Brook Trout: The Best Lures, Baits, and Gear Picks From a Specialist

Claude Bissonnette, member of the SAIL team and avid fishing expert, shares his top gear recommendations for brook trout fishing. Grab these essentials and give yourself every advantage on your next outing.

Fishing gear

Brook trout fishing gear

The characteristics of brook trout and how to identify them

The brook trout, also known as speckled trout, is a highly sought-after fish known for:

• Its fighting spirit;
• Its vivid, striking colours;
• Its delicious orange flesh.

Found throughout Quebec and Ontario, it is one of the most accessible species for anglers in both provinces. You can find it in countless lakes and rivers. Just check out our guide to the best brook trout fishing destinations in Quebec and Ontario for inspiration. Many regional parks, wildlife reserves and outfitters offer cabin and lodge stays, day fishing packages and boat rentals for anglers looking to tackle brook trout.

Easily recognizable by its skin scattered with red spots ringed in blue halos, the speckled trout also has small teeth, an orange belly, a small adipose fin behind the main dorsal fin, and a very slightly forked tail fin. Do not confuse it with the Arctic char, a generally longer fish that also features red spots, without blue halos and with a more deeply forked tail.

Claude Bissonnette recommends checking out fishing books, specialty magazines and websites for photos and descriptions so you can easily identify your catch and other freshwater fish species.

What is the best brook trout gear to own?

Your brook trout setup will vary depending on your technique (casting, trolling or fly fishing), but will generally include the following:

• Fishing rod
• Matching reel
• Fishing line
• Lures and baits
• Hooks

Rod and reel for brook trout: casting, trolling and still fishing

Go with a moderate-action spinning rod around 6.5 feet (1.9 metres) and a size 2000 to 2500 reel. If you’re trolling, opt for a fast-action spinning rod. It’s stiffer and better suited to the technique.

Claude also suggests going ultralight with a 5 to 5.5 foot (1.5 to 1.7 metres) rod and a size 500 to 1000 reel if you want to turn up the challenge and feel every bit of the fight.

Rods and reels for fly fishing for brook trout

Opt for a fly fishing combo including a rod that is 6-8 to 7-9 feet long with a reel made to hold 4-7 fly fishing line.

Types of fishing line

Claude recommends using:

• Braided line rated for an 8 to 20 lb (3.6 to 9 kg) test for trolling. With no stretch, this line is more sensitive and lets you feel every bite.
• A 4 to 8 lb (1.8 to 3.6 kg) monofilament or fluorocarbon line for your leader.
• Fly line in weights 4 to 7 for fly fishing.

What are the best baits to use?

Fresh, live earthworms work great for brook trout, whether you’re casting, trolling or still fishing. Just keep in mind that using live bait means you may not be able to catch and release.

If you’d rather go for artificial bait, Claude recommends small crankbaits, plastic larvae imitations or soft plastic worms. Trout nuggets are another solid option worth having in your tackle box.

Some of the best artificial lures for brook trout include:

• Mepps Black Fury Garni spinner
• Rapala Original Floating 2-in. hard bait (brook trout colour)
• Berkley Powerbait Micro Power Nymph 1-in. soft bait (Pumpkin Chartreuse colour)

What are the best baits to use for fishing brook trout?

Brook trout are generally drawn to:

• Light reflection;
• Vibration.

This makes wobbling spoons and spinners excellent lure choices. In fact, anglers of old used to fish with real metal spoons and kettle cutouts to attract fish, which is what inspired the legendary Clear Wobbler. As for colour, it really comes down to the body of water and its clarity.

Dry flies are also a great option for catching speckled trout when fly fishing. The key is to match the size and colour of the insects they’re feeding on as closely as possible.

Spoons for standard fishing

According to Claude Bissonnette, it is very important to adjust your lure depending on the depth of the water and the season.

Remember to bring a variety of spoons and lures in different colours to find the right combination.
It is also possible to mount two hooks on the bottom of your line, after setting your spoon, or to use a combo of a fly, a spoon, and a hook with a worm on the end if you want to try various combinations.

3 recommended spoons for brook trout fishing

• Lake Clear Wabbler Spoon (silver and copper colour)
• Cami Sorcier XL Spoon (silver and red sopper colour)
• Lucky Strike Toronto Wobbler Spoon

Fly fishing flies

Opt for dry flies such as March, Adam’s, Foam, or Royal Wulff.

You can also use small #4-6 streamer flies like Grey Ghost or Mickey Finn, or try 13-A, Hare’s Ear or Stone nymphs.

3 recommended flies for brook trout

• 4-6 size Woolly Bugger
• 4-6 size Muddler Minnow
• 4-6 size Magog Smelt

What other essentials shouldn’t you forget?

In addition to your fishing licence to have with you at all times, your PFD and insect repellent, Claude Bissonnette suggests bringing a cooler and these other fishing essentials:

• Sonar
• Landing net
• Hemostat long nose pliers
• Lures, flies and spoons
• Floater for dead sticking
• Assembly accessories
• Worms
• Fishing knife
• Towel
• Portable motor, battery, and paddle

What is the best time of year to fish for brook trout?

Brook trout are most active from May to June and again from September to October. Within those windows, early morning and late afternoon are your best bet for a good day on the water.

Expert Advice

• After a catch, cut the line and replace your leader, as the line may break on the next catch, and the hook is often damaged.
• Double up on the spoons you bring on your fishing trip. You don’t want to lose your favourite spoon in the water and come home empty-handed, especially if it’s been effective at catching fish.
• Use crushed barbs or barbless hooks to avoid injuring the trout when removing the hook.