Nurturing natives- Brook Trout

Did you know that the brook trout is Michigan’s state fish, and is also the only native trout found in Michigan waters? These stunning fish have beautiful colors, including a light teal, vermillion, olive green, and bright yellow. Brook trout also live up to 5 years in the wild, reaching 6-12 inches. However, the largest brook trout ever recorded in Michigan was fished out at a massive 9.5 pound, and was 28.1 inches long! Unfortunately, the brook trout’s native range has dramatically decreased since the 19th century due to competition from invasive species, as well as air and water pollution.