Brook Trout

[Anonymous]

Colouration: green to brown basic colouration with a distinctive marbled pattern (called vermiculations) of lighter shades across the flanks and back and extending at least to the dorsal fin, and often to the tail. There is a distinctive sprinkling of red dots, surrounded by blue haloes, along the flank. The belly and lower fins are reddish in color, the latter with white leading edges. Often the belly, particularly of the males, becomes very red or orange when the fish are spawning.

source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_trout

[crankbait42]

[Teal101]

The Eastern Brook Trout is not a true trout by definition, it is a Char related to Lake Trout, Bull Trout, Dolly Varden and Artic Char. It is not native to Washington state. It was the first species stocked into Washingtons high lakes in 1914, sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service. Over planting of such lakes lead to over population of Brook Trout and stunted populations. The stunted populations are easily identified by their large heads and slim, snake like bodies. The amount of fish in the water cannot be sustained by the forage base, thus the fish starve. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has cut back on stocks into lakes after many studies were preformed, most notably by Bob Pfeifer. In stunted lakes the WDFW has experimented with controlling Brook Trout Populations by planting Brown Trout, Tiger Musky, and Tiger Trout. These species are apex predators and are being used to reduce the amount of Brook Trout to a healthy level for the water. Success has varied depending on the lake of introduction.

Brook Trout as mentioned above can over populate waters, competing with native Salmonids. Brook Trout thrive in cold clear lakes and streams,displacing native Steelhead, Salmon, and WestSlope Cutthroat trout. Brook Trout grow large in their native eastern waters, and some populations are anadromous, living at sea for some time then returning to spawn.

The state record was taken from Wobbly Lake and weighed in at 9lbs even.