Brook Trout

The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, has been a favorite with anglers since colonial times. Native to eastern North American waters below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it is adaptable; from 1835 onward, it has been introduced successfully to most of the temperate world. Karas (The Striped Bass), an outdoor columnist for Newsday, explores the brook trout's biology (it is not a true trout), behavior (it will eat anything, including small mammals) and distribution. Water temperature is crucial to survival, with the ideal range being 35-55 degrees Fahrenheit. Karas examines the controversy over the largest brook trout ever caught--14.5 lbs. He discusses hatchery fish, smaller and shorter-lived than wild fish, and reports on the heritage trout program aimed at re-establishing ""heritage"" (i.e. wild) trout untainted by domesticated strains. He then turns to specific locations--Long Island, the Catskills, the Adirondacks, Maine's Rangeley Lakes, the Nipigon of western Ontario, the Laurentides--for a brief history of sport fishing for trout. The final chapters deal with acid rain, fishing for wild fish today and methods of trout fishing (including choice of equipment). This makes a splendid addition to the angler's library. Illustrations. (Apr.)