Luring them In: Brown Trout Fishing; where to find them and what to use
Every year as the summer sun began to settle behind the tree line, Dad would slap on his waders and venture out the door. Mom, of course, in her dirty apron and curlers would playfully slap his behind and gently kiss him goodbye whispering her desire for his bountiful trip. Dirty faced and wide-eyed, we kids stood staring excitedly hoping for an invitation to come a long, but never received so much as a nod.
This was serious business, we were told. Dad wasn’t just going fishing; he was on a quest to catch the biggest and most elusive brown trout this side of the Mississippi. Really, to our simple adolescent minds, Dad was just having all the fun while we were left to slop the hogs and bring in fire wood. Not fair, but just life.
Quicker than a coon up a tree, everything changed the year of my 10th birthday. For some reason unknown to me, my father decided that this was the year I would be allowed to join him on the hunt for his trophy trout. Affectionately referred to as “Old Lucy”, my father’s lifelong dream was about to become my own.
For over 25 years, my dad and I waded the cold river waters in search of “Old Lucy” with no avail. Determined to increase our odds, I did a little searching to find out just what it would take to capture this 30 inch beast. I must admit that Lucy is still at large and that an angler other than me will likely claim her; but I sure did learn a lot about that darn fish!
Where to Find Brown Trout
Brown trout fishing, like all angling; is an art. You can’t just haphazardly cast into the murky waters and hope for a bite. Fish are creatures of habit and most likely Lucy is no exception. To capture her, I would need to know exactly where she might be.
- Brown trout prefer cold water. This is an obvious statement as any fisherman would know, henceforth the waders, but this type of fish is picky. Frigid waters are acceptable, but Old Lucy liked her thermostat sitting around 60˚ to 65˚.
- You can spook a brown trout with your shadow. Who knew? All this time I just figured I smelled bad.
- Brown trout fishing at midday means that you might have to get into the thick of things. While no one likes getting their line snagged, Lucy’s stomping grounds were usually under overhanging cover.
- Unless I could get in early, Lucy would likely be down pretty deep. To catch her, I would need to watch the sun come up while she nibbled on breakfast near the shallows.
How to Snag Them
Okay, so a fish is a fish, right? Not quite. Lucy and the rest of brown trout have a preference for the bait they take and when they’ll take it. For best luck, angling should be done during feeding times in the early morning or evening. Otherwise, you’re likely to catch a large sampling of everything but brown trout. Armed with a light rod, 6 to 10 lbs test, and these lures; you’re sure to catch a mess of brown trout. Who knows, you might even get Lucy.
- Spinners: A must have for any true trout aficionado. Most suggested for snagging the big one by Bestcovery is a Mepps Trouter Kit.
- Flies: Considered by Joshua Bill to be the absolute best in trout flies, Big Y Fly Company has all the variety you need.
- Minnows and Worms: No brown trout fishing expedition is complete without packing the standbys. As trout are opportunistic feeders, both minnows and worms are perfect.
As Steven Wright so eloquently stated, “There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.”