Speckled Trout (Salivelinus Fontinalis)

Sportfishing This salmonid is also called brook trout, brook
Weekend charr, brookie, lake trout, squaretail, sea- trout,
Eastern brook trout, coaster, and breac.
Lake Surveys
Distribution
Stocking Program
The speckled trout is native to eastern North America
Extension Info. from the Atlantic seaboard to Massachusetts, south
along the Appalachian Mountains, west to Minnesota
Species and north to Hudson Bay. It is found in a range of
Factsheets waters from tiny ponds to large rivers, lakes, and
salt water estuaries. Its popularity as a sport fish
[Image] has resulted in speckled trout introductions
throughout the world. Widely distributed throughout
the Maritimes, speckled trout are our most
sought-after freshwater fish.

Physical Characteristics

The speckled trout is a handsome fish. Like salmon, their colour
varies depending on the water they are in and their sexual activity.
Here are some common characteristics:

* Adult in freshwater: green to dark brown and black on the back
and sides. Light- coloured wavy lines on upper back, dorsal fin
and upper part of the caudal (tail) fin. Red spots surrounded by
blue halos and many light spots are usually present on the sides.

* The belly is lighter, white to yellow in females, or reddish in
males. The leading edges of the lower fins have a bright white
border followed by a black border and reddish coloration.

* During spawning: colours intensify and males can become a deep
orange-red on the belly.

* Adults in saltwater: silvery on the sides and dark blue or green
on the back. Pale red spots may be visible on the sides as well
as the white leading edge on the fins. When returning from the
sea these trout regain their freshwater colours.

* Young speckled trout or part: 8-10 dark vertical bars (called
parr marks) on the sides.

* The largest "brookie" on record was taken in Ontario in 1915,
weighing 14.5 lb (6.6 kg) and measuring 34 in (86 cm) long.

Facts on Speckled Trout

Larger speckled trout that live in northern waters sometimes
eat small mammals such as mice, shrews, and voles.

A 61 cm (24 in) sea-run speckled trout that weighed 3.4 kg
(7.5 lb) was caught in Halifax County, Nova Scotia, in 1871. It can be
seen today in the Nova Scotia Museum.

In more recent times, sea-run speckled trout as long as 66 cm
(26 in), weighing 3.2 kg (7.0 lb), have been caught on Cape Breton
lsland.

Fishing Facts

The speckled trout is the most popular
sportfish in the Atlantic provinces. It is
taken with spinning tackle, bait, and flies.

Unfortunately many natural populations
of speckled trout in Nova Scotia have
declined. They are vulnerable to overfishing
and human practices that affect their habitat.
For example, siltation can smother developing
eggs, dams can block access to spawning areas,
or the loss of trees along a stream bank can
reduce shade and cause summer water
temperatures to become too high for trout.

Natural History

Speckled trout prefer cool clear waters of 10-18C with a lot of
cover. Usually they live in spring-fed streams with many pools and
riffles. There they use undercut banks, submerged objects such as
large rocks, tree trunks and stumps, deep pools, and shelter from
overhanging vegetation as hiding places. Speckled trout are mostly
meat- eaters (carnivorous). They eat many water and land insects but
will take anything they can swallow. Larger trout eat leeches, small
fish, mollusks, frogs, and salamanders.

Speckled trout in Nova Scotia spawn during October and November in
shallow, gravelly areas of streams with clean bottoms and good water
flows. Spring-fed headwaters are ideal, but they'll also spawn in the
gravel-bottomed areas of lakes where spring waters occur. The female
digs a nest (redd) 10-15 cm (4-6 in) deep in the gravel with her body.

After the eggs have been laid and fertilized, they are covered and
left to develop slowly over the winter. A 25 cm (10 in) female trout
can produce about 500 3-5 mm eggs. Water flowing through the redds
keeps the eggs clean and oxygenated. Hatching occurs in the spring and
the larvae (alevins) remain still and undisturbed in the gravel while
they absorb the large yolk-sac.

Young trout (fry) emerging from gravel have lengths of 2.5-3.5 cm (1
in +) and begin feeding on aquatic insects. They prefer shallow areas
where temperatures are 11-15C and where rubble (rocks of 10-40 cm
(4-16 in)) on the stream bottom provides cover. At the end of their
first year, speckled trout in Nova Scotia are 5-10 cm (2-4 in) long.
They overwinter on the stream bottom in spaces between rocks. The best
rock sizes for their first several winters are in the 25-40 cm (10-16
in) range. Their growth depends very much on local conditions.
Speckled trout living in larger rivers and lakes would probably be 25
or 30 cm (10-12 in) at age 3, but those in small streams might only
reach a length of 15 cm (6 in).

Trout usually mature at three years old and rarely live past age 5.

Some populations of speckled trout migrate to sea for short periods.
They move downstream and upstream in the spring or early summer and
remain in estuaries and ocean areas where food is plentiful. After
about 2 months they return to freshwater.

Speckled trout probably migrate to sea in response to crowded
conditions, low food supplies, or unfavourable temperatures in their
home waters. Some over-winter in estuaries, and there are shore
movements along our coast. Not all fish in a population migrate, nor
do they necessarily go every year. Sea-run speckled trout live longer
and grow larger than strictly freshwater speckled trout.

Predators include mergansers, herons, kingfishers, mink, owls, osprey,
otter, perch, eels, other trout, and man.