. Even more of the females, less than 20 percent, recover from spawning. Today, some Brown Trout are raised in hatcheries, but most are still native to the areas they live in. This is because the Brown Trout is harder then the more desirable Rainbow Trout to spawn artificially.
Brown Trout are opportunistic feeders that are active both day and night. Their freshwater diet usually entails invertebrates from the stream, frogs, small fish and insects flying near the surface of the water. Their desire for insect larva, nymphs and pupae make the Brown Trout a target for fly fishing.
Known as being a clever fish, the Brown Trout has a savvy ability to out-smart both novice and professional fisherman. If an angler is lucky enough to hook a trout, he then is presented with a set of problems. Unlike its cousin, the Rainbow Trout, the Brown Trout does not flop around as it is reeled in. Instead, the fish does its best to get the line tangled up on various obstacles in the river. The fish’s mission is to snap the fishing line and escaping the fisherman. If it doesn’t succeed in snapping the line, the trout will then take to the air, much like the Rainbow Trout, as a final effort to regain freedom. Because light tippets and tackle are commonly used when fly fishing, the Brown Trout has a good chance at escaping this scenario.
It is believed the Brown Trout will be the primary trout species of the future. Because of their intelligence, this fish is resilient and has a strong desire to live. They also have the ability to live in warmer waters then that of other trout. These waters provide better nutrients for the fish, making them larger and stronger. Lastly, Brown Trout are resistant to Whirling Disease allowing them to reside in areas the Rainbow Trout cannot. When considering our warming climate and drought ridden waters in the U.S. it only makes sense that the Brown Trout, in the future, will be able to thrive in areas other fish will suffer.
Thank you to Cassandra Clark Ney for this "Brown Trout" article
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