The brown trout, Salmo trutta, is the largest of the three trout found in the Park. It is the most tolerant of warmer temperatures, and is best able to withstand heavy angling pressure. Brown trout are brown to tan dorsally and silvery on their lower sides and belly. They have black spots often ringed by a pale area on the top and sides of the head and on the dorsal and adipose fins. Brick red spots ringed by a pale area are scattered on its sides. Large breeding males develop an enlarged, protruding lower jaw.

Species Characteristics:
Size: Specimens over 2.2. kg (5 lb.) may be found in the Park; Tennessee record 13.1 kg (28 lb, 12 oz) and 83 cm (32.75 in.) long, taken in the Norris Reservoir tailwater (Dave Woodward, pers. comm., Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency); world angling record 18 kg (40 lb. 4 oz.) from a tributary to the White River, Arkansas Color: brownish to tan dorsally, silvery on lower sides and belly; black spots on top and sides of head, often ringed by pale area; brick red spots scattered on sides Fins: black spots on dorsal and adipose fins, often ringed by pale area; caudal fin with very few spots; leading edge of anal fin white.
Lateral-line scales: 120-130
Gill rakers: 14-17
Similar species: Adults of the three species of trout found in the Park are easily distinguished from one another by coloration on the dorsum and presence or absence of dark spots on the caudal fin (see rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss and brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis).

Brown trout are native to Europe and western Asia and were first introduced to North America in 1883. Populations occur in Northwestern Canada and in the Northwest (off the map). In Tennessee, most introductions have been in and near the Blue Ridge, especially in larger creeks and tailwaters, with some tailwater stocking also in the Cumberland River drainage.

Brown trout were officially introduced into Oconaluftee River in 1966. However, following unofficial introductions in Little River, Abrams Creek, and Pigeon River tributaries this species is fairly widespread throughout the Park, particularly along its southern border (Simbeck 1990).

References:

Etnier, David A. and Wayne C. Starnes. 1993. The Fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press. Knoxville, Tennessee.

Jenkins, Robert E. and Noel M. Burkhead. 1994. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda, Maryland.

Simbeck, Damien J. 1990. Distribution of the Fishes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Master of Science Thesis, University of Tennessee.