Cannibalism and brook trout

[mario66pens]

While fishing my favorite brookie stream this morning, I saw some splashing in a hole I just fished, when I investigated I saw a monster of a brookie (around 15 in) with a 4 in or so brookie in its mouth. The fish were flopping all through the pool until the smaller one succumbed, it was fascinating to watch.

 

[salmonoid]

There is likely a reason that 15-incher is that big and you found it. One of the more memorable fish I have caught was a 13" wild brookie in the ANF, that was gagging on an 8" brookie. Brookies are opportunistic feeders, including when the prey is their own.

 

[tulenkot]

I have posted this before, here you go...
brookie eating brookie

 

[geebee]

big brookies will take small browns too. saw a big ole one on the Little Lehigh last week - he slid out of a side hole, sneaked up behind a big pod of juvi browns and suckers in the bridge hole took one and disappeared to its lair.

he was part of the food chain too though - a big gash out of his back from a hawk or heron.

i'm guessing he was a stocker brookie moved up from somewhere else and gone rogue. definitely in the 14-16" range.

 

[bearfisherman]

It is a great TIC lesson watching brookies in an aquarium eating each other. Usually happens over a weekend when they aren't getting fed as usual.

 

[mario66pens]

Did manage to catch all three species today, (having problems uploading brookie.

 

[midnightangler]

Brookies can be real aggressive. They'll go for a streamer over and over, they won't just chase one time like a brown trout often does.