Coaster Brookies, MN, WI, MI, ON

Imagine hearing reports of fishing spots hosting an endless supply of fish. Even the newspapers told of a seemingly exhaustless bounty. You grab your fly rod, travel to the remote location along Lake Superior's shore where you have just a short walk to a prime spot. Your mind is filled with visions of the trout's silvery body dancing through the water and the image is so real you can almost feel the pull as it takes hold of the fly. Imagine your surprise as you near the banks only to find other anglers drawn by the very same vision.

That may be what some anglers experienced over a century ago as reports of an infinite supply of trout filled newspapers and travel journals of the day. There was an abundant population of coaster brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) across Lake Superior, drawing anglers from across the country to the lake's shore. Eventually, over-harvesting and the gradual destruction of the trout's habitat, combined with competition from introduced species like the Pacific Salmon, reduced the coasters' numbers to the small remnant populations that persist today.

Efforts to restore the coaster brook trout began as early as 1900 but did not meet with much success. Until recently little was known about the species, which complicated the restoration efforts. Beginning in the later half of the twentieth century, organizations and tribes across the basin began to recognize the need for collaborative efforts if any coaster brook trout restoration was to be successful. In 1999, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, supported by governmental agencies and Trout Unlimited, adopted the conservation plan, "A Brook Trout Rehabilitation Plan for Lake Superior." This plan provided guidelines for restoration and protection of the native species and is considered the first step in bringing back the coaster brook trout. Today, twenty-six governmental agencies, tribal entities, non-profit organizations and universities from across Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario are bringing together their research and knowledge for the rehabilitation of this valuable resource.

Beginning in 2003, a lakewide conference series began with the intent to bring together researchers and resource managers to share and disseminate the results of their ongoing efforts to bring back the coaster brook trout. These conferences strengthen cooperation among this truly collaborative effort and will provide a forum for local and regional organizations to play an active role in coaster brook trout rehabilitation. A series of scientific papers synthesizing the current state of knowledge regarding coaster brook trout has been published as modules in two American Fisheries Society publications – Transactions of the American Fisheries Society and North American Journal of Fisheries Management.  Most of those papers can be viewed online at the USFWS Ashland Fisheries Resource Office web site [1].    

The intention of this site is to serve as a clearinghouse for information regarding the coaster brook trout and its history [2], lakewide rehabilitation efforts currently underway [3], current coaster brook trout resources [4], and engaged partner groups [5].

Trout Unlimited (TU) has played an integral role in coaster brook trout conservation efforts and has been a catalyst in bringing partnering organizations and agencies together. The Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin State TU Councils and Lake Superior area TU Chapters have played a tremendous role in providing the early support needed for coaster brook trout rehabilitation efforts to begin. And they continue to provide leadership and support to conserve this historic natural resource.

This web site and its content are a product of the collaborative effort of Trout Unlimited, Trout Unlimited Canada, Minnesota Sea Grant and the University of Wisconsin Extension