Brown Trout
SIZE AND WEIGHT
In most environments, brown trout will grow to a maximum of 10kg (around 20lb) and 80cm long.
In specific locations like the Tekapo canals (South Island, NZ), it’s not uncommon for them to grow to 13kg (around 30lb). However, in both New Zealand and Australia, they’re typically caught between 1-4kgs.
They have been known to live as long as 20 years, but generally survive for 8-10 years.
DESCRIPTION
Brown trout are a deeply built freshwater predator. Their markings and colours vary depending on their environment, from small and sparse black markings to completely covering their body, while some have red spots on their lower flanks.
Sea-run brown trout, which enter estuaries and the ocean in pursuit of baitfish like whitebait, mullet and smelt, are silver with a few dark marks which appear as small spots of crosses.
River based brown trout are generally darker with brown, black or red spots, often surrounded by a pale halo.
Brown trout who live in lakes and canals often appear more silvery than those residing in rivers.
DIET AND SPAWNING
DIET
Brown trout are opportunistic carnivores who will eat pretty much anything, including aquatic insects, small fish, snails and worms.
SPAWNING
Brown trout spawn during late autumn and early winter, typically once the water temperature is between 2-12 degrees celcius.
Once a male and female have paired off, the female digs a depression in the gravel with her tail fin. As she releases her eggs into this spawning ‘red’ or nest they are fertilised by the male, then covered over with gravel by the female. Spawning starts around the age of 3-4 years old and females lay an average of 1,600 eggs per kilogram of body weight.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
In New Zealand you will find brown trout throughout New Zealand from Waikato down to the bottom of the South Island. The Taupo/Turangi area in the North Island are renowned trout fishing grounds, as are the rivers and canals in the South Island.
You’ll find them in high country streams, rivers and lakes, right down to canals, irrigation drains, estuaries and swamps. They will also be found in saltwater environments, travelling from rivers and estuaries in search of baitfish like whitebait.
In Australia, they are found in the cooler waters in the upper and mid reaches of streams in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and south-west Western Australia. Sea-run brown trout are becoming more common in Tasmania and in coastal streams in Victoria.
WHEN TO CATCH
Night-time is the best time for targeting brown trout, as they drop their guard to feed during these hours on prey like bullies. In some areas, brown trout can come out during the day to feed but are much pickier on what they will take, especially if you disturb them with a poor cast.
Both New Zealand and Australia have restrictions on when and how you can catch brown trout. Please ensure you are up to date on the current rules and regulations in the area you are fishing.
In New Zealand, trout seasons are determined by if the water is classified as a spawning water. All trout spawn over the winter time. Most main rivers remain open up to a certain point, but the smaller tributaries are typically closed and vary for time around the country. Some waterways like the Tongariro River in Taupo aren’t closed at all to allow fish to be caught on their spawning run up river, before the river is closed higher up.
HOW TO FISH
Brown trout have a reputation for being crafty and difficult to catch. They’re far more wary than rainbow trout and they are the most difficult of the trout species to deceive.
Brown trout can be caught with a wide variety of tackle including flies, eggs, lures and jigs. The 2 main styles of trout fishing are spinning and fly fishing.
TIPS AND TRICKS
- Brown trout often stay close to cover, so accurate casting is required, and you may lose lures that are snagged on over or under water structure
- It’s important to work your lure or fly close to cover or near the bottom where trout take the majority of their food
SPINNING
For spinning, we recommend using 8lb (PE 0.4) Hyperglide® 13x Braid as your mainline, attached to 6-10lb fluorocarbon leader (depending on the size of the fish you’re targeting).
Metal lures like Enticers, Rattle Snacks and Spinmax lures are ideal for fast moving water as the current will enhance their movement. Cast the lure across to the other side of the river and slowly retrieve to swing the lure as deep as possible. The closer your lure is to the bottom, the better. Once the lure has made it to the slack water, retrieve it at the same pace all the way back to your rod tip. Often the fish will follow the lure as it swings, before grabbing it in the slack water.
You can also fish with hard body lures like the BMax series which work best in slower waters like lakes and slow flowing rivers, where they can dive down to their maximum depth without being unbalanced by a fast current. A slow uniform retrieve is best as the lure action will do all the work.
Fishing with soft plastic lures like Dartpsin 3.5” lures are ideal for deeper water, especially pools and lakes. After letting the lure fall to the bottom, raise the rod tip every few seconds to get the blade spinning and impart some action to the body. Fish like to hit the lure as it falls after each jerk.
FLY FISHING
A simple six weight fly rod and reel along with a floating line and backing is all you need to get started. You can attach ready-made leaders or make your own using 4 – 8lb Fluorocarbon or Deception Tippet. The simplest way to make up a leader is to measure out three metres of line and tie one uni knot at the end of the fly line and then tie a fly with a second uni knot to the other end.
The most successful way to fish for trout is by using a fly to imitate the most common food trout like to eat, nymphs. Nymphs are the early stage of insects that hatch underwater. Find slack water on a river and often you will run into some trout.
Cast the fly above the fish and let it drift downstream. Using an indicator on the leader will help to tell you when to strike, but it’s not required.
Dry flies (imitating flying insects) can be used in an identical way but instead of sinking they float along the top of the water.
Streamer or wet fly fishing is using a lure to imitate a fish or swimming nymph. It’s the same technique as swinging a spinner through a pool. Fly fishing with a streamer can be much more success, as it can be presented more delicately and in tighter locations. Flies tend to have more natural movement in them too. Retrieving smelt flies is an excellent way to catch fish in lake regions like Rotorua and Taupo (NZ).
