BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 15, 2020
Brook trout are to interior Maine what lobster are to the coast, and as much a part of the North Maine Woods brand as moose and loons. Brook trout are actually char, not trout. They are most adaptable species of salmonid, able to live in tiny mountain streams, spring creeks, meadow brooks, flowages, large rivers, small shallow ponds, deep sprawling lakes, brackish water estuaries and even saltwater. Brook trout are the most widely distributed native salmonid in the U.S. Small stream brook trout rarely live more than a few years. In large lakes however, they can reach up to 10 years old. The oldest brook trout on record, a nonnative, was close to 25 years old. ~ Bob Mallard