When stripped down to its basics brook trout fishing is incredibly simple and is a great way to get you out on the water. You’ll hear all kinds of advice from friends, fly shop owners, and other anglers, but below you’ll find the best guide to catching brook trout.
We’re going to go over where they live, how to catch them as well as gear selection. This will contain all the basics that someone with zero experience might need to get started chasing these fish.
Brook Trout
The only native trout to the southeast, brookies often live in mountain streams and deep lakes across the region. They’re an aggressive fish, especially in the mountains, and have been known to take dry flies year-round. Often, they don’t get very large, but they make up for it with the sheer number of fish you can catch in a day as well as their beauty.
Enough about the fish, check out below the guide to catching more brook trout.
Gear Needed
There is a ton of gear in the world of fishing, and it can overwhelm you if you don’t know what you need. If you’re worried about spending too much money, don’t be. If you’re worried about looking ridiculous with a vest full of gear, don’t be. We’re going to show you how to get everything you need without killing your paycheck or weighing you down with stuff you don’t need.
Rods
If you’re new to fly fishing then you might be surprised at just how expensive it can get. Some rods and reels can be thousands of dollars. If you have the money for that then great. These are often some beautiful pieces of work and are oftentimes on the cutting edge of fly fishing tech.
Go to your local fly shop and check out the selection. There are brand new rods in the stores that you can buy for only a few hundred dollars. If you want to go cheaper then you can also check online for used rods on eBay, or craigslist. Garage sales are also a great spot.
In terms of size, you should be looking at getting a 3wt and no longer than 8′ long. This rod will set you up perfectly for just about any type of situation you may be in when chasing brook trout. Anything longer and it gets tougher to cast in those tight mountain streams. Anything heavier and makes it more difficult to throw those needed smaller flies.
Reels
The rules that apply for rods also apply for reels. There are expensive ones, mid-range and cheap ones. If you want to find a discount then check eBay and craigslist. The reel in brook trout fishing is often just used for holding your line and backing though. A brookie will rarely ever pull drag.
The most important thing is to make sure that the reel and rod are the same weight. Match a 3wt reel to a 3wt rod.
Fly Line
If you’re going to splurge on a piece of gear then let it be this. Bad fly line wears out quicker, affects your casting, mending, and fly presentation.
You’ll be using a floating line only and you’ll want to again match the size of the line to your rod and reel. 3wt line goes with a 3wt rod and reel.
Tippet and Leader
There are a lot of different sizes of leaders and tippets. If you’re just starting out then you should be using a 7′ 5X leader with a 5X tippet. Once you get more comfortable with sizes and lengths you can adjust as needed but this is a solid all-around setup.
Hemostat
From cutting line to getting hooks out of a trout’s mouth. A hemostat is a tool you need to have on you. They clip easily onto a shirt, pants, or wherever you need them to be for easy access.
Floatant
If you want to throw dry flies then you need floatant too. Doesn’t matter if it’s gel or powder. The gel is preferred and lasts longer. Squirt some onto your fly before casting.
Wading
Waders and wading boots are a must if you plan on fishing early spring and into late fall and winter. The water is already cold and the waders help keep you warm and dry. No need for neoprene, stick with nylon fabric.
Wading boots are important as well. Pick these out at the same time you get your waders. Try them on with your waders on as the boots on the waders are usually neoprene and can be bulky.
For wet wading in the warmer months, you can choose whatever you want to be comfortable in. Shorts, long pants, wading boots, open-toed sandals. I’ve even seen guys wet wade in Chuck Taylors, which I do not recommend.
Net
Get one. Preferably one with a rubber netting and small enough to either clip onto or fit in the next item.
Bag or Backpack
First, you have to think about what your day of fishing is going to look like. Are you going out for just a few hours not far from your car? Or are you hiking 5 miles to get to the stream and then spending a full day on the water?
If you’re only spending a few hours out then a small chest pack, hip pack, or lanyard is all you need. If you’re going to spend most of the day on the water then a larger backpack style is best. This can hold food, water, or any other emergency supplies.
What Flies do you Need?
We’re going to go over the three flies you need to have with you when chasing brookies. If you want a larger selection then check out this article I wrote here about the best dry flies for brook trout.
Parachute Adams
Hard to go wrong with this dry fly. It’s my go-to when I see insects flying. A size 16-18 are what I normally use and I always pick out 2 of each in case one gets snagged on a limb.
These flies are very versatile and imitate many different types of insects. Making them perfect if you don’t know how to identify what may be flying around you.
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Similar to the adams, the pheasant tail is a great all-around fly that imitates many different insects in their larval stage. Again the 16-18 size is what I normally throw and have had the most luck with. Once you get more comfortable in your casting you can tie a piece of tippet off of the shank of the hook on your dry fly and connect it to your nymph.
Wooly Bugger
This is a larger fly that is meant to imitate baitfish and crawfish. Size 10-12 are normal. I will usually cast across the pool or run and bounce it back b giving quick pops with the rod or stripping in small bits of line quickly. Look for the strike to happen at the fly falls in the water.
Where to find Brook Trout
It wouldn’t be a guide to catching more brook trout if yit didn’t tell you how to find them. The best way is either ask someone at your local fly shop or go to your state’s department of game website. Often, they’ll have a map or a list of streams, ponds, and rivers that hold either native or stocked fish. Find one that’s closest to you, read the local regulations, and have at it.
Once you’re at the stream then it can be a little bit more difficult. The easiest thing to do is walk parallel to the water and look for plunge pools. These are spots where the water is deep and often there is a small waterfall feeding into it.
Trout love these spots because of the deep water that they use for cover and the waterfall acts as a food conveyer belt for them. They wait beneath the water for their food to fall down it.
How to Fish a Plunge Pool
Work your fly from back to front. Be careful to keep your line as well as your shadow off the water. Brookies are spooky fish and if they see something that’s not natural to them then that pool is ruined for at least the next thirty minutes if not longer. If you spook a pool don’t worry about it. Just move on to the next one.
Safety
Fishing safely is extremely important. f you plan on going fishing make sure someone knows where you are. Even if it’s a heavily used trail or pond. Depending on how far back you want to go, it’s always a good idea to bring extra water, a flashlight as well as some batteries. It can be easy to get lost and those items could be the difference between having a lat night or sleeping in the woods.
Also, ensure you have the right fishing or trout license for the state you’re in. That money you spend on your license goes towards conservation and maintaining the streams in the state as well as the public land for hunting, hiking, and camping.
Final Thoughts
Well, there it is. The guide to catching brook trout. Once you feel comfortable with everything above you can start to branch out and try new things. Different flies, fishing techniques, or rods.
Anything I miss? Have any questions? Let me know below!
