Bruce this is a 4 year old fish. Got him at about 6 to 8 inches on Halloween 2003 as a two year old with 150 others. Interestingly the fish was behind in growth at that age due to the 48 degree water year around that they were being raised in a raceway at the hatchery in northern Wisconin (Bayfield) on Lake Superior. I had brooks from a source previously from a source in Virgina (warmer water) that were already 10 inches at age 1. By age 2 I had one that was 18 + and almost 4 pounds. Most of those age 2 fish were about 2.5 lbs. However the fish from that source seemed to be done for at age 3. Typical domesticated eastern brook trout only live 3 or 4 years.
This fish is a Lake Nipigon strain Canadian brook trout with the brood stock originally netted off shoals on Lake Nipigon back in the 70's. For those of you that don't know that is a 90 mile long lake north of Lake Superior. The world record brook trout of 14 lbs was of this strain from the Nipigon River. I had a Lake Nipigon strain expert from Canada tell me they should live 6 to 8 years or more and I could grow ten pounders if I keep them long enough. I'm hoping for 6 to 7 pounders next fall!
I got these fish from the Red Cliff tribal hatchery north of Bayfield. Price was only 60 cents a piece! I gave them a dollar as I said they weren't charging enough. The following year they raised the price to $2.00!
A friend that was going to get some from them said, "
Gee thanks Cecil! Way to go!"
The Indians are planting these in Lake Superior to bring back the coasters. However technically they are not coasters.
Are you sorry you asked?
