Species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta · family Salmonidae
Live · updated
Naturally reproduces in the Gunpowder River tailwater (Loch Raven below Prettyboy) and several Western MD streams; also heavily stocked. Typically more wary than rainbows. Classic mayfly hatches on the Gunpowder — sulphurs, BWOs, caddis. Streamer-eaters after dark.
Preferred conditions
- Water temp
- 45–68°F (ideal 55°F)
- Tide
- either
- Moon
- avoid-full
- Depth
- 3–25 ft
- Active months
- Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Best brown trout conditions today
Blackfoot River
Green River below Flaming Gorge
Provo River
Savage River Reservoir
North Branch Potomac River — Luke
North Branch Potomac River — Barnum
Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls
Missouri River at Craig
San Juan River below Navajo Dam
Au Sable River (Grayling/Mio)
Upper Delaware River (Callicoon)
Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows
Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge
Gallatin River
Bighorn River
Henry’s Fork (Island Park)
Kennebec River (Augusta)
Gunnison River (Black Canyon)
Fryingpan River
Evitts Creek
Patapsco Valley State Park — Daniels Area
Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin
Eleven Mile Reservoir
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
Blue Mesa Reservoir
Dillon Reservoir
Lake Granby
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Sebago Lake
South Holston River
Watauga River
Clinch River (Norris tailwater)
Manistee River
Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)
Chattahoochee River (Atlanta tailwater)
Caney Fork River
Farmington River
Housatonic River
Bitterroot River
Big Hole River
Silver Creek
Roaring Fork River
Taylor River
Penns Creek
Spring Creek (State College)
Esopus Creek
Beaverkill River
Hiwassee River
Madison River
South Fork Snake River (Heise)
Pere Marquette River
Yellowstone River at Livingston
Beaverhead River
Deep Creek Lake
North Platte River (Grey Reef)
Selkirk Shores State Park
Youghiogheny River — Friendsville
White River (Bull Shoals tailwater)
Norfork River
No locations match that filter.
Regulations by jurisdiction
Maryland (non-tidal)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 2
Daily creel 2 in aggregate across trout species; possession 4 in aggregate. No minimum size. Same Closure 1 March 8–28 pre-season rule applies. Many brown trout fisheries (Gunpowder below Prettyboy, Savage River tailwater) are Catch-and-Return only or have elevated minimum size — check water-specific regs. Trout stamp required.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 2
No minimum size; 2 trout/day in aggregate across all trout species (4 in possession). Some waters carry catch-and-release or artificial-only rules.
Source · verified 2026-08-28
Delaware (tidal)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 6
Delaware stocked trout program. Brown trout is among the stocked species (along with rainbow and brook). Daily creel 6 in aggregate (4 in fly-fishing-only waters). No minimum size. Trout stamp required April–June 30 and October–November 30 for streams; March–April 1 for Tidbury and Newton Ponds. No fishing in designated waters within 14 days before opening; no night fishing in designated trout waters. Regulations do not differ by species — the aggregate applies equally to rainbow, brown, and brook.
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 across trout species). Notable brown trout fisheries: Smith River tailwater (Philpott Dam — year-round, special slot regs), Jackson River tailwater below Gathright Dam, and the South Fork of the Holston. The Smith holds wild browns to trophy size. Heritage Trout Waters restrict harvest further — check 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
NTCO
Stale: last verified 100 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 4
Part of the statewide 4-fish trout aggregate (8 in possession). No statewide minimum size; Gold Medal and trophy waters often add gear and slot limits.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTMTC
Stale: last verified 100 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 3
Central District streams: 3 trout daily and in possession (all species combined), only 1 longer than 18". Many blue-ribbon stretches add catch-and-release, artificial-only, or seasonal rules — confirm the water-specific exception.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTMTW
Stale: last verified 100 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 3
Western District streams: 3 trout daily and in possession (all species combined), only 1 longer than 14".
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTUT
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 4
Part of Utah's 4-trout statewide aggregate.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 4
Utah statewide default: 4/day combined for trout, kokanee and grayling; no statewide 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.
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
Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction
NTNM
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 5
New Mexico cold-water limit: 5 trout/salmon per day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction
NY
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
great lakes
- Min size
- 15"
- Creel
- 3
Lake Ontario and its tributaries: 3 trout & salmon per day in combination (brown/rainbow-steelhead/coho/chinook/lake trout), with no more than 1 lake trout. Tributary and seasonal rules vary — confirm the water.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Min size
- 12"
- Creel
- 5
New York: 5 trout/day; West Branch Delaware 12"/2 or catch-and-release.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTME
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 5
Maine general law: part of the 5-trout daily limit; many waters add slot or single-fish-over-12" rules.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 2
Maine general law: 2/day. 14" minimum in lakes and ponds; 6" minimum with a 25" maximum in rivers, streams and brooks. Confirm the water.
Source · verified 2026-08-28
AR
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 2
Arkansas: brown trout share the 2-fish tailwater limit; trophy brown-trout slot/size rules apply on the White and Norfork — confirm the reach.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
TN
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 7
Tennessee tailwaters: 7 trout/day (1 over 22" on the South Holston/Watauga).
Source · verified 2026-06-03
Waters with special regulations in this jurisdiction
MI
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Min size
- 8"
- Creel
- 5
Michigan inland: 5 trout/day, 8" minimum, no more than 3 over 15" (Type 1).
Source · verified 2026-06-03
PA
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 5
Pennsylvania: 5 trout/day; special-regulation reaches reduced.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
KY
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 1
Cumberland River tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam: trophy brown-trout management — a restrictive size/slot and a 1-fish limit, trout permit required. This is the KY state-record brown-trout water; confirm the current KY DFW rule before keeping a fish.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
GA
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 8
Georgia: 8 trout/day; Chattahoochee tailwater is artificial-lures-only. Confirm the reach.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
CT
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Min size
- 9"
- Creel
- 5
Connecticut: 5 trout/day (9" min); Farmington TMA 2/12", Housatonic TMA catch-and-release.
Source · verified 2026-06-03