Brook Trout rundown

By Gord Ellis

Lake fishing for brookies can give anglers the fits. At times I've pounded world-class trout water for days and would have sworn on Billy Graham's bible that no trout lived there. I've also had the most spectacular brookie fishing of my life in lakes. When confronted with a new brook trout lake, Iook for fallen wood in the water (including beaver houses), points, boulder shorelines, reefs near deep water, boulder saddles between islands, weedy back bays, and creekmouths. Wind direction also is a critical factor. Wind-blown shorelines always attract feeding fish.

Spring specks can be scattered. Cover as much shoreline as possible, while you cast a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce spoon or spinner to draw out aggressive fish. Once you find trout, finesse them with a fly, jig, or minnow plug. Use a paddle or electric trolling motor for a stealthy approach. Trolling is least successful when brookies are near shore.

As summer progresses, brook trout become creatures of the edge. In my experience, finding them in water deeper than 20 feet (6 m) is rare, but they will hold on sharp breaks and especially rock reefs near deep water. Summer trout also gravitate to underwater springs. Springs are hard to find, but I've located them by seeing or hearing fish splash repeatedly in small areas. Worth noting is that the best springs often have cabbage weeds associated with them.

In summer, trolling a light multi-bladed spinner with a worm on its single hook or trolling a crankbait are killers for specks. If fish have gone deep, use lead-core line

In fall, trout move towards shore again, but concentrate around spawning areas. In stocked lakes that have a year-round open trout season, look for shallow rocky reefs, creekmouths or outlets, and fallen trees to hold fish. Fishing would seem easier in flows, but bookies will confuse and befuddle you in rivers too. In spring, look for water approaching 50 F (10 C) before getting serious about fishing. You can catch specks when it's colder, but the bite is tough. The appearance of blackflies is a good signal that fish are biting.

Pools, especially at the base of falls, turn on first. Specks set up at the edges of tail-outs, behind boulders or logs, and tuck up against banks in back eddies, especially if a cedar tree is draped over them. Don't ignore pocket water, however, as specks will take up residence in amazingly small territories if the food is there.

The KISS rule (Keep It Simple Spec-nerd) is always worth considering when spring fishing in rivers or creeks. Bait anglers need little more than No. 6 bait-holder hooks, split shot, and healthy worms to catch a mess of specks. While drift fishing a worm is trout cyanide, I prefer working bait under a fixed balsa float. I can see a strike and I get far fewer deeply hooked fish. This is a concern if you want to release trout.

Lure anglers should have a selection of weighted-body spinners. One-quarter to 3/8-ounce sizes are good in small to medium flows. You can tip a spinner with a worm for more trout appeal. In large rivers, use 1/2- to 5/8-ounce spinners to cast farther and get down to bottom in swift, deep water. One-quarter to to 3/8-ounce casting spoons are also good choices in medium to large rivers.

As the water warms, brook trout start to move. Temperature, water levels, and food availability affect where they go. As often as not, these fish also seek cool springs, which are generally associated with a high hill, falls, rock cliff, or incoming flow. They can, however, be in the middle of a dead-looking back bay. In low-gradient northern rivers like the Albany, Ogoki, and their tributaries, finding springs is the whole speck-fishing game come summer. I've seen spring holes that had 100 or more trout jammed into a couple feet of water. One spot to check for springs is at the top of a falls. Trout sit just a few feet away from the drop, enjoying cool temperatures.

Spring-creek brookies are more consistent biters, as water temperatures are cooler and cover is usually less of an issue. I've had great fishing at the base of culverts, as they create a falls effect and always hold trout. Deep pools, especially those lined with alders or cedar, can also be good, although difficult to fish. Short rods and plenty of patience and fly dope are required. Some of the best fishing I've had has been in beaver-dam ponds. The perfect pond is about 3 years old, has about 15 feet (4.6 m) of water, and is a long way from a road. Beaver ponds can be fished out quickly. If you find a good pond, keep a couple of fish for dinner, let the rest go, and don't tell a soul where it is, not even your mom. Few dams stay good forever, though; in time they either silt in or blow out.

Big brook trout can be tough customers to connect with. But armed with knowledge, time, and patience, you'll hit the jackpot often enough to keep you going back for them again and again