Flies


Brook Trout


Caddisflies can be fished below or above the surface and there are plenty of imitations available.  These flies work well for a variety of trout and brook trout will eat these flies too.  Drift them slowly in the current and you should be able to catch some trout.


Egg flies are a popular way to target trout in streams and rivers when the spawn is happening.  They work for brook trout too.  Drift them in the current during the spawn and you can expect to catch some brook trout on these flies. Some of the flies that are on the market are geared towards bigger fish such as steelhead, brown trout and salmon.  Find the smallest egg fly patterns if you’re trying to target brook trout.



Single egg patterns are one of the more effective ways to fish the rivers and streams for trout when the spawn is going on. They can be effective for brook trout also, but they definitely aren’t as popular as they are with rainbow trout or brown trout.  Drift a single egg pattern in the current and you can expect to catch some brook trout.  If you downsize to some of the smallest single eggs you can find, this should help you catch some brook trout with this bait.


Hellgrammite Flies can be very effective for many species of trout and brook trout can be fooled with a hellgrammite imitation too.  Work these flies in the current and you should be able to find some feeding brook trout.



Mayflies hatch is such big numbers on most bodies of water and when this happens, it can create a feeding frenzy for trout and other species of fish.  As these mayflies swim towards the surface, trout can be found feeding on them throughout the water column.  Mayflies will also be found all over the surface, so a good dry fly imitation can be very productive too.  Brook trout feed on mayflies too and they can be caught with a variety of mayfly imitations that may be fished below or on the surface.


Midges are readily available throughout the seasons and they are excellent flies for targeting a variety of different trout species.  Whether midges are in the nymph, larvae or adult stage, you can find a fly to imitate them and you should be able to catch some brook trout with them.


Fishing with nymphs is a great way to target brook trout  There are so many different types of nymphs available that do a good job of matching the variety of underwater nymphs that may be in a stream or river.  Drift them in the current and fish them in pools and you should catch plenty of fish.


Stoneflies are great flies for targeting a variety of different trout species.  Whether you use them as nymphs or dry flies, they both work.  Anglers use stoneflies to target brook trout.  Depending on the time of year you may have to fish below or on the surface, but these flies will definitely help you catch some fish.


Streamers have their time and place for most trout and it is no different for brook trout.  Because brook trout are so much smaller on average than other trout species, you’re not going to want to be fishing with some of those bigger streamers that you may use to catch a big brown trout or rainbow trout.  Downsize to the smallest trout streamers you can find if you want to catch good numbers of brook trout on streamers.

Some anglers will cast streamers upstream and let them drift down in the current and this can be effective, but you will usually get more strikes with the streamer by mimicking a bait fleeing the scene or a wounded bait fish.  A strip followed by a pause will usually draw more strikes than just drifting it downstream and you can do well by fishing across the current as well.  Mix up your retrieves until you find the better technique for that particular day.


Woolly Buggers work great for so many different species of trout.  You can use them for brook trout as well, but don’t go as big as you would when fishing for quality brown trout and rainbow trout.  Downsize to accommodate the smaller brook trout and you can definitely catch them with woolly buggers. Drift them in the current or use a strip, strip, pause technique to draw strikes.