The Adirondack Park is home to over 500 brook trout ponds. Some ponds are close to roads Where to Fish and some require a lengthy hike. The physical features of a pond including the amount of available cover, shape of the lake basin, and inlets and outlets are important in fishing for brook trout. Brook trout will closely For More Information: associate themselves with cover in some lakes for at least part of the time. They tuck under the Region 5 Fisheries: Selecting a Pond edges of bogs or underneath logs where they Raybrook: (518) 897-1200 Guide to are protected from predators yet still able to feed if the opportunity arises. At other times, they Warrensburg: (518) 623-1200 The first step in your can be found cruising throughout the pond, far [email protected] Adirondack brook trout from cover. Brook Trout Fishing fishing adventure is selecting a pond to fish. Some ponds Brook trout also use underwater features Region 6 Fisheries: in Adirondack Ponds require a long hike to access; (315) 785-2263 like drop-offs, particularly where there is others can be found along an associated inlet. Inlets enable trout to [email protected] roads. Some good starting remain fairly stationary as food is transported points include the St. Regis A lightweight float downstream to them. Inlets that add cold water to Canoe Area, Pharaoh Lake tube, canoe or kayak can be a big help a lake can concentrate brook trout during warmer Wilderness, West Canada months. In some ponds, surface waters may be Additional References: Lake Wilderness and Lake in accessing ponds with heavily wooded too warm, and bottom waters may lack oxygen George Wild Forest areas. shorelines. during summer months. In these situations, look I FISH NY Guide to Freshwater Fishing These lands all contain for brook trout in the cool water between these numerous ponds and lakes and miles of marked zones. The position of brook trout in a given Request a copy at: hiking trails. A lightweight canoe, kayak or float www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html pond may also be determined by the type of prey tube can be a big help, as the shorelines can be available. Such is the case during insect hatches, difficult to access. when trout can be found just under the water’s Stocking information: surface feeding on emerging insects. www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7739.html To help you find a brook trout pond, DEC’s website provides a list of waters managed for brook trout. The website also lists waters where When to Fish Reclaimed Trout Ponds: brook trout are stocked and waters that DEC has Water temperature and light level are two www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/64503.html New York’s State Fish reclaimed by eliminating competitive fish species important considerations when fishing for prior to stocking brook trout. brook trout in ponds and lakes. In many ponds, Recommended Designated New York’s state fish, Brook (See “Additional References.”) particularly those with a limited amount of cover, trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were once widely Adirondack Fishing Waters: brook trout are much more easily caught when distributed in New York State but are now most light levels are low, such as early or late in the www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28244.html numerous in small streams and the headwaters day and during cloudy periods. Unsettled, even of larger streams in mountainous areas. Fish in unpleasant, weather can produce excellent Maps of Fishing Waters: these waters are normally small but still have brook trout angling. The cool, sometimes cold, a dedicated following among those looking for www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/42978.html weather of spring and fall very often produces a tasty meal. In these situations, a small worm the best angling of the year, when active, hungry drifted in the current can’t be beat. Brook trout trout are found near the water’s surface. As the can grow much larger in ponds, the majority of season progresses and surface waters warm, which are found in wilderness areas within the brook trout seek deeper water to find acceptable Adirondack Park. Fish in these waters can reach Look for brook trout around inlets, temperature and oxygen levels. 3 pounds or more. shoreline cover and undercut banks. Spreading lime by helicopter Fishing Tackle on a frozen pond. The Plight of the Brook Trout and Techniques Brook trout are members of the Char genus and are more closely related to lake trout than Fishing for brook trout in lakes and they are to brown and rainbow trout. Brook trout ponds can take many forms, and primarily eat insects and other invertebrates, not anglers use a wide variety of tackle and fish. They evolved in isolated ponds with few techniques to pursue them. The Lake Clear WabblerTM is a popular other competitive fish species and continue to and effective brook trout fishing rig. flourish in these types of waters. Unfortunately, over the years, non-native fish species such as What DEC is Doing yellow perch, bass, golden shiner and various other baitfish have been introduced into many New York State has Spinning and Spin Casting Flyfishing of these waters. When this occurs, brook trout established the populations almost always decline. toughest acid rain Trolling a spoon and a baited hook is one of the Fly fisherman also catch many brook trout from control requirements most effective and popular brook trout fishing lakes and ponds. These anglers use varied in the nation TM Brook trout also require excellent water quality techniques. The Lake Clear Wabbler was tactics and fly patterns. A standard fly fishing and are particularly sensitive to increases in and continues to A Horn Lake strain brook trout developed in the Adirondacks and has taken outfit for brook trout in ponds is an eight- or nine- pond acidity caused by acid precipitation. Acid lead the fight for - one of three heritage strains raised in DEC fish hatcheries. innumerable brook trout, including some large foot rod designed to cast a five- or six-weight precipitation occurs when moisture in the air increased reductions specimens. A fairly light fishing rod is used in this floating, sinking tip or sinking fly-line and a mixes with emissions from coal-burning power in power plant method, either with a spinning or spin-cast reel. 4X tippet. plants and falls as rain or snow. While more fertile emissions outside the state. Although progress To assemble this type of rig, connect the spoon areas can usually buffer the impacts of acid is being made to combat acid precipitation, the to the end of the line, and add 12 to 18 inches of Although a variety of fly patterns can catch precipitation, the Adirondack region is naturally introduction of competitive fish species remains 4 - 6 lb. test leader, with a hook (commonly size brook trout, there are a few standard patterns low in limestone and cannot offset its effects. a major problem. This can occur through the #6) at the very end of the rig. Attach a worm to that most anglers commonly carry. Black or olive careless use of baitfish, or by anglers who the hook, and troll the rig slowly so the spoon wooly buggers, either unweighted or tied with a In the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest region of the incorrectly believe they are doing a good wobbles back and forth but doesn’t spin. Split- weighted bead on the head of the fly (they fish Adirondack Park, only 3% of the waters that thing by adding small fish for the brook trout shot can be added to the line, to increase the a little deeper) are responsible for the capture once held brook trout still do, due to both acid to feed on. To combat this, DEC prohibits the weight and sink the rig deeper in the pond. This of untold numbers of brook trout. Other classic precipitation and illegal fish introduction. use of baitfish in most brook trout ponds. The method works well when fishing deeper in the brook trout flies include: blacknose dace, mickey introduction of any fish into waters they did not water column, which is quite useful as summer finn, hornberg, muddler minnow, baby brook come from without a DEC stocking permit is progresses and surface waters warm. Many trout, black ghost, and the grey ghost (mostly in also prohibited. anglers also cast jigs or spinners for sizes 6-12). Casting these streamer flies along brook trout. the edges of cover can produce many trout, as DEC is also working to restore brook trout can trolling. While streamers are often the most to waters that they once inhabited in the popular flies, both weighted and unweighted Adirondack Park. Ponds are selectively limed nymphs can also be effective on brook trout. each winter to reduce acidity levels, and non- native fish populations that compete with Mickey Finn Wooly Bugger Beadhead One of the most exciting ways to fish is to chase brook trout are eliminated. Once acidity levels rising brook trout when an insect hatch is on. are suitable for fish survival and competing An early spring midge hatch on a good brook fish species have been eradicated, ponds are trout water is a sight to behold. Few angling restocked with brook trout. Many waters are experiences can rival catching a large rising stocked with native “heritage strain” brook trout. brook trout with a well-placed cast from your Other waters are stocked with hybrid brook trout Gray Ghost Hornberg Muddler Minnow favorite fly rod. that are more tolerant of acidic conditions. Collecting heritage strain brook trout eggs.