Brook Trout: A Thorough Look at North America's Great Native Trout- Its History, Biology, and Angling Possibilities

by Nick Karas, James R. Babb (Foreword)

North America has had a 400-year love affair with the brook trout - Salvelinus fontinalis- its great native trout. In this newly revised and updated volume, Nick Karas offers the only major profile of this most beautiful gamefish. Brook Trout is a thorough look at the history, biology, and angling possibilities of the fish most anglers affectionately call the brookie.
Through the eyes of a trained ichthyologist, Karas explores the brook trout's biology and the events that led to its evolution and distribution. He unravels the controversies surrounding the two largest brook trout ever taken. But the core of this book is the fishery: its past status, current condition, and future. And because the history of brook trout fishing is inseparable from the history of American fishing, Karas follows the development of the rods, reels, lines, lures and flies that evolved as anglers pursued their fascination with this great game fish.

Genres: Nonfiction

599 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[C. Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer's enthusiasm comes through and the book is at its best when he describes some of his own experiences fishing for brook trout. Unfortunately too much of the book reads like a dry reference work, and there's a lot of history that could have been briefer, whereas the biology of the species was not always described in as much detail as it could have been, or correctly. The book also has an excessive number of typos.

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best history of Brook Trout I have read and very easy to read.

[Ian Durham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book on one of the most beautiful sport fish in the world. It covers just about everything but isn't dry in any way. I disagree with many of the reviews I've seen that said it was too New York-focused. I found it was quite balanced and, if anything, spent more time on the legendary Nipigon fishery in Ontario which is sadly no more. It was a tad repetitious in spots and could have used a better copy editor, but it inspired me which is what a good book should do.

[Ookla the Mok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of the Brook Trout - it's my favorite fish and the one that I consider the most 'pure' to seek out. I enjoyed the information and the history of this American native species.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books teaches the entire history of brook trout and how they came to North America. Very good mix of history, scientific facts and culture.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just barely got three stars. Way too much detail on fishing on Long Island in the 1800's at the expense of detail and accuracy in other areas.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough natural history of the Brook Trout. Very informative. Has me doubling down on my inclinations towards native Brook Char restoration. Harvest more brown trout in North America, please!