SEASONAL CHANGES

Seasonal movements of brook trout are governed in large part by temperature changes. The fish is clever enough to have contrived a pattern to maintain a comfortable temperature in its environment. At spawning time, however, it is uncertain whether temperature plays a part in movement since brook trout do not necessarily move upstream to establish spawning grounds.

Spawning

The eastern brook trout spawns during the last three months of the year. A fish will push far up in the smallest cold-water brook to find the pea-sized gravel it requires for its redd or nest. The redd is smaller than that of other trout species and the number of eggs varies according to the size of fish, from as little as 90 to almost 5000.

The eggs lie in the redd for 95 to 110 days until the water warms under a spring sun, and then they hatch. Often, the eggs in the upper portion of the redd are killed by sun exposure since redds are constructed in water seldom over a foot deep. Some redds are built on gravel bars and shores of lakes if streams are not available. But there must be a flow of water or sufficient wave action to activate the eggs during incubation. In any case, only a dozen or so fry will grow to a size of interest to the angler.

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