Brown Trout

The brown trout is a native trout of Europe, praised by Izaak Walton. By 1850, fish culture was an established practice in western Europe, allowing brown trout to follow the flag of the British empire as part of the biological expansion of Europe, or what historian Alfred Crosby has coined "ecological imperialism."

In 1883 North American introduction occurred that same year, when German brown trout eggs reared at the Northville Hatchery, Michigan, were released into the Pere Marquette River of Northern Michigan. Widespread Canadian introductions of brown trout also occurred at a similar pace during the late 19th Century.
Presently, the brown trout is found in a wide variety of Upper Michigan waters, from brooks and rivers to the great lakes, large inland lakes and reservoirs. Most common in coldwater streams where they seldom reach lengths greater than 20 inches, however brown trout of Lakes Michigan and Huron grow as large as 20 pounds. Their life history and behavior in the Great Lakes is similar to that observed in coastal northern European rivers along the Baltic Sea, where brown trout migrate into the ocean from coastal rivers. These anadromous brown trout can remain in the open lakes for several years where they grow to sizes much larger than stream-resident brown trout, much like their close relative and member of the same genus, the Atlantic salmon.
Throughout their lives, brown trout feed on the larval and adult forms of aquatic and terrestrial insects. Larger brown trout feed extensively on other fish, as well as other available vertebrates such as frogs. By comparison with other stream trout, brown trout are considered to be a greater challenge to catch
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The Escanaba River in the Central Upper Peninsula is an outstanding Brown Trout Fishery.

Guided Brown Trout Fishing contact: Uncle Ducky Outfitters