Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut

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• Trouts and Salmons

  Five species (and one hybrid, the “tiger trout”) exist in Connecticut. Only the brook trout and Atlantic salmon are native; the rest were introduced as sport fish.

• Brown Trout

  Brown trout can grow to large sizes and are generally harder to catch than brook or rainbow trout.

• Bowfins

  This primitive family has a diverse fossil record, but only one species still exists.

• Herrings

  There are six native species of herring that commonly enter fresh waters in Connecticut.

• Freshwater Eels

  Learn about freshwater eels, Connecticut's only catadromous fish!

• Lampreys

  Learn more about this primitive family of fishes that have a sucking disc in place of a jaw.

• Tiger Trout

  As with hybrids between many fish species, tiger trout tend to be more aggressive and faster-growing than either parent species.

• Brook Trout

  Brook trout prefer small, cold streams with gravel or cobble bottoms and adequate cover.

• Swamp Darter

  Swamp darters are very small, camouflaged and secretive. Primarily for this reason, their distribution in Connecticut is not fully defined, nor is it clear whether their range has changed over time.

• Suckers

  Three species of suckers have been reported in Connecticut. Two are native, with the other uncertain in origin.