When looking for the best brook trout reel you’ll need to take a couple of things into consideration. Like, what weight is my rod? Will I be targeting larger brookies or the smaller native fish?
Big Water Vs. Small Water
Most anglers across the south are chasing brook trout in small water. Often, it’s the mountain streams that run right through the middle of the region. However, most states will often stock some of the deeper lakes, larger rivers, or even just seasonal ponds.
It’s in these larger bodies of water where brook trout can get a little bit bigger than their normal length of 6-9″. This means that it will make your reel a little more important than just a line holder.
Streams and Ponds
The classic brook trout habitat is coldwater streams littered with fly snagging mountain laurel that zig zag down the Appalachian Mountains. These streams are can be narrow enough to jump across and shallow enough to wade without getting your knees wet.
In most of these streams, there’s at least one large pool that will hold an absolute monster brookie. 12″ or larger with a bright orange belly that sags and a head big enough to down a bratwurst. This is the fish that could pull drag and you would need to play it carefully to ensure you could net it.
Realistically, you will not be catching this fish. This is an older trout that has probably seen an adams or a squirmy drifting past its face a time or two and on top of that, it’s probably already a very cautious eater.
Most of the trout that you’re going to land will be between 3-7″. The occasional 8-10″ and anything over 11″ will be something worth telling to your other fly fishing friends.
Some small ponds on public land will also get stocked during the fall. The cooler temperatures keep the water cold enough for the trout to survive until summer. Often these ponds are intended for anglers to keep their catch to bring home and cook. Since these fish only live a max of 7-9 months they will not grow very large. You may find the rare monster stocker though.
It’s in these streams and ponds that the best brook trout reel will be smaller and will pair well with smaller rods. You’ll need the lighter set up to deliver those tiny flies with precision.
Lakes and Rivers
There are some deep lakes across the region where brook trout could settle in and live year-round. Most, of these fish, will be stockers and maybe even wild. If the habitat is there for them to survive then there’s a good chance they’re thriving and getting big eating baitfish and insects.
They will be tougher to catch and you’ll most likely need to use a sinking line to get a fly down to them. There’s a good chance though that you could be pulling in some big fish.
The same applies to spring-fed rivers or tailwaters. If the food sources are there and the water is clean enough then brook trout could easily live there year-round or even have a sustainable wild population.
You’d fish these rivers the same way you would for rainbows or browns. Throwing dries, nymphs, streamers, or whatever the fish are biting on that day.
In these bigger bodies of water, you would need something that is large enough to handle bigger flies and also has a decent drag on it as well.
What Size Reel Should you use?
Like we talked about above, it all depends on where you plan on fishing. Larger reels will work best when throwing flies in those big water and smaller reels will work best on those small ponds or streams
0-1wt
This is a fun size for most brook trout fishing. The 0-1wt reel gives you the ability to really work those small flies and land them delicately on the water. It also lets you feel like you’re fighting a larger fish even when you’ve only hooked into a 6″ brookie.
These lightweight setups can be a lot of fun to fish with. You really feel the power of these small fish when using a reel this size.
2-3wt
The 2-3wt reels are great for all-around brookie fishing. These are large enough that you can work a wooly bugger with ease but light enough that you could flip out a size 18 adams. The extra weight will be good if you also hook into a bigger fish.
The 3wt is probably the most popular among mountain stream anglers and many view it as the best brook trout reel since it is so versatile. If you’re looking for an all-around great brookie reel then this is the size you should be looking into. You could pair it with something as short as a 7′ 6″ rod, or as long as the classic 9′ rod. It all depends on the size of the river you’re fishing.
4-6wt
If you’re going to be on those big rivers or lakes then this is the size for you. The 6wt is perfect for throwing some larger baitfish imitations and for hauling in those big-headed brookies.
The 4wt is strong enough to stand up to a good fight, but you’ll really be throwing this for drifting nymphs. The light touch will let you flip them out and work them easily in the current down the river.
The classic 5wt is the best brook trout reel for chasing them in big water. Nymph with it, throw dries, or even streamers.
7wt+
If you’re in the south and throwing a 7wt or larger for brook trout then please comment below where you’re fishing because I want to be a part of it.
Final Thoughts
Always make sure to match your reel size to your rod size. This ensures that they will both be balanced and your setup won’t be out of whack. Pairing a different sized rod and reel can make thing more complicated than it needs to be.
Do you use a reel wt like any of those above? Let me know what you use in the comments down below.
