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Brown Trout

2013 Update - When fishing for Brown trout have a headlamp handy and fish until the end of the legal fishing day which is 2 hours after sunset. This is a very active time for brown trout.  I prefer to use full sink with streamers to get down to the fish during the day.   A well presented baitfish pattern in front of its now will often lead to success.

The Brown Trout is very hardy and as such has found a home in New Hampshire’s lakes and ponds where there are warm water species and some depth to survive during the summer months.  Brown Trout are very aggressive toward bait fish once they reach 12-14 inches of length, and are very active at night (similar to bass).  For this reason, large Brown trout can be fairly elusive to the occasional angler who uses typical trout fishing means .  

The experienced angler can catch large Brown Trout in lakes and pond with similar trolling techniques used for Salmon, Lake Trout, and Rainbow Trout.   Fly fisherman opt to fish as late a legally possible using flies such as hair mice and gurglers to cause surface disturbances especially in slack water in the larger rivers.    The Brown Trout fishery in New Hampshire is very special as it offers trophy trout possibilities in the rivers and add a diverse fishery to some of the water bodies that hold many different species.  

Once of the reasons this species is so special is strength (bull dog) of the fish during the fight once hooked, as they stay down, shake their head.  This is especially exciting where there is a current and you are using light tippet, or in pitch darkness.    Practice safe release using rubber nets and carefully revive the fish after removing the hook.   A trophy brown trout with hooked jaw is a much better mount than it is table fare.   In fact, we recommend photographing the fish and have the mount reproduced from that image, and released back in the environment.

New Hampshire also has Sea Run Brown trout managed in streams at the seacoast.  This is a small fishery but is sustainable as stocking continues in those streams.  These fish can be well over 5 lbs.