Every kind of trout has unique characteristics that makes it special. Some fight hard, some are tough to trick, some are hard to find and some are just spectacular to look at. For me, the Maine Brook Trout is one of the most stunning trout in the world. Green backs with orange bellies, white fins and multi colored dots. A true gem in the line up of trout species. Another great thing about brook trout is that they are very agressive. They love to bite things, chase things down and take ownership of their little section of river. Of course, they can be caught dead drifting nymphs but when it comes to brook trout, it is fun to make them excercise their agressive nature. I love to cast big stimulator dry fly patterns and watch as a nicely colored Brook Trout darts out from nowhere and with reckless abandonment attacks the fly. And what about baitfish immitations! Oh, how the Maine Brook Trout love to chase down a smelt pattern. Tie on a white maribou Black Ghost, and make it a large one while you are at it. Cast that fly across the river with some sinking line and retrieve quickly, but be sure to pause every now and then for the full effect. Try to immitate a baitfish that has lost its way and is hopelessly trying to find refuge back near the shoreline. Watch as that white fly moves through the water. And, if you are in Brook Trout country, you can almost guarantee that a Brook Trout will put its sharp teeth to use and chase down your fly. Last evening though, this precious Maine Brook Trout was tricked with a conehead wooly bugger. I cast the fly upstream. Let it sink a bit and then began to twitch the fly. As the fly reached the end of its drift and began to swing from the bottom up, Bang! I brought this amazing specimen in for a quick snapshot. He didn’t smile, but that’s ok, I can understand his frustration. Then I released him back to his underwater world. My fundamental rule of thumb when fly fishing for Brook Trout in Maine goes something like this. Throw something big and make it move, make it worth their while because most times the Maine Brook Trout can not resist and easy big fat meal.