Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
A true native trout of eastern North America, the brook trout displays vivid worm-like markings on its back and vibrant orange fins edged in white. It requires the coldest, cleanest water of any stream fish and is often used as an indicator of pristine watershed health.
Spring-fed headwater streams and cold, clean mountain lakes.
How to Catch Brook Trout
Whether you're new to targeting Brook Trout or refining your approach, success starts with matching your tactics to where the fish lives. Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is typically found in river water and lake water, so concentrate your effort where those conditions line up. Mature Brook Trout average around 9 inches, which helps you choose the right line, lure size, and tackle for the fight.
Where to Find Brook Trout in the USA & Canada
Brook Trout is recorded across a range of North American waters, including spots in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland and Labrador, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Rhode Island, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Browse the linked water guides below to see the specific lakes, rivers, and coastal waters where anglers report catching Brook Trout, then plan a trip around the water closest to you.
Brook Trout Fishing Regulations & Limits
Fishing rules for Brook Trout vary by state and province. Before you head out, check the daily bag limits, minimum size limits, and open seasons that apply in your area. When FishFinder has matching records, the regulations link below takes you to the rules hub. Following local limits keeps Brook Trout populations healthy for future seasons.
Related Water Guides for Brook Trout
Explore these FishFinder water guides for places where Brook Trout is recorded:
- Yellowstone River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Flathead Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Nipigon — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Superior — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Opeongo — Brook Trout fishing water
- Loch Leven — Brook Trout fishing water
- Nelson River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gods Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gods River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Rivière Saint-Maurice — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lac Manitou — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lac Saint-Jean — Brook Trout fishing water
- Restigouche River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Kedgwick River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Upsalquitch River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Patapedia River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Nepisiguit River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Jacquet River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tetagouche River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Middle Tetagouche Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Miramichi River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Northwest Miramichi River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Little Southwest Miramichi River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Cains River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Renous River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Bartholomew River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Bouctouche River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Richibucto River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Cocagne River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Kouchibouguac River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Big Salmon River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Upper Salmon River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Loch Lomond Reservoir — Brook Trout fishing water
- Ratcliffe Brook — Brook Trout fishing water
- Kennebecasis River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Hammond River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Nashwaak River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Oromocto River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Meduxnekeag River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tobique River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Aroostook River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Serpentine Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Trousers Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Nictau Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Margaree River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Ainslie — Brook Trout fishing water
- Bras d'Or Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Mira River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gabarus Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Baddeck River — Brook Trout fishing water
- St. Mary's River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Liscomb River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Country Harbour River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lochaber Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Goose Harbour Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Charles — Brook Trout fishing water
- Sherbrooke Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Musquodoboit River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Mersey River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tusket River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wentworth Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Rossignol — Brook Trout fishing water
- Medway River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gaspereau Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Aylesford Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Cornwallis River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Black River Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Sunken Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Stewiacke River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Harrison Lake (Cumberland) — Brook Trout fishing water
- French River (Colchester) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Debert River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Deyarmont Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Morell River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Naufrage River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Bear River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Souris River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Boughton River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Bradshaw River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Brudenell River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Cardigan River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Fortune River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Montague River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Valleyfield River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Murray River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Vernon River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Hillsborough River — Brook Trout fishing water
- West River (Bonshaw) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Clyde River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Hunter River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Winter River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wheatley River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pisquid River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Hyde Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Dunk River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wilmot River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tryon River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Trout River (Coleman) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Big Pierre Jacques River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Mill River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Doyles Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Cross River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Humber River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Exploits River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gander River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gambo River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Terra Nova River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Salmonier River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Rocky River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Conne River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Grey River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lomond River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Torrent River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Portland Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Codroy River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Harrys River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Serpentine River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Grand Lake (Newfoundland) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Red Indian Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gander Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Deer Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Indian Bay — Brook Trout fishing water
- Square Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- 10 Mile Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Round Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Big Jonathans Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Star Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Adies Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Southwest Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pinware River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Forteau Brook — Brook Trout fishing water
- Eagle River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Paradise River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Sand Hill River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Churchill River (Labrador) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Naskaupi River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Smallwood Reservoir — Brook Trout fishing water
- Ashuanipi Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Atikonak Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Minipi Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Osprey Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Big Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Norfork Tailwater — Brook Trout fishing water
- Little Red River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Roaring Fork River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Farmington River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Naugatuck River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tidbury Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Newton Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- White Clay Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Red Clay Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wilson Run — Brook Trout fishing water
- Chattahoochee River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Waters Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Henrys Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- White River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Spring Branch — Brook Trout fishing water
- French Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Cumberland River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Sebago Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Moosehead Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Rangeley Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Mooselookmeguntic Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- East Grand Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Grand Lake Stream — Brook Trout fishing water
- Kennebec River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Penobscot River, West Branch — Brook Trout fishing water
- Moose River (Maine) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Chesuncook Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Chamberlain Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Eagle Lake (Maine) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Square Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Long Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Androscoggin River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Saco River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Savage River — Brook Trout fishing water
- North Branch Potomac River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Gunpowder Falls — Brook Trout fishing water
- Deerfield River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Swift River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Millers River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Nissitissit River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Squannacook River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Westfield River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Ware River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Quaboag River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Ipswich River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Red Brook — Brook Trout fishing water
- Quashnet River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Au Sable River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Manistee River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Whitewater River, North Branch — Brook Trout fishing water
- Root River, Middle Branch — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Superior (Minnesota) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Knife River (Minnesota) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Georgetown Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Blackfoot River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Hobart Reservoir — Brook Trout fishing water
- Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge — Brook Trout fishing water
- Snake Range High Lakes — Brook Trout fishing water
- First Connecticut Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Francis — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pleasant Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Back Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Profile Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Willard Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Umbagog Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Androscoggin River (New Hampshire) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Connecticut River (New Hampshire) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Saco River (New Hampshire) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Ellis River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pemigewasset River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Dead Diamond River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Magalloway River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Raritan River South Branch — Brook Trout fishing water
- Musconetcong River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pequest River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Big Flat Brook — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pequannock River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Rockaway River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Beaver Kill — Brook Trout fishing water
- Willowemoc Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- West Branch Ausable River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Davidson River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Nantahala River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tuckasegee River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wilson Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- South Toe River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Watauga River — Brook Trout fishing water
- East Prong Roaring River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Helton Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- South Fork New River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Green River (North Carolina) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Linville River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Big Spring Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Slate Run — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wood River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Beaver River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Falls River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pawcatuck River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Blackstone River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Branch River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Moosup River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Hunt River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Ten Mile River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Pawtuxet River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wyoming Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Beach Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Wallum Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Watchaug Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Olney Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Carbuncle Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Stafford Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Barber Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Carolina Trout Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Silver Spring Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Breakheart Pond — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tiogue Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Chattooga River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Chauga River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Eastatoe Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Middle Saluda River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Whitewater River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Deerfield Reservoir — Brook Trout fishing water
- Sylvan Lake (South Dakota) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Rapid Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Spearfish Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Castle Creek — Brook Trout fishing water
- Caney Fork River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Elk River (Tennessee) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Clinch River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Hiwassee River — Brook Trout fishing water
- South Fork Holston River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Tellico River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Elk River (West Virginia) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Shavers Fork of Cheat River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Cranberry River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Blackwater River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Williams River — Brook Trout fishing water
- Lake Superior (Wisconsin Waters) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Namekagon River — Brook Trout fishing water
- East Newton Lake — Brook Trout fishing water
- Fish Lake (Wyoming) — Brook Trout fishing water
- Rob Roy Reservoir — Brook Trout fishing water
- Soda Lake north of Pinedale (Wyoming) — Brook Trout fishing water
Brook Trout Regulations
Review current FishFinder regulation records before targeting Brook Trout:
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of water is best for catching Brook Trout?
Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is typically found in river water and lake water. Focus your effort where those conditions line up to improve your chances.
How big does Brook Trout get?
Mature Brook Trout average around 9 inches, though individual fish can run larger. Matching your line, lure size, and tackle to that range makes for a better fight and landing rate.
Where can I catch Brook Trout in the USA and Canada?
Brook Trout is reported across North American waters, including spots in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland and Labrador, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Rhode Island, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Check the locations listed on this page to find the lakes, rivers, and coastal waters closest to you.
Do I need a fishing license to catch Brook Trout?
A valid fishing license is required in most US states and Canadian provinces. Daily bag limits, minimum size limits, and open seasons for Brook Trout vary by region, so review the regulations on this page and with your local wildlife authority before heading out.