Brook Trout Fishing

Brook trout fishing is an engaging form of fishing.  If you want to try this out, then you should know the basics before hitting the waters.  You should know about the fish you are targeting and their behavior. The information you will get in this post can help you get a tug on your line and hopefully a giant trout in your possession.

Brook Trout Fishing Basics

Trout fishing is indeed a challenging sport. Before we get into how to catch these aquatic bloodhounds, let’s first understand the nature of these creatures.
Trout is a name that is used for many varieties of freshwater fish that belong to the salmoninae genus.  This genus is part of the salmon family. On the east coast, you will be fishing for Salmo and on the west coast you will be gunning for Oncorhynchus. Salvelinus on the other hand, can be found anywhere and it is more commonly known as char.  Their species can live up to 8 years. Impressive!  Knowing the fish’s behavior in your area will help you determine how to catch these slippery devils.

Older more mature trout commonly congregate in deeper pools of water and only come to the shallow parts when they are feeding.  You can also find them in the shallow areas when they are breeding.  They prefer to breed in shallow waters rather than deep waters. This information will give you an edge over other anglers in the area that don’t know the habits of trout.

You should look for Fish in areas where the temperature is about 60 degrees.  These areas include creeks, lakes, rivers and any other body of water that receives a constant flow of fresh water.  Springs, in particular, are sure fire spots to find these elusive fish.  Because of the coolness of the water, trout do not move very fast.

Aside from the behavior and location, you should also know what they look like.  Trout generally have long bodies.  Their mouths extend past the point where their eyes are.  They come in varying colors from gunmetal gray to black or even military green.  Their undersides are usually silvery and sometimes they have reddish dots.  Some even have blue colored crowns on their heads.

One way to know if you actually caught a trout is by looking at it’s fins on the tip of it’s body.  They are usually spotted and have a line along the back.  The other fins are usually white in color on the front and black.  During breeding, the sides are almost red on mature males.  Most of the time, the tail is square.  Beware though because there are other species that have forked tails.

Understanding what kind of bait to use is also a crucial component in catching these water bloodhounds.  You can try using minnows, crickets, and shrimps.  You can make use of lures like flies, spoons and spinners too.  If you know your fishing area well and know the particular kind of prey the trout in those waters feed on then you should use this prey as your bait.

Brook trout fishing can be done from the shore.  Wading into the water can help you catch a few more as well. Cast your line from the shore and remember that these fish can hide very well in places you might not expect. Just be as quiet and as still as possible otherwise, you might scare them away.  Stealth and patience will go a long way.   Don’t forget about these tips and tricks when you’re out looking for trout.

Good luck and I hope you get a big one!