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Brown Trout
Salmo trutta

The brown trout or "Brownie" is also called a German, English or European trout. It also has some odd, European sounding names: the Von Behr trout, Lochleven trout, truite, breac or gealag! This is because the brown tTrout is a European fish - it was imported to North America in 1884, and then to several Vancouver Island rivers in 1932.

What do brown trout look like? The brown trout is fairly long but quite lightweight, usually around 40 centimeters and only a few kilograms when full grown. Brown trout living in streams are light brown with silvery sides and obvious black spots. When they live in large lakes or the ocean, they are more silvery. They have a square tail, and a lower jaw that juts out ahead of their upper jaw.

Where does the brown trout live?

The brown trout was introduced to many river systems in North America. After being hatched on the coast, the brown trout was put into the Kettle River system in 1957, and from there it moved into the Columbia Basin. Sometimes brown trout are caught in West Kettle and Similkameen rivers.

What is the brown trout life cycle?

Unlike other members of the genus Salmo, brown trout spawn in late autumn, even into the winter. The females lay eggs in gravel nests in shallow water, usually in streams but sometimes near rocky lakeshore reefs. Brown trout first spawn when they are around three years old. The eggs hatch in six to eight weeks and the young fry tend to grow quickly. Some yearlings can grow to 15 cm. brown trout can live up to 14 years.

Food for thought. . . Why do you think brown trout were introduced to Canada. Do you think they were introduced to other countries as well?

Did you know that … Brown trout have long been prized as a sports fish. In fact, the likeness of this fish is found painted on the walls of the ancient city of Thebes, dating back to 1500 BC.