AbstractThe brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis is an important species across North America, being the focus of restoration and conservation efforts in the eastern United States and considered a threat to native salmonids in the western part of the country. Bioenergetics models have emerged as useful tools for studying the ecology and management of fish species, but these models should be critically evaluated prior to widespread application. We conducted laboratory experiments to refine model parameters (metabolism and the activity multiplier) and to test a model for brook trout. Brook trout metabolic rates increased with temperature up to 20°C, then declined sharply. Specific metabolism declined with increasing fish size. Validation experiments conducted for 7, 21, and 31 d at 12‐16°C showed that the model predicted consumption within 1.6 ± 3.6%, growth within 2.3 ± 12.5%, and final weight within 1.7 ± 5.1% of measured values. The results of this study will allow biologists to better use bioenergetics models to study the trophic dynamics of brook trout throughout their range.