Brook trout are a favorite among many a fly angler. They are found in many different parts of the country, and they are known for putting up a good fight when hooked.
In this article, best brook trout flies, we will discuss some of the best flies for catching brook trout and some tips about fishing for them.
Brook trout fishing is fun and exciting as long as you know what types of flies and how to use them. So if you’re looking to catch a few brook trout on your next trip, read on!
11 Best Brook Trout Flies and How to Fish Them
There are a lot of different flies that can be used to catch big brookies, brown or rainbow trout, but not all of them are equally effective. If you’re targeting brook trout specifically, then you’ll want to use one of these 11 flies:
1. Prince Nymph Fly
Prince nymph flies are wet flies and are an effective piece of tackle for catching brook trout. They are known for their effectiveness in catching fish and are, therefore, popular among fly fishermen. Prince nymphs are typically tied with a black ostrich herl over the body, making them visually distinctive. Depending on the fisherman’s preference, these flies can be found in different sizes and colors. Prince nymphs are essential to any fly fisherman’s arsenal and can be used in various situations.
How to Fish a Prince Nymph Fly
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching a trout take your fly. If you’re hoping to catch a brook trout, a prince nymph is one of the best flies. Here’s how to fish with a prince nymph: start by tying the fly onto your tippet using an improved clinch knot.
Then, cast your line upstream and allow the fly to drift downstream. As the fly drifts, keep an eye on your line; set the hook immediately when you see a trout hit. Use a light touch when setting the hook, as too much force can tear the fly out of the trout’s mouth. With a little practice, you’ll catch brook trout in no time!
2. Micro Marabou Leech
A micro marabou leech is a smaller version of the regular Marabou Leech, and there are many kinds of this type of fly. The feathers tied onto a micro marabou are turkey feathers from underneath the bird. They have slender bodies with bulbous heads. They are small flies usually put on a #12 or #14 curved hook.
How to Fish a Micro Marabou Leech
To catch a brook trout using a Micro Marabou Leech. I then tie the leech to my line, ensuring it is well-weighted to sink quickly to the bottom. Once the fly is in place, I give it a little tug every few minutes to make it wiggle and look like a real worm or larvae.
The trout are attracted to this movement, and I usually have a bite before long. When setting the hook, I do it quickly and firmly so that the trout doesn’t have a chance to escape. With a little patience and practice, anyone can learn to catch trout using a Micro Marabou Leech.
3. Griffith’s Gnat
A Griffith’s Gnat is a small black fly that is often found near brook trout streams. The fly is named after the Scottish entomologist William Griffith, who first described it in 1853.
The fly is typically about 2-3 mm long and has a 6-8 mm wingspan. The body is black, and the legs are clear. The fly is most active during the day and can be found near streams and rivers where brook trout are present.
How to Fish a Griffith’s Gnat
Fishing with a Griffith’s Gnat is a great option if you’re hoping to catch wild trout. Start by tying it onto your tippet to fish with this fly using an improved clinch knot. Then, cast your line upstream and allow the fly to drift downstream.
As the fly drifts, keep an eye on your line; set the hook immediately when you see a trout hit. Use a light touch when setting the hook, as too much force can tear the fly out of the trout’s mouth. With a little practice, you’ll catch brook trout in no time!
4. Pheasant Tail Nymph
That name calls the Pheasant Tail Nymph because it resembles a fly called the Pheasant Tail Red Spinner. Light copper wire is used to construct this nymph so that it can sink to the bottom more easily and is brighter in color than other flies around, attracting the trout that remain at the bottom.
How to Fish a Pheasant Tail Nymph
The best way to fish a Pheasant Tail Nymph is by letting it naturally sink to the bottom of the stream or river bed and carefully raise your pole so the nymph goes slowly to the top of the water. This technique is called Induced Take and is very effective at attracting brook trout.
5. Elk Hair Caddis
Elk hair caddis is one of the best flies for catching brook trout! The fly is named after its resemblance to the adult caddisflies and stoneflies. The hook sizes used for Elk Hair Caddis are between #6 to #10 hook.
How to Fish Elk Hair Caddis
The Elk Hair Caddis is a versatile pattern that can imitate various insects. It is particularly effective during a caddis hatch but can mimic other flying insects, such as mayflies and stoneflies.
When fishing an Elk Hair Caddis, matching the fly’s size and color to the hatching insects is essential.
If you are unsure what insects are hatching, try using various patterns and colors until you find one that the fish are willing to bite. Once you have located a productive pattern, fish it using various techniques until you find one that the fish respond to.
The Elk Hair Caddis is a versatile pattern that can be fished using various techniques, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find one that works for you.
6. Adams Parachute
An Adams Parachute is another great dry fly that will help you catch more brook trout. This fly is made to imitate Midge, Mayflies, and flying caddis, which are all natural flies that trout love to feed on.
How to Fish an Adams Parachute
First, you need to rig it up with a nymph dropper. This will help get it down deep where the fish are feeding. Attach about 18 inches of tippet to the bend in the hook and then tie on a mini SW Newsmaker kilo. Then, add your Adams Parachute fly about 12 inches above the kilo.
Next, you need to cast it out and let it drift downstream. As it drifts, keep a tight line and look for any strikes. If you see a strike, then set the hook immediately. You want to make sure that you keep a tight line during the entire drift. This will help ensure you feel any strikes and can properly set the hook.
Finally, once you have landed your fish, carefully remove the Adams Parachute fly and release the fish back into the water. With these tips, you should be able to fish an Adams Parachute fly and catch some trout successfully!
7. Royal Wulff
A Royal Wulff is a dry fly made to imitate a mayfly, typically between two and four inches long. It has a slender, cylindrical body that is often weighted so that it sinks quickly to the bottom of the water, where trout are typically found.
How to Fish a Royal Wulff
Royal Wulff flies are a dry fly, meaning they float on the water’s surface. They are often used for fishing for trout but can also be effective for other types of fish. Cast your line into the water first to fish with a Royal Wulff fly.
Then, gently tug on the line every few seconds to make the fly dance on the surface. This motion will mimic the movements of an insect and is likely to attract fish. When a fish bites, reel in your line and enjoy the catch!
Royal Wulff flies are a versatile and effective way to fish, so be sure to try them next time you’re out on the water.
8. Chernobyl Ant
Brook trout go crazy for Chernobyl Ant fly. This fly is made of foam and various colors of string. Hook size #10 is typical for making these magnificent dry flies. These flies imitate the look of a grasshopper, so you know the trout will go after it.
How to Fish Using a Chernobyl Ant
When using a Chernobyl Ant, you want to be aware that the hook can twist easily when casting and lands the wrong side up often. To remedy this problem, straighten out the leader every few casts, and you should be good to go.
Also, the big brook trout love the bigger-sized Chernobyl Ants, so experiment using different size hooks as well.
9. Muddler Minnow
A muddler minnow is a small streamer fly used to fish for trout, bass, and other freshwater fish. The fly is designed to mimic the tiny insects and the Slimy sculpin fish found in North America’s coldwater streams and lakes.
The muddler minnow is one of the most popular flies among anglers because it is so effective at catching fish. The fly is easy to tie and can be fished in various ways. Whether fishing small streams or large rivers, the muddler minnow is a great fly.
10. Pale Morning Dun
The pale morning dun is a small mayfly common in small streams. It is often used as an indicator fly, meaning that it is used to help anglers identify where fish are feeding.
The pale morning dun can be fished using several techniques, including dry fly, wet fly, and nymph. Dry fly fishing is the most popular way to fish with the pale morning dun.
To fish with a dry fly, tie the fly to the end of your line and cast it into the water. The fly will float on the surface, imitating a natural mayfly.
As the fly drifts downstream, keep your rod tip up so that you can watch them fly. When you see a fish rising to take the fly, set the hook by quickly stripping in the slack and raising your rod tip.
Wet fly and nymph fishing are effective ways to fish with the pale morning dun. Both techniques involve fishing with flies that sink below the water’s surface.
Nymphs are flies that imitate the larvae stage of insects, while wet flies are flies that imitate adult insects. To fish with a nymph or wet fly, cast your fly into the water and allow it to sink to where the fish are located
11. Slumpbusters Streamer
A slumpbuster fly is a type of streamer fly used in fly fishing. The fly is designed to mimic the appearance of small baitfish, making it an effective choice for targeting predators such as bass, trout, and pike.
To fish with a slumpbuster fly, cast the fly into the water column and retrieve it back to you using a steady, consistent motion.
The fly should stay close to the water’s surface, and you can impart additional action by twitching your fly rod tip as you retrieve. Experiment with different retrieval speeds and rod tip motions to find what works best in any given situation. With a bit of practice, you can use a slumpbuster fly to a tempting effect.
Fishing Guide: 25 Best Trout Fishing Rivers in Alaska
Tips for Fly Fishing for Brook Trout
Now that you know what the best trout flies are, here are a few tips to help you catch more trout on your next trip:
- Fish in areas with lots of cover, such as logs or rocks. Brook trout hide in these spots, so you’ll likely find them there.
- Use a lighter tippet when fishing with dry flies. This will help prevent the fly from being pulled underwater by the trout.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with different flies and techniques. You never know what will work best until you try it out!
- The optimal water temperature for catching trout is 41 degrees Fahrenheit, so early spring and late fall are the optimal time of year for fly fishers to catch many trout species.
- A good time of year to fish for trout, especially in the smaller streams in the early season when the mayfly hatches. Trout go crazy over mayfly larvae, and using a nymph that mimics it, you’re sure to catch larger trout. This might be the best time to do some small stream fishing, and you will find large numbers of trout congregating to feed on those mayfly larvae.
Conclusion – Best Brook Trout Flies
With these tips in mind, and by using these 11 flies, you should be able to catch plenty of brook trout on your next fly fishing trip.
Be it in the mountain streams or the deeper water of the rivers on the lowland, you will surely find these flies and tips useful for various situations you find yourself in while fishing. So get out there and give it a try and catch yourself one of those big fish you have been dreaming of!
For more fly fishing tips and techniques, check out our Fly Fishing Beginners Guide; this is a great resource if you are new to fly fishing!
What’s your favorite fly for catching brook trout? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time Happy fly fishing!
Cory Haasnoot
Cory is a content writer-editor and founder of Tackle Box Talk. Favorite Quote: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."