This coming week in Maine’s bottom third, brooks with brook trout start producing decent to darned good fishing, unless nature conspires against my prediction with unseasonably frigid weather for the next several days. Even if action remains slow, though, trout brooks will surely pick up in late April or early May and continue into the first week or two of June.

Anglers troll worldwide, but in Maine, this technique dominates at ice-out and continues in high gear for at least the next six weeks. Lots of trophy fish come to hand now, too, as evidenced by records in The One That Didn’t Get Away Club — far more big fish than anglers catch in fall.