How to recognise it
- Wavy, maze-like lines on the back and upper sides: in California, no other trout has them.
- Olive-green to olive-brown, often with reddish hues, and red spots inside blue halos.
- The pectoral, pelvic and anal fins have white front edges.
- Spawning fish darken: dusky to black bellies, red sides and red lower fins.
Habitat: where it lives
- Cold, clear lakes and streams. Native to the northeastern US and eastern Canada, and stocked far beyond: it was brought to California in 1871 and is most abundant in the high Sierra Nevada.
- Known waters include Adirondack ponds in New York, and streams and interior lakes in Minnesota.
Habits: behavior, spawning and growth
- Small high-elevation streams hold many fish, usually under 14 in; some lakes hold fish over 18 in.
Where and when
- For a lot of bites, try a small high-elevation stream: more than two fish an hour in California.
- For a bigger fish, try a lake known for them.
- Best times: midday in spring, early morning and early evening in summer.
- Rules vary a lot: some California waters have bonus limits, and New York has proposed new rules for Adirondack brook trout ponds. Check your state's rules before you go.
Bait and lures
Live and natural bait
- Worms
- Salmon eggs
- Corn
- Prepared dough baits
- Minnows, where your state allows them
Lures
- Small spinners, 1/32–1/8 oz
- Small crankbaits
- Flies of many kinds
Why these baits work
- It feeds on whatever is around, so a small bait or lure in the right place matters more than the exact choice.
Rod and reel setups
Grouped by lure fishing (artificial baits) and bait fishing (live or natural bait).
Lure fishing
- Rod
- Light spinning rod
- Reel
- Light spinning reel
- Line
- 2–8 lb test
- Hook & rig
- A 1/32–1/8 oz spinner or small crankbait.
Bait fishing
- Rod
- Light spinning rod
- Reel
- Light spinning reel
- Line
- 2–8 lb test
- Hook & rig
- A light-wire hook, size 6–14, with a worm or salmon eggs, drifted along the bottom.
Size and bag limits vary by state, species and lake. Current limits: Texas (TPWD); elsewhere, your state's fish and wildlife agency. Check before you keep a fish.
Sources
