Some Anglers may refer to them as breeders, brood trout, or just “ large fish”. They are 3-year old brook trout, the trophy species for many winter anglers. After these large fish have been used as sources for eggs and milt in our hatcheries they are stocked into many lakes and ponds around the state. The purpose of stocking these retired brood is to provide an opportunity for an angler to harvest a larger than average size fish.

Brood brook trout commonly display brilliant red and orange colors and can be quite robust. Most retired brood fish will not have any missing fins. Fins that are missing are nothing more than normal wear and tear from an extended hatchery life. Female brood fish will not have many eggs left in their body cavities because they have been ‘stripped’ out prior to being stocked. These large 3-year-old brook trout can range in sizes from 17 to 19 inches and weigh up to 3.5 pounds.

Anglers can increase their chances in catching these brood fish by fishing close to shore in relatively shallow water. Boat landings are popular release sites for these retired fish and some of the fish tend to hang around where they were stocked. Brood fish “traditionally” will not last very long once the ice-fishing season begins. Most will be caught within the first few weeks of the season.

In addition to the brood fish, several tens of thousands of fall yearling brook trout have been stocked in many regional waters. These 2-year-old fall yearlings can range in sizes from 13 to 14 inches and weigh up to 1.5 pounds. Female fall yearlings can be full of eggs and will most likely be in the process of reabsorbing them.

This absorption of eggs is nothing more than the fish not finding a suitable spawning site to deposit their eggs. A few hundred of these fish will be held over for one more year in the state’s hatchery system to replace this year’s brood.

Once these fish play their roles in supplying eggs or milt, they also will be retired and stocked out the following fall. For local stocking locations of retired brood brook trout and fall yearling brook trout, go to the Maine fish and wildlife web site, download this stocking report. click here.

- Scott Davis, Fisheries Specialist, Belgrade Lakes Region