Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Trouts and Salmons (Salmonidae)

Trout and salmon silhouette.

Trout belong to a relatively diverse family that is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and includes graylings and whitefishes. They are characterized by a streamlined shape, small scales and spineless fins. They have a single soft dorsal fin and their pelvic fins are abdominal. Key characteristics for the family are the presence of an adipose fin and a pelvic axillary process (a small flap of tissue at base of pelvic fin).

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. Depending on species, trout typically spawn anywhere from October to April. They migrate upstream to riffle areas and nest in hollowed-out areas of gravel called “redds.” The males become brightly-colored and develop a hooked lower jaw (called a “kype”) during the spawning season. Young trout (called “parr”) typically look very different from the adults and possess large, dark blotches on their sides called “parr marks,” which gradually disappear as they mature.

Click on the species' names below to learn more.

Altantic Salmon (Salmo salar) - Native

Wild adult Connecticut River Atlantic salmon.

 

Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) - Introduced

Holdover male brown trout.

 

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) - Introduced

Hatchery-raised rainbow trout.

 

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Native

A typical adult wild brook trout.

 

Tiger Trout (Salmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis) - Hybrid

A naturally reproduced wild tiger trout.

 

Kokanee (Oncorhyncus nerka) - Introduced

Male Kokanee is spawning color.

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) exist in some lakes of neighboring Massachusetts and New York. Lake trout require deep, cold, well-oxygenated water to survive. Lake trout populations used to be maintained in a few Connecticut lakes through stocking programs (the State Record of 29 pounds, 13 ounces was taken from Wononscopomuc Lake (Salisbury) in 1918). With the possible exception of a couple of large water-supply reservoirs, Connecticut lakes no longer have sufficient oxygen in deep water during the summer to sustain lake trout.

Lake trout can be distinguished from other trout species by the presence of light spots on a dark background with no red spots present and a deeply-forked tail fin. The adults have a large mouth (jaw extends well beyond posterior margin of eye). The pelvic and anal fins often have a poorly-developed white stripe on the leading edge, but do not have a black stripe. They are typically dark green to gray on the back; lighter grayish, greenish or silvery on the sides; and whitish on the belly. Dorsal fins of parr lack dark markings.

Trout and salmon are not generally suitable for home aquariums. They require a large tank, good-quality water, and some kind of water cooling system (or a tank location that never exceeds 65° F). Otherwise, they can be readily trained to accept pellets.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.