Species
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis · family Salmonidae
Live · updated
Maryland's only native trout and a conservation priority species. Surviving wild populations are in small, cold headwater streams in Garrett, Allegany, and a few pockets of central/western MD. Small, aggressive, and spectacularly colored — sensitive to warming and habitat loss.
Preferred conditions
- Water temp
- 40–65°F (ideal 52°F)
- Tide
- either
- Moon
- either
- Depth
- 1–10 ft
- Active months
- Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Best brook trout conditions today
North Branch Potomac River — Barnum
Au Sable River (Grayling/Mio)
Henry’s Fork (Island Park)
Evitts Creek
Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin
Georgetown Lake
Moosehead Lake
Caney Fork River
Big Hole River
Savage River Reservoir
No locations match that filter.
Regulations by jurisdiction
Maryland (non-tidal)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 2
Statewide aggregate creel of 2 trout/day applies. MDDNR designates many wild brook trout waters as Catch-and-Return only or Zero-Creel — consult the water-specific rules before keeping ANY brook trout. Treat all native brook trout populations as fragile; catch-and-release is strongly preferred. Trout stamp required.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction
Delaware (tidal)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 6
Delaware stocking literature lists brook trout among the species occasionally stocked (primary stocked species are rainbow and brown). There are no native reproducing brook trout populations in Delaware. Creel applies equally across all three trout species: 6/day aggregate, 4 in fly-fishing-only waters. No minimum size. Trout stamp required during stamp season windows. No night fishing in designated trout waters.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Min size
- 7"
- Creel
- 6
Non-tidal VA: 7-inch minimum, 6 per day aggregate (combined with rainbow and brown). Virginia has the largest native brook trout program in the mid-Atlantic — hundreds of small freestone headwater streams in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, especially in Shenandoah National Park (catch-and-return only, single hook artificial lures). Heritage Trout Waters impose stricter single-hook / C&R rules. Treat all wild brook trout populations as fragile; the statewide 6/day aggregate creel rarely matters on native water because most is C&R-only by special regulation. Always verify per-water rules.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
WV
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 6
6 trout/day in aggregate (all trout species).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NTMTW
Stale: last verified 100 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 5
Western District lakes: 5 trout daily, 10 in possession (all species combined), only 1 longer than 22".
Source · verified 2026-06-01
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 20
Montana Western District: 20/day. Non-native — harvest encouraged. General river/stream season mid-May through Nov 30; no size limit.
Source · verified 2026-08-28
NTID
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 6
Idaho general trout limit: 6/day (brook trout are often liberalized in high lakes — confirm the water).
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTWY
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 6
Wyoming statewide trout limit: 6/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTME
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 5
Maine general law: 5 brook trout/day (2 in South Zone lakes); only one over 12" on many waters. Confirm the zone and water.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 6"
- Creel
- 5
Maine general law: 6" minimum. Daily 5 in the North Zone; 2 in South Zone lakes. Open-water and ice seasons vary by water — confirm the specific water.
Source · verified 2026-08-28
NTNH
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Min size
- 6"
- Creel
- 5
New Hampshire: 5 trout/day (brook/brown/rainbow combined), 6" minimum on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
TN
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 7
Tennessee: 7 trout/day (Southern Appalachian brook trout are catch-and-release on many headwaters — confirm).
Source · verified 2026-06-03
MI
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Min size
- 8"
- Creel
- 5
Michigan inland: 5 trout/day, 8" minimum (Type 1).
Source · verified 2026-06-03