Damn Good Brook Trout Fishing Guides

The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), also known as the eastern brook trout, brook charr, coaster trout, squaretail, or mud trout, is a freshwater member of the salmon family Salmonidae. It is the state fish of nine states, including Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Provincial Fish of Novia Scotia in Canada.

They have a dark green to brown color, a marble pattern of lighter shades, and red dots with blue circles around them across their sides and back. This pattern is called vermiculation. Their bellies are milk brown to reddish in coloring, becoming more red or even orange when they are spawning.

Depending on the location, a brook trout can vary from about eight to 24 inches and weigh from one to almost ten pounds. Growth rates of brook trout are dependent on the season, water and air temperatures, and flow rates of which the fish are in. These differences cause significant variance in sizes.

On July 21st, 1915, Dr. John William Cook caught the world record brook trout according to the IGFA. It weighed 14 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 31.5 inches long, pulled out of the Nipigon River in Ontario, Canada.

Brook trout are native to northeastern North America. However, they have been introduced through western North America, central areas of the lower Canadian Provinces, Mexico, South America, and Europe. They prefer clear, cold streams and lakes with water temperatures ranging from 57 to 61 degrees that are well oxygenated and pure.

The best time to fish for brook trout is from early spring through the summer. The earlier in the spring that you fish, the later in the day the fish will feed, making right before dark the best time to go. In the summer, the opposite is true. Anytime between first light and 10:30 am is the time to head out, especially if the water is dead calm, clear skies, and high pressure. They can usually be found hiding in shallow areas near fallen trees and boulders.

Several methods are used for brook trout fishing, including fly, still, bait, and spin casting. However, the most popular is fly fishing. Since they like to hide in small, hard to get into places, fly fishing is an excellent technique to place flies precisely. If you are choosing to use a spinning rod, small spinners and plugs, worms, spoons, jigs, minnows, or even live insects can be used for bait.

Since brook trout tend to be smaller than other trout species such as rainbow or brook trout, it is good to use smaller hooks and bait.

In order to maintain brook trout populations, it is important to catch, handle with care as to protect their slime coat, and release them unless you are planning to eat them. They are known as a very highly regarded eating fish.

The best way to prepare them is to cook them on a grill while covered in butter and a thick layer of aluminum foil. Cook on each side for eight to ten minutes, and then plate with pepper and fresh dill. Serve with rice, beans, and asparagus.