Brook Trout

West Virginia State Fish

brookTroutWildCenter.jpg

Brook trout

Brook trout exhibit; photo by The Wild Center on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution).

Official State Fish of West Virginia

West Virginia designated brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) as the official state fish in 1973. Many states recognize a species of trout as a state symbol. All State Fish

West Virginia’s sportsmen selected the official state fish in a poll conducted by the Department of Natural Resources. The brook trout was selected almost unanimously over smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, musky, and bluegill.

The brook trout is easy to recognize with its vibrant, distinctive colors and feisty nature, "perhaps mirroring the freedom-loving Mountaineer spirit" (WVlegislature.gov). A native West Virginia species, brook trout live under water conditions that are cool, clean and pure.

West Virginia

Images

Brook trout photo © Brian Jorg / CritterZone: Animal - Wildlife - Nature Stock Photography (all rights reserved; used by permission).

Brook trout

Videos

Brook Trout Spawning-underwater footage-spectacular - Wild Visions, Inc.