Brown Trout
A European native introduced across the U.S. in the late 1800s, now one of the most widely stocked and wild-reproducing trout in American rivers.
- Scientific name
- Salmo trutta
- Family
- Salmonidae
- Adult size
- Commonly 10–18 inches; can exceed 20 inches in productive rivers.
Identification
Golden-brown to olive body with large black spots and scattered red spots, each often ringed in a pale halo; fewer spots on the tail than rainbow trout.
Habitat
Rivers, streams, and lakes; more tolerant of warmer, siltier water than brook or cutthroat trout.
Diet
Aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans, and — in larger individuals — other fish.
Angling
Known for being wary and selective, brown trout are a prized target for fly anglers, especially larger, nocturnal-feeding fish.
Recommended Tackle & Gear for Brown Trout
Field-tested tackle, baits, and rigging strategies suited for catching Brown Trout.
Berkley PowerBait Floating Trout Dough
Hatchery-raised trout are conditioned to pelleted scents; scented dough floated 12–18 inches off bottom consistently triggers strikes.
Panther Martin Classic Teardrop Inline Spinner
The heavy convex blade spins instantly upon retrieval, sending vibration through the water that triggers aggressive reaction bites along drop-offs.
Sliding Sinker & Treble Hook Rigging Kit
Sliding egg sinkers allow cautious trout to run with bait without feeling line drag, while size 14–16 treble hooks keep dough bait securely pinned.
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Where Brown Trout is stocked
When Brown Trout is stocked
Top Brown Trout waters
Canyon Ferry Lake
7 species · 2261 records
Last stocked September 2025
Logan River
CACHE County · 5 species · 2246 records
Last stocked July 2026
Weber River
WEBER County · 7 species · 2119 records
Last stocked July 2026
Fish Lake
SEVIER County · 9 species · 1940 records
Last stocked July 2026
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
DAGGETT County · 8 species · 1865 records
Last stocked July 2026
Fort Peck Lake
16 species · 1842 records
Last stocked July 2025
Yellowstone River
16 species · 1781 records
Last stocked October 2010
Otter Creek Reservoir
PIUTE County · 8 species · 1545 records
Last stocked April 2026
Missouri River
19 species · 1417 records
Last stocked October 2010
Boulder River
5 species · 1385 records
Last stocked July 1983
Madison River
5 species · 1310 records
Last stocked April 2006
Big Spring Creek
5 species · 1201 records
Last stocked July 1981
Holter Reservoir
3 species · 1185 records
Last stocked September 2025
Scofield Reservoir
CARBON County · 6 species · 1181 records
Last stocked July 2026
Panguitch Lake
GARFIELD County · 8 species · 1109 records
Last stocked May 2026
Hebgen Lake
4 species · 944 records
Last stocked June 2023
Hauser Reservoir
10 species · 897 records
Last stocked April 2026
Big Hole River
5 species · 893 records
Last stocked August 1993
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
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
Frequently asked
Where is Brown Trout stocked?
Brown Trout is stocked in 1,205 waters across 4 states: New York, Washington, Montana, Utah.
When is Brown Trout stocked?
Brown Trout is typically stocked in spring, most often in April, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Brown Trout are stocked?
About 63,180,924,029,132,240,000,000,000,000,000,000 Brown Trout have been stocked on record since 1928, across Montana, New York, Utah, Washington.
What size Brown Trout are stocked?
Stocked Brown Trout average about 9.4 inches, based on sizes reported by Montana, New York, Utah — not every state reports sizes.
What does a Brown Trout look like?
Golden-brown to olive body with large black spots and scattered red spots, each often ringed in a pale halo; fewer spots on the tail than rainbow trout.