Brook trout occur in a wide variety of habitats from small streams to large lakes. Their only true requirements are a year-round supply of cold, well oxygenated water and areas of gravel on which to spawn. As water temperatures rise, stream dwelling brook trout may move downstream to larger bodies of water. Brook trout diet consists of a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial insect and larvae with occasional plant material. Brook trout spawn in late summer or autumn generally in the shallow headwaters of streams or along gravel bars of lakes.
Females clear away debris by rapidly fanning the substrate with their tail.
Upon completion of spawning, the female covers the eggs with gravel in much the same way she cleared the redd. The number of eggs produced by a female is dependent on body length but may be as high as 5,000. The eggs develop through the winter hatching in about 140 days. Brook trout are raised in large quantities by state facilities for stocking into public lakes and streams. They are also cultured in private facilities for both recreational fishing on site and for stocking into private ponds.