Fishing brook trout is another exciting game for me as whenever I hold a brookie, it felt very magnificent to my eyes. Its body has a dazzling color so most anglers love to fish them. They are smaller than other trout and a very addictive challenge that every willingly takes.
It is a native North American fish that easily come to the hook rather than other types of trout. Brookie has a bright orange flesh so it is virtually delicacy and you can raise it commercially.
Brook trout can easily find in lakes, ponds, streams, etc. They easily take the bait and you can apply various techniques to fish them.
Tips on How to Catch Brook Trout in a Lake
I will cover here how you can fish them in a lake, but before that, you should know about their habitat, food, angling so your knowledge will lead you to successful fishing in the lake.
About Brook Trout
The coloration and pattern of brook trout are very uncommon so you can recognize them easily. The edge of the fin is white and the body has a narrow black stripe. The head and backside have wavy lines so the looks are slightly similar with tiger stripes.
Most of the saltwater brook trout have light blue color in their body but when they live in lakes or another freshwater place, their body turns out to a dark brown and yellow color. This fish species normally stayed in ponds, rivers, creek, streams, any lakes, etc.
Brook Trout Fishing Gear
The fishing gear depends on which techniques you are going to apply in lakes. For fly fishing, you will need a light rod and reel combination as trout are not very large. Also, the line should be matched with a rod.
A 9-foot long 8x leader with a 2lb test line is perfect. A spinning rod and long fly rod are better for these fishes. A 7 to 9-inch rod works great.
What is the Best Bait for Brook Trout in Lakes?
Brook trout has a tough spirit so it is very important to select the right bait and lures. Some of the best bait and lures are,
- Flies
- Jigs
- Rooster tail
- Rapala countdown
- Swimbait
- Litte Cleo
- Panther martin
- Spinner
- spoon etc.
Where to Find Brook Trout
brook trout loves to stay in deep water. Search for the area where the water is at least 10 to 30 feet deep. Shorelines, sheltered bay, behind the rock, sunken debris, etc are best for them to cover.
Also, the temperature is important here. In summer, they tend to say cooler water. If the temperature is 20 degrees or more, they will go deeper into the cold waters
In spring, they stay at the upper level so you will find them at 10 feet or less. This time, they are hungry and searching for food. In the shoreline, they stay 2 to 10 feet deep so it is easy to find them.
Brooks loves depth and cover so they mostly live I shallow water. In winter, they prefer tighter quarters.
Brook Trout Fishing Techniques
The evening is the best time catching brook trout. In that time, they stay close to the surface. In the spring, they stay any covered area such as rocks, fallen trees, other structures, etc. If the lake water is crystal clear, try to hide your visibility from brook trout.
Where in the Streams to Find Them?
These fishes prefer less than 68 water temperature because they have to migrate a long way to find a better place for spawning. You can find them at 10 to 30 feet of water. Check for the shorelines that have fallen trees underwater.
Locating the Brook Trout
Although there will be a problem to locate these fishes in still water, three ingredients work better in this case, drop-offs, structure, and vegetation. If you are lucky, you will find the largest brook trout in rocky points. So, start finding the fish from deep water from the shallow edge.
When is the Good Time for Fishing?
Brook trout are fond of fly hatches. So, May and June are the best time to catch fish. You can apply the casting and trolling technique. They both are very successful in catching them.
What to Use in the Streams and Cold Waters?
Use a sinker so the bait can sink slowly. It must be looking natural so move it side to side. Do not cast the same location again and again.
Morning and early afternoon are great times for catching brookies. In lakes, you may find 2 to 3-pound brook brown trout so take a proper tackle with you.
When to Fish
Water temperature and lights play a vital role to catch brook trout. If the lakes don’t have much cover for them, you can easily catch them at any time. But fishing early or late in the day is more effective. In winter, the brook is active and hungry so it is an excellent time to hunt them.
Most of them will stay near the surface. Although they love deeper water to keep them safe from predators.
Trolling Technique
If you are new to lake fishing, trolling technique will be best for you. Use a fish finder to get an idea of lakes and you can easily locate brookies from underwater points and wed beds. Knowing the lake structure gives you the best result about catching them.
In summer, brooks go deeper water to feed so do not troll faster than 2 mph. Use a large spoon and 3-way sinker for trolling. The electric trolling motor should be good in quality.
Final Thoughts
Brookies are terrific for fly anglers as the anglers get many advantages in fly fishing. They love to stay in undercut banks, deep dark holes, and other places.
They are more likely to wait for foods that come to them rather than chasing. So, you won’t have to search much area to fish which is time-consuming.
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