What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout
The right weight fly rod for brook trout will depend on the size of the river they are in and the size of the brook trout. Since most brook trout are 6 to 10 inches long a 3 to 4 weight fly rod is the best weight fly rod for brook trout in most streams.
However, the method you use can also dictate the weight of fly rod for brook trout.
Brook Trout might be easy to catch but sometimes, but hooking and fighting a 6 inch brook trout on 8 weight rod really doesnt provide much fight and fun. It’s like hooking panfish on a musky rod. However, hooking that 6 inch brook trout on a 3 weight fly rod and that little fish is going to bend the rod and give you a fun challenge.
You should also consider the flies you plan to use since casting large, heavy flies for large brook trout calls for a larger and heavier fly rod.
Therefore, the question of the day is: What weight fly rod for Brook Trout to use for you?
Let’s answer it!
What Kind of Fly Rod Should You Use to Target Brook Trout?
Brook Trout inhabit streams, rivers, estuaries, ponds, lakes. They also vary in size quite considerably. Due to all these factors, the equipment and techniques best suited to Brook Trout fishing differ radically, too.
Brook trout fly anglers need suitable fly rods and reels combined with the right floating fly lines.
No matter how experienced, no angler can single out one type of fly rod or specific line-weight range. However, as a good caster and good angler, if I had to choose 1 weight fly rod for brook trout to do it all, it would be a 9 foot, 4 weight fly rod. But that might not be what you need so consider these things:
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout to Use in Different Water Environments?
Conventional trout rods tend to be on the ultraalight to light side and so should your fly rods.The exceptions would be if you need to fish a lake from a boat which required different baits and flies.
Fishing tiny little brook trout creeks that average 5 feet wide with dry flies, I’ve had a blast using a 2 weight fly rod.
Hence, you need to know what weight fly rod for Brook Trout you should use in every water environment this fish inhabits.
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout in Small Streams & Brooks
The average Brook Trout you can catch when fishing small streams is between 7 and 12 inches long. In fact, on many streams, a 12-inch brook trout is considered big. For these brook trout, a fly rod weight in the 2 to 4 weight range is ideal.
In my opinion, an 8.5 to 9 foot, 3-weight fly rod is a perfect choice for throwing small flies such as smaller dries and nymphs. It is accurate and provides a subtle presentation.
The exception is if you are primarily nymphing, then a 2 or 3-weight 10-foot nymphing rod is best.
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout In Small Rivers
A 3-weight rod can work just as well in small rivers as in small streams up to 50 feet wide, however, on these larger rivers there is potential for larger brook trout, or the use of streamers and nymphs, so a 9-foot 4-weight is best.
If you want to be able to effectively nymph currents, you can purchase a longer 4-weight rod of 10 to 11 feet.
If you want to use only one rod for all your Brook Trout fishing adventures, a 5-weight fly rod of 9 feet might be your best pick. It is highly versatile and enables you to use multiple angling tactics including streamers, and is better for longer casts. It still provides a good fight for small brook trout but will also handle brook trout over 5 pounds.
What Weight Fly Rod for Brook Trout In Big Rivers
There are a few longer rods that are 3-weight but made especially for nymphing big rivers such as Orvis Helios 3wt 10’6″.
However, if you are looking for a rod that can cast dry flies, nymphs, and streamers, you should best stick to a standard 9-foot, 5-weight, medium-action rod, such as the already mentioned Ovis Helios 3D.
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout When Fishing Ponds & Lakes
If you need a fly rod for Brook Trout fishing in lakes and ponds, get a standard 9-foot, 5-weight fast-action rod. It is a versatile weight fly rod for brook trout fishing in other freshwater environments, too.
The heavier rod will help you cast further and help cast in windy conditions. It will also help if you are using larger streamers.
This is also a good weight for brook trout fishing from watercraft. It will make lifting the line off the water easier and help you maintain the backcast out of the water.
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout to Use Depending on Your Fishing Technique?
I change my rod size depending on the type of fly fishing I am doing.
As an example, I use a lighter rod when dry fly fishing, a heavier rod when chucking an indicator rig, and an even heavier rod when tossing big streamers and mouse patterns at giant brook trout.
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout When Dry Fly Fishing
A 2-weight or a 3-weight rod is a safe choice for small streams and rivers. It is suitable for casting decent-sized dry flies and strong enough to target a Brook Trout up to 18 inches, or maybe bigger if you play them well.
If you prefer fishing a dry, dropper rig, you should get a 4-weight rod.
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout When Nymphing
If you nymph a lot, you may want a longer rod in the 10- to 11-foot range. Still, we would not recommend going much heavier than a 4-weight unless you target hefty Brook Trout in big, fast-flowing rivers. The Hardy Ultralite 10 Foot 3 Weight is an excellent choice.
In fact, many of the large trout over 24 inches were caught on my 10 foot 2 weight, and 10 foot 3 weight fly rods.
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout When Streamer Fishing
Streamer fishing is one of my favorite methods for fishing for large trout.
A 5-weight or 6-weight rod is your best choice if you are into throwing streamers into wide-open big rivers with the potential for higher winds.
Normally, the 5-weight is plenty for streamers, however, if the brook trout are big and you are throwing very large streamers with sink tips or sinking lines, then a 6-weight fly rod is a better option.
Match that up with my most effective streamer flies for trout and you are good to go.
What Weight Fly Rod for Brook Trout to Use Depending On the Size of the Fish
The size of the brook trout you fish for will also determine the right weight fly rod for brook trout.
As an example, the small brook trout found in the spring creeks of Pennsylvania require a smaller rod, but when fishing northern Ontario or Norther Quebec where the average brook trout is 4 to 6 pounds, you need a heavier rod.
What Weight Fly Rod For Small Brook Trout
Small stream Brook Trout angling usually yields smaller fish. Therefore, a 2-4 weight rod will do just fine. The most popular choice among experienced Brook Trout anglers is a 3-weight rod.
What Weight Fly Rod For Big Brook Trout
If you fish larger rivers in late spring, you might stumble upon quite a big Brook Trout with some even longer than 19 inches. To bring such a fish in, you’ll need a bit heavier rod. I recommend a 9-foot, 5-weight medium-action “trout rod.”
What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout Q&A
If you have a question or some advice regarding What Weight Fly Rod For Brook Trout, let us know in the comments section below.
Tight Lines
Graham
