Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

The brook trout, or speckled trout as it is called locally, is the only trout native to North Carolina. Considered an Ice Age relict, this member of the char family is found only in cold water streams of the mountains. Often a brilliantly colored fish, it is readily identifiable by the white leading edge, backed by black, on its lower fins. Brook trout were once widely distributed throughout the mountain counties, but because of changing land- use patterns, overfishing, and competition with rainbow and brown trout, their range now is greatly reduced. Today they are scarce except in relatively remote headwater streams. Because of the concern about declining brook trout numbers and habitat, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has placed special emphasis on protecting and enhancing wild brook trout populations as a special resource. Rainbow and brown trout are not stocked into streams which contain only wild brook trout. The brook trout is easy to catch and when a stream is made easily accessible by new roads, or other development, their numbers can be reduced by fishing, or eliminated by accompanying habitat changes. The typical brook trout caught today is eight inches or less in length. A 12-inch or longer fish is a rarity. Because of their small size and tendency to be found in small, overgrown streams, brook trout seldom get to put up much of a fight when hooked.