Brook Trout

Official State Freshwater Fish of Virginia

The beautiful brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was designated official state fish of Virginia in 1993, then in 2011 it was reenacted as the official freshwater fish (the same legislation recognized the striped bass as Virginia's official saltwater fish). All State Fish

Brook Trout Facts

Brook trout live under water conditions that are cool, clean and pure. Also called speckled trout, the brook trout can be found in Virginia's streams and lakes. Though small, brook trout are a prized game fish with a long history of fishing lore.

Brook trout prefer aquatic insects (nymphs) that live under the rocks and on the stream bottom, but will eat whatever they can find including land insects that fall into the water, small crayfish, and other small fish and minnows when they are easy to catch.