The Brown Trout

The Brown Trout, Salmo Trutta morpha Fario, is a medium sized freshwater fish that prefers cold, well-oxygenated small rivers and streams in mountainous regions. They can grow to a weight of 20kg or more in big waters, but are more commonly found in smaller waters at a respectable weight of 1kg or 2lbs. Cover, like cut-out stream banks, large submerged rocks, and vegetation, is important to these fish.

The golden-brown color that gives the Brown Trout its name is made even more distinct by the unique orange spots along the side. These spots are ringed in white and on healthy fish, have a halo-like look.

The Brown Trout will eat virtually anything but relies heavily on an insect diet, although it will eat small fish and even frogs. This opportunistic feeding characteristic is one of the reasons why other species, like the McCloud Redband Trout, are becoming harder to find in their natural habitat. Next to the Rainbow Trout, the Brown Trout is one of the most commonly caught trout in rivers along the west coast.

It's a fun fish, one that can survive virtually any body of water, shallow or deep, any kind of climate. And it's that need to feed that makes the Brown Trout such an excellent candidate for the angler who can use a lure.

The Brown seen below was caught and released on the Upper Hobble Creek in Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah.