Freshwater
Brown Trout
Where to find them, how to catch them and the tackle to use.
01Introduction
The brown trout is a golden-brown trout with black and red spots, native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia and stocked across much of North America. It has naturalized in many cold streams and lakes, where it's known for being wary and hard to fool. Browns handle slightly warmer water than brook trout, grow big on a diet of fish, and are fall spawners.
02Where to Catch
Range: native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. In North America, browns are stocked widely and have established wild, reproducing populations in many cold streams, sometimes displacing native brook trout.
Habitat: cold to cool streams, rivers and deep lakes. Browns are found in water from about 55 to 68°F, a wider range than most trout, and compete best in faster-flowing water. Some populations run to sea or into big lakes and return to rivers to spawn.
- Streams: undercut banks, overhanging branches, logjams, deep slots and pools, and current seams near cover.
- Lakes: near shore in spring and fall, deeper and suspended with baitfish in summer.
- Fall: tributaries and shallow gravel where they spawn.
03How to Catch
Stay hidden
Stream trout spook at shadows, vibration and movement. Approach carefully, keep low, wear drab clothing and polarized glasses, and use light line in clear water.
Spring and fall
Browns come close to shore in lakes and feed actively in streams. Cast inline spinners upstream and retrieve them just fast enough to turn the blade as the current brings them down; twitch and pause minnow-style stickbaits along shorelines and in pools; or fish dry flies, nymphs and streamers. Still-fishing a worm or minnow is effective in spring.
Summer
Fish early, late and on overcast days, when water is coolest and big browns feed. In streams, drift nymphs, bait or soft plastics near the bottom in deeper runs and pools; in lakes, troll or cast deeper where the baitfish are. In warm water, land trout quickly and release them without a long fight.
Fall
Browns spawn in fall. In rivers connected to big lakes, they run up the tributaries in September and October and feed opportunistically on the way; in streams, they move toward shallow gravel. Target the deeper pools and cover near spawning areas rather than fish on their beds.
Winter
Float-fishing small baits or jigs through slow pools works in streams all year, and browns are caught through the ice on worms, minnows and small jigs.
04Tackle
For streams, an ultralight to light spinning rod with light line (or light braid and a fluorocarbon leader), or a 4-weight fly rod, covers most fishing; go heavier for big streamers and lake fish. Carry inline spinners, small spoons, stickbaits, small crankbaits, nymphs, dry flies and streamers. Check your state's regulations; many trout waters have special rules on lures, seasons and harvest.
05Questions anglers ask
How do I recognize a brown trout?
A golden-brown to yellow-brown body with black spots, often ringed with pale halos, on the upper sides and red spots lower down; the adipose fin often has a red edge.
When do brown trout spawn?
In the fall. They move up tributaries and onto shallow gravel bars to spawn, and in big-lake tributaries the run starts in September and October.
Why are brown trout so hard to catch?
They're wary, spook easily and hide in cover, and big browns often feed most in low light. Keep out of sight, use light line in clear water, and fish early, late or on cloudy days.