When a friend recently showed me a photo of a nearly five-pound stream brown trout his son had caught locally, I was reminded that although these big trout are finning in many of our largest streams and upper river sections, very few anglers specifically fish for them. These days, the majority are caught incidentally while fishing for other species.
When I was a teen, there was a relative abundance of talented stream brown trout anglers I looked up to. Although they might only catch one or two oversized trout per outing, those they did catch would barely fit in a large fishing creel without the tails protruding from the top. Most were in the 16-20-plus inch range, and to a kid accustomed to catching stream trout half that length, these were trophy monsters I could only dream about catching myself.
Of course the secret of them hauling in those big browns, while I caught small ones, was entirely about where they and I fished. Most spent their time on streams far larger than I fished. Many came from the biggest flows in our area, including the upper Chenango and Unadilla rivers. Meanwhile, since I was too young to drive, mine was pretty much confined to those streams within walking or bicycling range of my home. These waters rarely were large enough to entice and hold trout of over a foot long.
My very first truly big stream brown didn’t come until one memorable day on the Otselic River. Following a thunderstorm, my dad asked me if I wanted to go to the Otselic for some fishing. When we got there, the river was quite discolored from the sudden downpour and resulting run-off. Dad fished upstream, while I fished downstream. On about the third pool I fished, my nightcrawler bait was about halfway through the pool when it suddenly stopped, and I could feel a fish taking it.
I waited a moment and then set the hook. Accustomed to feeling the resistance of an 8-10 inch trout, the sudden weight I felt sent my fly rod bending in a full arc. Then the fish tore off downstream toward the pool’s tail end, and I was forced to give it line so the leader wouldn’t break. Realizing I’d hooked what was certainly the largest trout of my young life, I’m pretty sure my hair stood straight up and my heart rate doubled.
For the next ten minutes time stood still as the trout ran up and down and around the big pool. As I played the powerful fish to the best of my ability, I probably kept muttering a prayer “please don’t let it get away.” Because of the discolored water I didn’t see the fish until it had tired and I gingerly led it toward shore. I quickly jumped into the stream and scooped the trout out and onto the shoreline gravel. I then gazed in amazement at the 22-incher – the most beautiful trout I’d ever seen.
A lot of years and waters have passed by since that memorable day, and I’ve been fortunate enough to catch more large stream browns like that first one, and while all were special, that initial one was the most special. Few came as easily, but each has proven to me that they’re still there, waiting for some lucky or gifted trout angler to catch.
With the birth of the Lake Ontario brown trout fishery, some might think a brown trout of less than 7-8 pounds is nothing to brag about. But comparing those fattened Lake O “football browns” with a big stream brown is like comparing a Corolla to a Corvette . Once a stream brown reaches 18 or so inches long, it becomes one of the hardest to catch trophies anywhere. Its preferred haunt is often a large pool with abundant cover such as submerged logs or trees where it can find cover and security. Many also become primarily nocturnal in their feeding habits. Chances are very good that most anglers aren’t even aware that a big stream brown is living in a large pool they regularly fish.
If you seek to catch a limit of trout, then you’d best forget about fishing for big stream browns. If you manage to catch just one, the outing is a roaring success. The dedication and skills needed to be even moderately successful on a fairly regular basis discourages most anglers rather quickly. But for those willing to accept the challenges, the reward can be the largest stream trout of your life.
First, you need to fish waters that hold these trout, and that eliminates most small streams. Next, you have to concentrate on the best pools that offer what the trout need – depth, cover and prey. Then you need to offer the trout what it wants to eat when it is most vulnerable. Big stream brown’s preferred diet closely parallels that of smallmouth bass, meaning larger prey such a minnows, crayfish, leeches and large nightcrawlers. Hardware lures that mimic the aforementioned the naturals work best. Lastly, do your fishing early or late in the day, or even at night. As the year wears on, fishing when the streams or rivers are roiled is another tactic.
Last but not least, prepare to be both stealthful and patient since stream brown trout of this size don’t get to be that size by accident. These fish are very wary, very selective, and have instinctively adapted habits that avoid them from being caught by the average angler. Oh, and a little luck never hurts either.

NY DEC announces dozens of free fishing events
Twenty-six Free Fishing events were announced today by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis. During these specially-designated activities in each DEC region, the agency waives the requirement to purchase a fishing license with the goal of encouraging new interest in fishing and educating the public about New York's unique natural resources. For a listing of currently posted events and contact information, visit the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27123.html. Be sure to keep checking the list, as new events may also be added during the fishing season.