6 expert tips for early-season brook trout

#5 BRANCH OUT

After the sun has heated the surface of the water for a few days, the trout will leave the shoreline. That’s when you need to expand your search. Stream- and rivermouths are often overlooked, but they can be productive, with the current containing large amounts of larvae, earthworms and other food sources. The waters around beaver lodges are also good places to target. Many anglers avoid such areas because they’re afraid of getting snagged, but they’re missing out. Just be vigilant and retrieve your offering a little faster so it doesn’t make contact with the bottom or sunken branches. Also seek out shallow bays with old, submerged trees—the trunks and branches are prime habitat for brook trout, offering a place to hide out or ambush prey. These bays are even better if they’re a little muddy, as they’ll attract flying insects and countless little bugs. Finally, look for rocky or sandy points that jut out from the shore, and fish the drop-offs.