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Aurora Trout fish identification, its habitats, characteristics, fishing methods.
The Aurora trout is a variant or subspecies of the brook trout native to two lakes in the Temagami District of Ontario, Canada. The life history of the fish is essentially identical to that of the brook trout. The Aurora trout is distinguished from the brook trout by its unique coloration. Aurora trout are generally without spots, the coloration grading from a magenta hue on the back to a bright, nearly fluorescent orange along the belly, especially in mature males. Adults average about 0.5 to 1.5 kg, although individuals up to 4 kg are known.
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The aurora trout, Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis, is a member of Salmonidae family, also known as Brook trout, Brook charr, Sea trout, is a subspecies of the brook trout, Salmo trutta, inhabited lakes in the Montreal River system in northeastern Ontario, Whitepine and Whirligig, and their inflowing streams, a tributary of the Ottawa River.
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Description
The Aurora Trout is a unique variant of the Brook Trout; it looks similar to and can be mistaken for the more common Brook trout. They could be distinguished by its coloration. This fish has a long streamlined body with an adipose fin close to the tail and a large mouth that extends past the eye. Pelvic fins with axillary process; caudal nearly straight or with a shallow indentation. The tail fin is square and slightly concave or rarely slightly forked.
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3�4 dorsal spines
8-14 dorsal soft rays
3-4 anal spines
8�14 anal soft rays
58�62 vertebrae
19 caudal fin rays
Max. Weight: 3.5 kg
Max. Length: 60 cm
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The adult sea-run Aurora trout do not have the yellow spots throughout the dorsal region and exhibit few to no very pale pink spots with colorful blue halos wrapping around the red dots that Brook trout are world famous for. Their dorsal and caudal fins are with black lines. The back is typically magenta hue or olive green to dark brown with a distinct marbled pattern of lighter color. They have iridescent steel blue and silver lighter that than back sides and silvery white belly that are often tinged with pink to a bright, nearly fluorescent orange along the belly, especially in mature males. Anal, pelvic and pectoral fins with a white leading edge followed by a dark stripe, contrasting black border, the rest of the fins are reddish. Caudal fin nearly straight or with a shallow indentation. During the breeding season in fall months, Aurora trout begin to spawn and male can have very bright orange and red bellies and fins until the spawn is complete and often even longer.
Habitats
The Aurora Trout is a cold-water species found in well-oxygenated and high-elevation, clear, cool lakes with the temperature ranges from 0 to 25�C.
Food habits vary with age and life-cycle stage. As fry they feed primarily on insect larvae. As adults they feed on a diverse range of animals including worms, leeches, crustaceans, insects, mollusks, fish, amphibians and also small mammals.
Spawning
Aurora Trout is reaches sexual maturity at two to four years. Spawning occurs in late October to early November usually over rubble, sand and gravel beds in shallow water up to 4 m deep. Females construct nests, called redds, in gravel and embryos are buried in the substrate. In Ontario, eggs were buried at 7-20 cm in bottom substrate. Groundwater upwelling and moderate current, or nearby surficial inflow are possible main spawning areas, depending on latitude and temperature. Eggs hatch in spring. Aurora Trout have a lifespan of approximately eight years.
Fishing Methods.
Most usable methods are: Fly fishing using Fly Fishing rods, Bait Casting using
Casting rods, and my favorite
Pole Fishing with extra light, stiff, powerfull and strong Carbon Pole Rods.
They are best and easily caught fishing wet or dry flies. Very effective baits are worms and salmon eggs and flies.
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