Many anglers consider browns the most "intelligent" trout because they can withstand heavy fishing pressure better than most other trout species. But their elusive nature is more a result of their liking for heavy cover and their night - feeding habits rather than their brainpower.
Browns will strike spinners, spoons and minnowbaits, as well as dry flies, streamers and nymphs. Good - sized minnows, nightcrawlers and other live bait account for many of the biggest browns.
Although browns are less acrobatic than rainbows, it's not unusual for them to jump once or twice when first hooked.
Look for big browns in the downstream reaches of a stream. Although these areas usually hold fewer trout, they often produce the largest fish because of the warmer water and ample supply of minnows.
Trolling with thin, bright - colored spoons produces numerous trophy browns in the Great Lakes and many other large inland lakes.
Dense, woody cover--such as logjams and brush piles--is ideal for brown trout because it offers shade and overhead protection as well as shelter from the current.
Try a big leech fly or a good - sized streamer to catch big browns. Or tie on a large, bushy dry fly that imitates a mouse or frog.