Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Brown trout have brown to golden flanks marked with dark spots, often accompanied by orange or reddish spots. They support cold-water river and lake fisheries, including the White River tailwater in Arkansas. Brown trout can reproduce successfully in Arkansas’s cold tailwaters; their presence does not mean harvest is allowed. Current limits and release requirements vary by reach.
Cold-water rivers, lakes and dam tailwaters. In Arkansas, cold releases below dams support trout habitat; conditions vary along the river.
Photo credit and sources
Brown trout photographed in hand.
Photo: USFWS — Public domain
Species information reviewed 2026-10-16. Photos show representative fish, not fish photographed at every linked water.
Brown Trout Habitat & Size
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) is associated with river water and lake water in the species record. Habitat information describes the species, not permission to fish for it. The recorded average size is approximately 14 inches; individual sizes vary.
Recorded Waters for Brown Trout
FishFinder links Brown Trout to water records in Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland and Labrador, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These associations may reflect documented presence, seasonal runs, or historical stocking, not angler catch reports or current abundance. Read the linked water guides and source notes for evidence dates and reaches.
Brown Trout Fishing Regulations & Limits
A recorded association does not establish that targeting or retaining Brown Trout is permitted. Confirm current species protections, seasonal and emergency closures, reach-specific rules, gear restrictions, bag and size limits with the responsible fisheries authority before fishing. A fishing license does not override these restrictions. FishFinder's regulation records may be incomplete; missing rules do not mean unrestricted fishing.
Related Water Guides for Brown Trout
Explore these FishFinder water guides for places where Brown Trout is recorded:
- Lake Erie — recorded Brown Trout association
- Yellowstone River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Ontario — recorded Brown Trout association
- Bow River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Nottawasaga River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Saugeen River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Grand River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Credit River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Cowichan River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Crowsnest River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pembina River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lac Massawippi — recorded Brown Trout association
- Loch Lomond Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Meduxnekeag River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Margaree River — recorded Brown Trout association
- St. Mary's River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Musquodoboit River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Mersey River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Cornwallis River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Stewiacke River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Humber River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lees Ferry — recorded Brown Trout association
- Chevelon Canyon Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- White River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Norfork Tailwater — recorded Brown Trout association
- Little Red River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Spring River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Shasta Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Almanor — recorded Brown Trout association
- Blue Mesa Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Granby — recorded Brown Trout association
- Grand Lake (Colorado) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Ruedi Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Gunnison River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Fryingpan River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Roaring Fork River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Yampa River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Vallecito Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Spinney Mountain Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Eleven Mile Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Arkansas River (Colorado) — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Platte River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Candlewood Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Squantz Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Highland Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Farmington River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Housatonic River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Naugatuck River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Salmon River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Tidbury Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Newton Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- White Clay Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Red Clay Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Wilson Run — recorded Brown Trout association
- Chattahoochee River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Toccoa River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Waters Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Magic Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Silver Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Big Wood River — recorded Brown Trout association
- American Falls Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Henrys Fork — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Fork Snake River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Salmon River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Michigan (Illinois Waters) — recorded Brown Trout association
- White River — recorded Brown Trout association
- St. Joseph River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Michigan (Indiana Waters) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Brookville Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Upper Iowa River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Turkey River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Spring Branch — recorded Brown Trout association
- French Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Kanopolis Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Dale Hollow Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Cumberland River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Sebago Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Kennebec River — recorded Brown Trout association
- China Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Damariscotta Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Androscoggin River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Saco River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Deep Creek Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Youghiogheny River Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Youghiogheny River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Savage River — recorded Brown Trout association
- North Branch Potomac River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Gunpowder Falls — recorded Brown Trout association
- Casselman River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Patapsco River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Patuxent River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Wachusett Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Onota Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Pond (Quacumquasit Pond) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Congamond Lakes — recorded Brown Trout association
- Deerfield River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Swift River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Millers River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Nissitissit River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Squannacook River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Westfield River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Ware River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Quaboag River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Ipswich River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Housatonic River (Massachusetts) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Au Sable River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Manistee River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pere Marquette River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Whitewater River, North Branch — recorded Brown Trout association
- Root River, Middle Branch — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Superior (Minnesota) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Knife River (Minnesota) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Taneycomo — recorded Brown Trout association
- Current River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Eleven Point River (Missouri) — recorded Brown Trout association
- North Fork of the White River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Meramec River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Niangua River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Kootenai River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Bitterroot River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Clark Fork River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Blackfoot River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Rock Creek (near Missoula) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Beaverhead River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Big Hole River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Madison River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Missouri River (Montana) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Canyon Ferry Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Hauser Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Holter Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Gallatin River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Jefferson River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Ruby River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Smith River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Clark Canyon Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Bighorn River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Marias River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Tahoe (Nevada) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Topaz Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Truckee River — recorded Brown Trout association
- East Walker River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Cave Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Eagle Valley Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Francis — recorded Brown Trout association
- Umbagog Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Androscoggin River (New Hampshire) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Connecticut River (New Hampshire) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Saco River (New Hampshire) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Sugar River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Contoocook River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pemigewasset River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Hopatcong — recorded Brown Trout association
- Round Valley Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Merrill Creek Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Aeroflex — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Wawayanda — recorded Brown Trout association
- White Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Raritan River South Branch — recorded Brown Trout association
- Musconetcong River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pequest River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Toms River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Big Flat Brook — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pequannock River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Manasquan River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Rockaway River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Ramapo River — recorded Brown Trout association
- El Vado Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Abiquiu Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Fenton Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Santa Cruz Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- San Juan River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Rio Grande — recorded Brown Trout association
- Rio Chama — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pecos River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Cimarron River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Red River (New Mexico) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Rio Guadalupe — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Erie (New York) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Ontario (New York) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lower Niagara River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Salmon River (New York) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Champlain — recorded Brown Trout association
- Seneca Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Cayuga Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Keuka Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Canandaigua Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Owasco Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Skaneateles Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Otisco Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Ashokan Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pepacton Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Neversink Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Delaware River (New York) — recorded Brown Trout association
- West Branch Delaware River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Beaver Kill — recorded Brown Trout association
- Willowemoc Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- West Branch Ausable River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Dan River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Davidson River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Nantahala River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Tuckasegee River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Wilson Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Toe River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Watauga River — recorded Brown Trout association
- East Prong Roaring River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Helton Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Fork New River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Green River (North Carolina) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Linville River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Apalachia Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Catawba River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Garrison Dam Tailrace — recorded Brown Trout association
- Mad River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Clear Fork Mohican River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lower Mountain Fork River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Blue River (Oklahoma) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lower Illinois River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Diamond Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- East Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Billy Chinook — recorded Brown Trout association
- Owyhee River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Walnut Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Delaware River (Pennsylvania) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Allegheny River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Youghiogheny River (Pennsylvania) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Raystown Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Wallenpaupack — recorded Brown Trout association
- Harveys Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Spring Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Penns Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Letort Spring Run — recorded Brown Trout association
- Big Spring Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Yellow Breeches Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Little Lehigh Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Slate Run — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pine Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Oil Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Tulpehocken Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Wood River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Beaver River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Falls River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pawcatuck River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Blackstone River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Branch River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Moosup River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Hunt River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Ten Mile River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pawtuxet River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Wyoming Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Beach Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Wallum Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Watchaug Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Olney Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Carbuncle Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Stafford Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Barber Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Carolina Trout Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Silver Spring Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Breakheart Pond — recorded Brown Trout association
- Tiogue Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Saluda River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Russell — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Jocassee — recorded Brown Trout association
- Chattooga River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Chauga River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Eastatoe Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Middle Saluda River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Whitewater River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pactola Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Sheridan Lake (South Dakota) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Stockade Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Rapid Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Spearfish Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Castle Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Boone Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Holston Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Watauga Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Caney Fork River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Elk River (Tennessee) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Clinch River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Hiwassee River — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Fork Holston River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Obey River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Tellico River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Guadalupe River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Jordanelle Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Deer Creek Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Starvation Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Green River (Utah) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Provo River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Logan River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Weber River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Blacksmith Fork River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Moomaw — recorded Brown Trout association
- Jackson River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Smith River (Virginia) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Mossy Creek — recorded Brown Trout association
- Elk River (West Virginia) — recorded Brown Trout association
- South Branch Potomac River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Shavers Fork of Cheat River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Cranberry River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Blackwater River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Williams River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Green Bay — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Michigan (Wisconsin Waters) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Superior (Wisconsin Waters) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Menominee River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Namekagon River — recorded Brown Trout association
- Geneva Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- Big Green Lake — recorded Brown Trout association
- High Savery Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Green River (Wyoming) — recorded Brown Trout association
- North Platte River (Wyoming) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Fontenelle Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Pathfinder Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Alcova Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Lake Hattie — recorded Brown Trout association
- Palisades Reservoir (Wyoming) — recorded Brown Trout association
- Granite Reservoir — recorded Brown Trout association
- Crystal Reservoir (Wyoming) — recorded Brown Trout association
Equipment planning for Brown Trout
We have not selected a species-specific affiliate setup for this guide. First establish whether targeting is permitted at your destination; no tackle recommendation should be inferred from a species record.
Equipment guidance is not permission to fish. Confirm the exact water, date, species, method and current official rules first. A closed season prohibits targeting, even with release. Recorded fish presence does not establish an open fishery.
- Check permitted methods, bait and hook restrictions before choosing tackle. Match rod, line and lure ratings to the lawful method and conditions, rather than buying by species name alone.
- Plan weather protection, drinking water and a way to call for help. For boat trips, confirm required flotation and safety equipment with the responsible boating authority.
- Read the habitat and water-specific source notes in this guide, then confirm an appropriate lawful method with the local fisheries authority before choosing equipment. Do not assume a general freshwater combo suits every species or water.
This is an editorial planning checklist, not hands-on product testing. Use equipment you already own when suitable. The gear directory contains affiliate links; any product suggestions below have their own disclosure. Retailer region, availability and Canadian shipping are not guaranteed.
Browse the gear directory · Find official fishing-rule sources · Affiliate disclosure
Brown Trout Regulations
Review available regulation records and confirm whether fishing for Brown Trout is permitted with the responsible fisheries authority:
Frequently Asked Questions
What water types are associated with Brown Trout?
The species record associates Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) with river water and lake water. Habitat information is not evidence of current abundance or permission to target the species.
How big does Brown Trout get?
The recorded average size for Brown Trout is approximately 14 inches. Individual sizes vary; this average is not a maximum size or a legal retention limit.
Where does FishFinder record water associations for Brown Trout?
FishFinder links Brown Trout to water records in Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland and Labrador, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These associations may reflect documented presence, seasonal runs, or historical stocking, not angler catch reports. Check the linked water guides and source notes for evidence dates and reaches; a listing does not guarantee current presence or legal fishing opportunity.
Does a listing or fishing license permit fishing for Brown Trout?
No. A listing records an association, not permission to target or retain Brown Trout. License requirements and exemptions vary. Confirm current species protections, seasonal and emergency closures, reach-specific rules, gear restrictions, bag and size limits with the responsible fisheries authority. A license does not override restrictions, and missing FishFinder regulation records do not mean unrestricted fishing.