All other trout species in Maryland have dark spots on a light background. They have a white leading edge followed by a black streak with the rest of the fin displaying various shades of red, orange and yellow. Brook trout are native to eastern Canada and northeastern United States and extended as far west as eastern Minnesota. Their original range also included the Appalachian Mountains where they are still found in many high elevation streams as far south as Georgia. They have been widely introduced into several western states.
Brook trout require clean, clear, cold streams in order to thrive.
In Maryland, there are near 100 streams that support native, self-supporting, populations of brook trout. The vast majority of these streams are small headwater streams found in scattered locations throughout Maryland's Piedmont and mountainous regions. Concentrations of brook trout streams are found in central and northern Baltimore County, the Catoctin Mountains of Frederick County and in far western Maryland mainly in Garret County. Native brook trout in Maryland are relatively small, rarely growing over 9 to 10 inches. A 12 incher is rare and considered a real trophy.