Where are trout native to?

I see a lot about stocking rivers with trout for fishing but where are they actually a native species?

I see a lot about stocking rivers with trout for fishing but where are they actually a native species?

Depends on the type of trout. Brooktrout are native to the northeast US. Rainbows and cutthroats to the western US, brown trout are from Europe, etc.

Depends on the type of trout. Brooktrout are native to the northeast US. Rainbows and cutthroats to the western US, brown trout are from Europe, etc.

The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America as well as much of the central, western, eastern, and especially the northern portions of the United States.

The brown trout is normally considered to be native to Europe and Asia but the natural distribution of the migratory forms may be, in fact, circumpolar. There are also landlocked populations far from the oceans, for example in Greece and Estonia.

Lake Trout
From a zoogeographical perspective, lake trout are quite rare. They are native only to the northern parts of North America, principally Canada but also Alaska and, to some extent, the northeastern United States. The southern extreme of the Lake trout's range extends into southern New York at Kensico Reservior where a self sustaining population has existed since the 1950's. Lake trout have been introduced into many other parts of the world, mainly into Europe but also into South America and certain parts of Asia. In Canada, approximately 25% of the world's lake trout lakes are found in the province of Ontario. Even at that, only 1% of Ontario's lakes contain lake trout.

Edited by bumpylemon, 30 August 2009 - 07:10 PM.

The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America as well as much of the central, western, eastern, and especially the northern portions of the United States.

Not sure where you got this but it is incorrect. Onchorhynchus species are mostly Pacific drainage fish, with a few populations of O. clarki in Gulf of Mexico drainage headwaters in the Rockies. They are certainly not native to the central, eastern, or northern US (besides the northwest), but have been stocked here extensively.

Hahaha wikipedia lol. Oops

Depends on the type of trout. Brooktrout are native to the northeast US. Rainbows and cutthroats to the western US, brown trout are from Europe, etc.

Actually, brook trout extend south all the way to northeast Georgia. At least in Georgia, they are more common in the smaller mountain tributaries where they are not outcompeted by introduced rainbows and browns.