Brook Trout species guide • Game fish • Very easy (3/10)

Brook Trout junior fishing guide

Salvelinus fontinalis

A clear, plain-English guide to brook trout for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Brook Trout catch
Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons
Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Very easy (3/10)

Perfect for first-ever fishing trips with young juniors.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

6–12 oz typical in streams and small lakes.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

Brook Trout

Beginner baits

Caster, Lobworm, Pinkie …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Small streams and stillwaters where stocked, often upland or clear waters.
Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.
Catch your first brook trout with confidence

Catch your first Brook Trout in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

  1. Step 1

    Fish small, accessible streams or ponds

    Brook Trout often live in intimate streams and stocked ponds. Pick clear banks and shallow runs where juniors can stand or kneel safely.

  2. Step 2

    Short rods and small baits

    Use short rods with small spinners, worms or simple flies. Keep casts short and controlled to avoid trees, banks and other anglers.

  3. Step 3

    Teach gentle, quick handling

    Trout are easily damaged by dry hands. Show juniors how to wet hands first, support fish gently and return them promptly.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

👉 Swipe sideways to view different setups.

Fly Rod

Beginner tip: Focus on smooth casting and gentle lifting strikes, keep false casts to a minimum and always wear eye protection.

IDEAL

Rod: Fly rod rated to the correct line weight for the species and venue.

Reel: Matching fly reel with enough backing for the line weight.

Line: Tapered leader of 5–8 lb for trout and 8–12 lb for larger game fish.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Selection of flies"
  • "tippet ring or loop to loop connection"
  • "barbless or debarbed hooks"]

Extras

  • ["Polarised glasses"
  • "landing net"
  • "wading staff and belt if wading"]

Fly rod setup matched to line and leader for trout, grayling and other game fish.

Ultra-Light Lure Rod

Beginner tip: Stress local byelaws and seasons – many game fish must be returned carefully and some are protected.

GOOD

Rod: 6–7 ft ultra-light spinning rod (2–10 g).

Reel: 1000–2000 size fixed spool reel.

Line: 4–6 lb mono or braid with 4–6 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Barbless hooks where required"
  • "Appropriate local patterns or small spinners"]

Extras

  • ["Polarised glasses"
  • "Priest where legal"
  • "Rubber mesh landing net"]

Game fish like trout and grayling are usually targeted with fly tackle or light spinning gear.

About the Brook Trout

Brook Trout are colourful char originally from North America, with striking marbled patterns and red spots. In the UK they are stocked in a few specialist fisheries and upland lakes.

Junior tip

Treat Brook Trout like small wild brown trout – light rods, small flies or spinners, and careful handling over soft, wet ground.

Logged a Brook Trout recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

Fish Health & EA Advice

Linked conditions and guidance for Brook Trout.

Chilodonella
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Chilodonella

Chilodonella is a fast-spreading parasite that attacks the skin and gills of freshwater fish. It can cause heavy mucus, grey patches, breathing problems, and even death if untreated. It thrives in poor water quality, overcrowded waters, and when fish are stressed. Good fishery management is the best way to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice

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