Brook Trout
A char, not a true trout, native to the eastern U.S. and now stocked widely in cold western streams and high-elevation lakes.
- Scientific name
- Salvelinus fontinalis
- Family
- Salmonidae
- Adult size
- Typically 6–12 inches in stream populations; larger in productive lakes.
Identification
Dark olive-green back with distinctive pale, worm-like (vermiculated) markings, red spots haloed in blue, and white leading edges on the lower fins.
Habitat
Cold, clean, well-oxygenated streams and high-elevation lakes; the least heat-tolerant of the commonly stocked trout.
Diet
Aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, small crustaceans, and small fish.
Angling
A favorite of high-country and small-stream anglers; often more willing to strike than brown or rainbow trout in the same water.
Conservation
Native ranges east of the Mississippi are a conservation focus; western populations are introduced and managed as a put-and-take or wild fishery.
Where Brook Trout is stocked
When Brook Trout is stocked
Top Brook Trout waters
Strawberry Reservoir
WASATCH County · 4 species · 4147 records
Last stocked June 2026
Canyon Ferry Lake
7 species · 2261 records
Last stocked September 2025
Fish Lake
SEVIER County · 9 species · 1940 records
Last stocked July 2026
Yellowstone River
16 species · 1781 records
Last stocked October 2010
Deer Creek Reservoir
WASATCH County · 5 species · 1756 records
Last stocked June 2026
Otter Creek Reservoir
PIUTE County · 8 species · 1545 records
Last stocked April 2026
Boulder River
5 species · 1385 records
Last stocked July 1983
Big Spring Creek
5 species · 1201 records
Last stocked July 1981
Flathead Lake
14 species · 1161 records
Last stocked October 1997
Panguitch Lake
GARFIELD County · 8 species · 1109 records
Last stocked May 2026
Georgetown Lake
5 species · 968 records
Last stocked June 2026
Trial Lake
SUMMIT County · 5 species · 900 records
Last stocked July 2026
Mirror Lake
DUCHESNE County · 4 species · 890 records
Last stocked July 2026
Bitterroot River
4 species · 860 records
Last stocked July 1979
Salem Pond
UTAH County · 10 species · 789 records
Last stocked June 2026
Willow Park Pond
SALT LAKE County · 10 species · 769 records
Last stocked June 2026
Pass Lake
DUCHESNE County · 4 species · 759 records
Last stocked July 2026
Butterfly Lake
DUCHESNE County · 4 species · 745 records
Last stocked July 2026
Piute Reservoir
PIUTE County · 15 species · 741 records
Last stocked May 2026
Burraston Ponds
JUAB County · 5 species · 701 records
Last stocked June 2026
Beaver Creek
13 species · 697 records
Last stocked June 2014
Lake Mary Ronan
8 species · 685 records
Last stocked June 2026
Hyrum Reservoir
CACHE County · 12 species · 682 records
Last stocked May 2026
Warm Spring Creek
6 species · 662 records
Last stocked July 2013
Frequently asked
Where is Brook Trout stocked?
Brook Trout is stocked in 2,303 waters across 4 states: Utah, New York, Montana, Washington.
When is Brook Trout stocked?
Brook Trout is typically stocked in summer, most often in July, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Brook Trout are stocked?
About 481,049,260,765,104,800,000,000,000,000,000 Brook Trout have been stocked on record since 1924, across Montana, New York, Utah, Washington.
What size Brook Trout are stocked?
Stocked Brook Trout average about 4.3 inches, based on sizes reported by Montana, New York, Utah — not every state reports sizes.
What does a Brook Trout look like?
Dark olive-green back with distinctive pale, worm-like (vermiculated) markings, red spots haloed in blue, and white leading edges on the lower fins.