Fishbook: Brown Trout

‘Fishbook’: Our species-guide series based on “Get Fishing”
the brilliant how to fish book by Allan Sefton

We profile the UK’s most common as well as some lesser-known fish species to help newcomer anglers find out more about fish that can be caught in our lakes, canals, rivers, ponds and sea.

Understanding the kinds of fish you might catch will add interest and could even make your fishing easier! Here you’ll find out more about…

BROWN TROUT

Name:
Brown Trout

Scientific name:
Salmo trutta

Life span:
Between 15-20 years

Typical size:
9oz to 1lb

British record:
31lb 13oz

Waters:
Clean, fast rivers and stillwaters throughout the UK

Interesting fact:
Brown trout are one of the most genetically diverse vertebrates known. There is far more genetic variation present across British populations of wild brown trout than between any populations in the entire human race

About Brown Trout

Brown trout are native, British trout that are found throughout the British Isles and Europe. They have been introduced to rivers and lakes across the world.

Wild trout are common in the upper reaches of river systems. If they have access to lots of food, in large lakes for example, brown trout can reach over 20lb.

They eat a wide range of food but mainly insects, so are the favourite with fly fishers.

Visit the rest of the How To Fish video gallery here to learn new tricks and discover more about the basics of angling.

Find out more about:

• Rainbow Trout
• Grayling
• Barbel

Read more about how you can get into game fishing. Alternatively, find a venue near you where you can #getfishing!

Some of the above content is taken from the new book, Get Fishing – the ‘how to’ guide to Coarse, Sea and Fly Fishing by Allan Sefton published by Merlin Unwin Books. This colourful, lively book is aimed at complete beginners of all ages, those who have been out fishing a couple of times and want to take it further and families of all abilities. It’s also packed with top-tips and info that make it useful for more experienced anglers too. Find out more about, and purchase a copy of the book here.

Header image thanks to David Overland and text reproduced with permission and © Merlin Unwin Books.