Wild Trout
(Salvelinus fontinalis and
Salvelinus namaycush)
Trout are dynamic and resilient members of the Salmonid family. As the most important sport fish in Nova Scotia, they are ambassadors of the aquatic world for us land-dwellers. Their presence attracts anglers across generations, forming deep connections to the freshwater world. Speckled (Brook) Trout are the provincial fish of Nova Scotia.
There are four species of trout in the province, Speckled (Brook) Trout, Brown Trout, Lake (Grey) Trout, and Rainbow Trout. Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were introduced into Nova Scotia waters, whereas Speckled (Brook) Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Lake (Grey) Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are native. Brown Trout were introduced from their native range to Nova Scotia by European settlers. Rainbow Trout are native to the West Coast and were introduced into Nova Scotia through a stocking program.
Speckled (Brook) Trout can be found throughout the province, whereas the distribution of the other trout species is more limited.
Life Cycle Notes
Trout are a part of the small percentage of fish that can live in both freshwater and saltwater. This versatility helps them establish themselves in rivers, lakes, estuaries and the open ocean. While they can adapt their bodies to life in extremely different environments, trout life cycles often fall in one of the following:
Sea Run Life History
As their name implies, sea run trout are anadromous – meaning they spawn in freshwater and migrate to saltwater as adults. Spawning occurs in the fall, with eggs hatching in early spring. After 2-3 years of growth in freshwater, smolts migrate to sea in the late-spring and early summer months.
Unlike their salmon cousins, sea trout do not typically migrate too far into the Atlantic. They prefer instead to stay close to the estuary at the mouth of their home river before returning to spawn as adults. In Nova Scotia references to sea trout almost always refer to Speckled (Brook) Trout, whereas in other parts of the world, especially Europe, sea trout more often is used to refer to Brown Trout. Speckled (Brook) Trout typically do not range as far into saltwater as Brown Trout and tend to spawn a bit earlier in the fall as well. Rainbow Trout are similar to Brown Trout in that when they go to the ocean, they tend to range further than their Speckled (Brook) Trout cousins, however, unlike the other trout species Rainbow Trout spawn in the spring.
Freshwater Resident Life History
Some trout never migrate out of their freshwater homes. This could be in response to the competition for food or habitat, although there may also be some genetic component involved. Regardless of the reason, these trout remain in rivers and lakes through every growth phase, preferring small, protected streams or the shallows of lakes during early life and moving into deeper water as adults. Spawning for these trout occurs in the fall, apart from Rainbow Trout who spawn in the spring.