Physical Characteristics

A splake trout is the hybrid cross between lake trout and brook trout. It has a dark background with white spots. The tail fin is not as deeply forked as lake trout. The name itself is a hybrid between 'SP'eckled trout (another name for brook trout) and 'LAKE' trout, and may have been used to describe such hybrids as early as the 1880's. Hybrids of the male lake trout with the female brook trout (the so-called "brookinaw") have also been produced but are not as successful.

General Info

The intrageneric hybrid is of the genus Salvelinus and, hence, is most properly known as a char or charr. In some locales, the fish is referred to as the Wendigo. Although the hybrid is genetically stable and is, theoretically, capable of reproducing, splake reproduction is extremely rare, for behavioural reasons, outside the hatchery environment. The only known natural reproduction has occurred in 5 lakes in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada and, in each case, only a handful of progeny were produced. The fish possesses characteristics of both parent species. Splake exhibit higher growth rates than either parent species and can attain 46 cm (18 in) in length only 2 years after being planted as fingerlings (i.e., at 2% years of age). By way of contrast, lacustrine brook trout would approach 25 cm (10 in) in length at a similar age and similarly-aged lake trout would be expected to be less than 40 cm (16 in) long. Splake are considered "easier to catch" than other salmonids and often live longer and fare better in certain situations. Hence, splake are well suited for stocking in a variety of cold water lakes and ponds. The maximum size is about 9 kg (20 lb) but fish over 4 kg (9 lb) are rare and are considered trophies.