Brown Trout gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line
Light or ultralight spinning rod, about 4.5 to 8.5 feet.	Small to medium spinning reel.	4 to 8 lb monofilament.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: Light or ultralight spinning rod, about 4.5 to 8.5 feet.
Reel: Small to medium spinning reel.
Line: 4 to 8 lb monofilament.

Baits

worms and nightcrawlers
minnows
crayfish

Lures

inline spinners
minnow-imitating stickbaits
small spoons
crayfish imitations

Rigs

Cast a spinner or minnow imitation upstream and across, through runs and the head and tail of pools.
In cold early-season water, fish bait or small jigs slowly and deep in pools.

Tips

Browns are warier than brook trout and grow larger. Big browns switch to minnows and crayfish, so match that. They feed actively at about 55 to 65°F and often bite better on rainy or overcast days.
In big lakes, browns come close to shore in early spring; troll or cast minnow-imitating plugs.
Fly fishing: Same stream outfit as rainbow trout. Streamers and large surface flies take big browns, often after dark during big mayfly hatches.

Starter setup

A 5.5 to 7 foot light to medium-light spinning or spincast rod and matching reel, spooled with 6 lb monofilament. Spincast is easiest for beginners, and a 4 to 5 foot rod suits small kids. Carry size 6 to 10 hooks, a few split shot (pinched on 4 to 8 inches above the hook), small bobbers, a couple of small spinners and jigs, and worms. Learn the improved clinch knot and the palomar knot.

Light line casts farther and draws more strikes. Heavier line and stiffer rods are for bigger fish, heavy cover or sharp teeth, not for everyday fishing.

When to size up

Fish	Gear
Walleye, bass, saugeye, hybrid striped bass	medium rod, 8 to 12 lb line, 6 to 7.5 feet
Channel catfish	medium-heavy rod, 10 to 20 lb line
Northern pike	medium-heavy rod, 15 lb or heavier braid, steel or heavy fluorocarbon (40 lb+) leader
Muskellunge	heavy 7 to 9 foot rod, 50 to 80 lb braid, heavy leader
Trolling for lake trout and salmon	8.5 to 10.5 foot trolling rods, 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid, level-wind reels
Steelhead	8 to 10 foot or longer rods, 6 to 10 lb line
Lake sturgeon	heavy rod, 50 to 100 lb braid