How to catch a Brown Trout? I wish I could tell you exactly how, but that is why they call it fishing and not catching. The best anyone can do is offer advice on what should work, that is if the fish are cooperating.
Brown Trout are prized throughout the world for their fighting prowess, hard to catch nature and their ability to grow to extremely large sizes. They need highly oxygenated, cold water to survive and will flourish in streams, lakes, or rivers that provide this. As for how to catch a Brown, the best techniques will be determined by what type of water you are planning to fish, and what type of gear you will be using, fly fishing, spin fishing, or ice fishing. Also, knowing a little about their tendencies will help improve your chances of catching the wily Brown Trout.
Most of largest Brown Trout ever caught have come from lakes. It seems when lake fishing the key factor is an understanding of a Brown’s seasonal movements. Lets start in winter; during the winter months when the water is cold throughout the lake Browns can be anywhere. However, typically they will be within the top 15 feet of the water column. This is especially true if the lake freezes over in the winter. During the spring thaw, or the time the lake first starts to warm Browns will stay in the upper part of the water generally staying closer to shore and often near tributaries that flow into the lake. Once the surface water starts to warm above 65-70°F Brown’s will retreat to the depths of the lake where the water is cooler. Finally, in the fall Browns are looking to spawn and will start to congregate around tributaries that flow into the lake before they actually swim up them to spawn.
Trolling is the fishing method of choice when is comes to lakes. The trout are constantly on the move and trolling provides a great to find them. Spin fishermen rely on spoons and rapalas fished at the proper depth. Bait fishing is another option for the spin fisherman and placing a minnow or worm at the proper depth can be very successful. Fly fishermen can only troll in the upper part of the water column, with streamers being their best bet. Dry fly fishing can be productive in lakes during certain times of the year, but once the fish go deep in the heat of the summer this is not an option.
Streams & Rivers
Fishing in streams and rivers for Brown’s is my favorite pastime. The beautiful scenery, the flowing water and the rising fish, it’s hard to beat. Brown’s in rivers and streams move for different reasons than lake fish. Again lets start in winter; Brown’s normally take refuge in the deepest pools in winter to avoid anchor ice and to conserve energy. When spring roles around the fish will spread out a little more but deep pools are still the best bet. In the summer trout may move upstream or to cooler areas if temperatures start to rise to high, but on many streams this is not a problem. Finally in the fall the Brown’s are ready to spawn and will return to there birthing area, this could be in a tiny tributary, or a large river. Remember though when fishing for Brown Trout in streams and rivers water temperature is very important. It is a safe best that if the water temperature is above 75°F, the trout have moved to cooler waters.
Streams and rivers are a fly fisherman’s bread and butter. This is the dry fly fisherman’s paradise. Often matching the insects that are hatching is the key to consistently catching Brown’s. Although Brown’s readily rise to flies they are generally the most wary of all trout. It is very easy to get discouraged but when the reward of landing one of these beauties happens it’s well worth all the effort. For fly fisherman matching the hatch is always the best option when the fish are rising, when they aren’t rising try streamer, nymphs or wet flies. Spin fisherman will do best using small spinning lures, rapalas, or bait. It is very hard for any trout to resist a worm bounced along the bottom.
Worldwide Brown Trout are the most highly sought after trout. Their finicky nature and ability to grow to large sizes makes them the perfect quarry for any angler, not to mention their shier beauty. Hopefully you can take of few of these tips and find out for yourself why Brown’s hold a special place in the eyes of many anglers.
