Brown Trout

Salmo trutta fario

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Salmo trutta trutta

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The Brown Trout (Salmo trutta fario) and the Sea Trout (Salmo trutta trutta) are fish distinguished chiefly by the fact that the Brown Trout is largely a freshwater fish, while the Sea Trout shows anadromous reproduction, spawning in fresh water but migrating to the oceans for much of its adult life. The common name "Brown Trout" is often applied to both subspecies.

Related Topics:
Fish - Anadromous - Fresh water - Ocean - Subspecies

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The species is native to Europe and Asia, but has been widely introduced for purposes of sport into North America, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Brown Trout have had very serious negative impacts on native fish species in some of the countries where they have been introduced, particularly Australia. There are also landlocked populations far from the oceans, for example in Greece and Estonia. Because of the trout's importance as a food and game fish, it has been artificially restocked in many places in its range, and natural populations probably exist only in isolated places, for example Corsica.

Related Topics:
Europe - Asia - Introduced - Sport - North America - South America - Australia - New Zealand - Greece - Estonia - Corsica

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The natural distribution of the migratory forms may be circumpolar, and the fish is not considered to be endangered. It prefers cold, well-oxygenated upland waters, especially large streams in mountainous areas. Cover is important to trout, and they are more likely to be found where there are submerged rocks, undercut banks, and overhanging vegetation.

Related Topics:
Endangered - Oxygenated

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The Brown Trout is a medium sized fish, growing to 20 kg or more in some localities although in many smaller rivers a mature weight of only 2 lb (1 kg) is common. The current IGFA world record brown trout, 40 pounds 4 ounces (18.25 kg), was caught by Rip Collins at the Little Red River, Arkansas. Brown trout may live for several years although, as with Salmon, there is a high proportion of death of males after spawning and probably less than 20% of female kelts recover from spawning. The migratory forms are grow to significantly larger sizes and may live longer. Brown Trout are active by day and night and feed on invertebrates from the river floor, insect larvae, molluscs, small fish and frogs, and aerial insects; the last element in their diet is what allows trout to be a favoured target for fly fishing. Sea Trout are especialy fished for at night using wet flies.

Related Topics:
Kg - Little Red River - Insect - Mollusc - Frog - Fly fishing

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The life history and spawning behaviour of the migratory forms is similar to that of salmon. A typical female produces about 880 eggs per pound (1940 eggs per kilogram) body weight at spawning.

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Trout is a favourite food fish, and is used both fresh and smoked; there are many recipes for it, and it may be eaten fried, grilled, baked or microwaved.

Related Topics:
Recipe - Microwaved

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