Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, broad square tongue with 11-12 large teeth, light pectoral fins, squire tail, 9-10 rays in the anal fin.

Brown trout is something of a misnomer for many Great Lakes members of this species, since lake-run browns are predominately silver in color. In addition, the body spots, so characteristic of their stream-dwelling cousins, are often obscured in lake-dwellers.

Brown trout are close relative of the Atlantic salmon, and also were brought to North American waters as exotics. These natives of Europe and western Asia were introduced into New York and Michigan waters in 1883. Brown trout have thrived in their new home, and have become firmly established in all of our upper Great Lakes waters.

Lake dwelling brown trout are a wary lot. They hide in shallow water weed beds and rocky, boulder-strewn areas, and prefer a water temperature of 65-75 degrees F. Since brown trout spawn in tributary streams in September and October, they begin to take up residence near stream outlets in spring and early summer. After ascending a particular stream, brown trout spawners choose shallow, gravelly or rocky areas. The female creates a shallow depression (redd) in the gravel, in which the spawning fish deposit the eggs and sperm. When the process is completed, the female covers the redd with gravel. The average lake run adult weighs 8 pounds, although individuals can grow to be much larger. Young browns are preyed upon by larger fish and by predatory birds such as mergansers. The diet of adult brown trout includes insects and their larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, small rodents and other fish. They enjoy a rather long life-span, it appears, since researchers have observed them at up to 13 years of age.

COMMON NAMES: Brown trout, German brown trout, Brownie

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Salmo trutta

IDENTIFICATION: Brown trout are brown to gold on their back with a cream to slate-colored belly. Most fish have black, gray, yellow and occasionally red spots all surrounded by a white halo. This species has a prominent spotted adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fin. There are no spots on the squarish tail or vermiculation--wormy marks, on the back.

RANGE AND HABITAT: Brown trout are native to Europe but were introduced to North America before the turn of the century. They prefer cold water with temperatures ranging up to 26 C. Preferred habitat includes areas of boulders, cobble, logs, rootwads and overhead cover. Brown trout will feed in riffles containing rock as small as gravel.

LIFE HISTORY: Brown trout generally reproduce successfully in Michigan, but in nature they spawn over gravel or cobble substrates in moving water. Division of Wildlife hatcheries rear brown trout for one year (6 to 7 inches) before stocking them. Adult fish feed heavily on aquatic insects but they also eat crayfish and a variety of fish.

ADULT SIZE: The average brown trout ranges from 10 to 13 inches in size. The state record brown trout weighed 34.38 pounds and measured 38.25 inches in length.

FISHING METHODS: Most anglers use fly-fishing gear when targeting brown trout. Flies generally match local hatches or nymphs of caddisfly, stonefly, or mayflies. However, brown trout can be caught with worms, crayfish, minnows, and leeches. Catch rates are usually greatest during cooler weather (fall through spring) or early in the day or late evening in summer. Anglers should concentrate on areas with downed logs, root wads, and overhanging banks.