Q.
How long do brown trout live?
A.
Browns usually live to be five or six years
old under natural conditions - if not caught
first! However, ages of eight or nine years
are not uncommon. Lake dwellers tend to live
longer than stream fish. The common method
of aging trout by counting growth rings of
their scales has come under some criticism,
especially for slow-growing trout in small
streams. One male brown trout in a Pennsylvania
stream was observed over a five-year period.
Examination of its scales revealed an age of
3 years, but a study of its otoliths (small
bones of the inner ear which reveal growth
lines) showed it to be at least 9 years old.
If you have a question, please feel free to contact me.
~ C. E. (Bert) Cushing, aka Streamdoctor
105 W. Cherokee Dr.
Estes Park, CO 80517
Phone: 970-577-1584
Email: streamdoctor@aol.com
The ‘Stream Doctor’ is a retired professional stream ecologist and
author, now living in the West and spending way too much time
fly-fishing. You are invited to submit questions relating to
anything stream related directly to him for use in this Q & A Feature
at streamdoctor@aol.com.
Originally published February 7th, 2005 on Fly Anglers Online by Robert Younghanz.