Trout Fishing Tips and Tricks
Trout fishing is a world all its own, and like many other worlds, it has its own tips and tricks. The following are some tips that can get you hooked up with a fighting trout and put a big smile on your face. Some you may use occasionally, some all the time, and some you may not use all. But, all are good advice and can make the difference between a great day of fishing or coming home empty handed.
Use the correct rod and reel for the occasion. If you are fishing for trout in a stream you want to use lightweight gear. A spinning rod and reel, not a fly fishing rod, may be the best option for bait casting for trout in a lake. Trout are not usually really large fish, so 4 to 6 pound test line will usually suffice.
Practice casting before you get to where you will be fishing. Pick a spot some distance away on a lawn or other open area and try to land your lure near it. Load up your fly rod with the correct line and practice letting it out and positioning your fly right to where you want it to go. Get to know your rod and reel intimately before going fishing to avoid problems later.
If you will be moving around as you fish, you may want to wear a fishing vest instead of carrying around a tackle box. Stuff the pockets with the essentials you will need and nothing more. Traveling light allows you to be stealthier, and thus spook the fish less.
If you do use a tackle box, keep it well organized to protect your lures and enable efficient usage. Smaller containers inside can be used to keep similar lures, flies and tackle from intermingling. Some items, such as rubber worms, can melt when exposed to other objects.
Wear clothing that blends in with the local background if stream fishing to lessen the chance of being spotted by fish. Dress in layers so that garments may be removed to cool down or others added to warm up. Waterproof shoes are a must if you will be walking in or around bodies of water.
A hat and sunglasses will help avoid glare and will allow you to see fish in the water better. Sunscreen will prevent sunburn and bug spray will keep the biting insects at bay.
When arriving at a fishing location, take a few minutes to read the water. This is especially helpful in river and stream fishing. Locate the riffs, runs and pools where fish will congregate at different times of day. Notice any submerged logs and rocks and other cover where fish will likely hang out.
If fishing from shore, work the areas where overhanging trees and undercut banks create cover for fish. River bends and other areas of fairly calm water next to faster moving water will often hold fish.
Trout have very keen eyesight, so avoid letting them see you. In streams, approach from downstream if possible, as the fish may be looking upstream for floating objects of food coming downstream.
Move through the water as quietly and noiselessly as possible. Fish are very sensitive to vibrations in the water and may be easily spooked by a fisherman splashing around.
Trout like cool, clear, well-oxygenated water such as creek mouths, rapids and areas with vegetation. The pools below rapids are very oxygenated spots. Trout will be nearer the surface when the water is cooler and deeper when the weather and the water are warmer.
Try dry flies for fishing the surface and wet flies for deeper down.
When bringing in a trout, try to place the net below the fish and lift up to net him. The fish will be spooked if the net is placed before his eyes or if it hits his tail.
If you catch a trout and plan to release it, try to touch the fish as little as possible to prevent damaging the slime coating on the fish. Hold the fish upright in the water until it revives from the catching ordeal and allow it to swim away under its own power.
Thoroughly clean your gear before storing to prevent mold and mildew from forming and ruining anything. Lightly oil your reels to insure smooth operation the next time.
And, some of the most important trout fishing tips and tricks – always practice fisherman’s etiquette. Treat other fishermen as you would like to be treated. Avoid loud noises and talking which will spook the fish and disturb the peace and quiet of the setting. Keep your distance from other fishermen so you do not snag lines or impede the landing of a fish.
Always have the proper license and follow the local rules of fish and wildlife management. Obtain permission to fish if fishing on private property and leave the property in as good or better shape than when you first found it.
Finally, respect the other fishermen around you. Fishing is a very enjoyable way to spend some time and will continue to be so if everyone respects the people and property they come in contact with.
Trout Fishing Flies
Trout fishing in a river or stream often involves the use of flies. No, not those pesky house flies, but rather some pretty sophisticated and colorful hand-tied flies. As a matter of fact, some fishermen can get downright obsessed with tying the perfect fly to catch trout.
Trout mainly eat bugs, so it stands to reason that if you want to catch trout, you might want to make some lures that look like bugs to a trout. Of course there are many kinds of bugs, so there are also many styles and designs of hand-tied flies.
There are three main types of flies – dry flies, wet flies and nymphs. Different flies will be used for different fishing conditions.
A dry fly will be floated along the surface of the water. Insects will often fall into a river or brook and be swept down stream on the current. Other aquatic insects spend their time swimming or feeding at the surface. Dry flies are constructed to mimic these assorted insects.
Wet flies will be made so that they move through deeper water. Trout sometimes hang out at the bottom of pools and these flies are designed to attract the deeper trout to grab an easy meal. Wet flies are sometimes designed to appear to be nymphs, crayfish, worms or other creatures that live in the deeper water of a stream or river.
Nymphs are a major food for a trout. So naturally many trout fishing flies look like the various nymphs that live in a particular area. Nymphs are the immature stage of adult insects, many of them winged insects.
Nymphs often spend the majority of their lives under water, but often must go to the surface to complete their life cycle and turn into adult insects. This is when Mr.Trout finds himself a nice tasty meal – either when they are en route or when they are floating on the surface.
Trout can eat a multitude of things in the wild. Ants, spiders, eels, worms, butterflies, maggots, frogs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, bees and many other types of creatures have been found in the stomachs of caught trout. Trout are equal opportunity eaters!
This is why there are literally thousands of different trout fishing flies in existence. Trout can change diet several times in a day, so the trout fisherman needs to have an assortment of flies that mimic the local delicacies available.
And, depending on the local conditions of the body of water being fished, dry or wet flies may be in order. Every stream is different, so having an assortment of flies to try could mean the difference between having trout for supper and eating at McDonalds.
So if trout fishing is something you think you might or currently do enjoy, consider tying some flies and really get into the spirit of things. Speak to local fishermen and they can tell you what the trout will be biting on and what kind of fly will be appropriate for which water conditions.
The thrill of catching a hard-charging trout can only be enhanced by catching him on a fly or lure that you yourself have tied. Good luck!
Trout Fishing Lures
Trout eat so many things in the wild that there are many different kinds of fishing lures made to catch them. Trout can be finicky eaters, so having an assortment of lures and bait on hand can help insure a successful day at the lake or river.
Of course when many people think of trout fishing they think of fly fishing. This is indeed a large section of the sport, but by no means is it the only way to catch trout.
Flies are designed to fool the fish into thinking they are about to eat a specific type of bug, larvae, small rodent, amphibian, worm or even other small fish. The trick is to discover what the trout is feasting on in the local area and at the current time of year and present a fly that looks like that. This can take some real study and fly-tying abilities.
Spinners are another popular type of lure for trout fishing. Small, shiny metal is attached to a hook and pulled through the water. This causes the metal to spin and simulates the look of baitfish that the trout eats. Spinners are often used when fishing for rainbow trout on spinning reels. A swivel should be used with spinners to prevent your line from become too twisted.
As with flies, there are different designs of spinners that are used in different water conditions. In the spring when trout may be sluggish after the winter hibernation, a heavier spinner may be necessary to go deeper down where the fish are holding. In summer when the fish are more active and nearer the surface, a smaller spinner may do the trick. Spinners used in combination with worms or other bait may be the magic enticement for the day.
Spoons are another type of lure that resemble their namesake. They wobble when pulled through the water and may resemble a wounded bait fish – a tempting, easy meal. If the trout in a certain area feed on small bait fish, then a spoon may be successful at bringing in some trout. Of course different colors, sizes and configurations are available and experimentation will be the way to discover what will work on a given day.
Flatfish are a sometimes deadly lure for catching fish. They also resemble a wounded bait fish and wobble as they are pulled through the water in a cast. Flatfish can be made of wood, plastic, fiberglass and other types of light, stiff material.
Rooster tails are another type of effective trout fishing lure. They often have a spinner on one end and a tuft of animal hair on the other. Again, they come in different colors and configurations to mimic bait fish.
As you can see, there is no shortage of lures available to catch the elusive trout. Study the area where you plan to fish and ask the local fishermen or bait shop owner which kind generally work well there. Most people are happy to share, and you can save yourself some time and money, as well as bring home some tasty fish for supper.
Trout Fishing Bait
Trout as a species are known as pretty voracious eaters, so it isn’t too hard to come up with bait for trout fishing. Many different things have been tried successfully to snag these hard-fighting fish. Natural, synthetic and human foods have all been known to work.
In addition to lures and flies, trout love live bait. Grasshoppers, crayfish, night crawlers, insect larvae and minnows are just some of the live bait that is available. If you can get them, frogs, small rodents and reptiles will work as well. If it will fit in his mouth, a trout won’t pass up a live meal if the presentation is right.
Casting with live bait can sometimes be a problem. You need something that will stay on the hook long enough for it to get to the fish. Night crawlers are good for this, and minnows can be hooked in such a way that they will stay on for a good cast. A small sinker can be added to give the line some casting weight if you are fishing for trout below the surface.
I have seen pieces of other fish used as trout bait. A piece of a pickerel’s stomach makes an attractive bait, probably due to the smell of the fresh fish. Other fish could be used in this manner as well.
Synthetic baits can sometimes drive trout into a feeding frenzy. Scented, artificial baits such as trout dough can molded around a hook and used to successfully attract a trout strike. Different scents and flavors are available, so you may want to experiment with several and see which works best for your area.
Plastic worms are a tried and true trout fishing bait. They are available scented and unscented as are many other types of plastic lures and stick baits. There is an almost unlimited selection of artificial baits manufactured. It is truly amazing to see all the different objects that a trout will bite for.
Anyone that has trout fished as a kid will probably be familiar with using household foods as bait. Corn kernels and miniature marshmallows are two of the more popular ones. Many a fish has been hooked using these two.
Cheese is another popular fish bait, probably due to its strong aroma. You’ll want to use a soft cheese, as this will allow itself to be molded to the hook, where a harder cheese will just crumble when the hook is run through it.
Salmon eggs are often sold in small containers in the fishing departments of larger stores. Different sizes and colors of small marshmallows will be seen there as well. Take a trip down to the local bait store and you may be amazed at what you will find.
As can be seen by all the previous suggestions in this article, trout fishing bait can be a many and varied thing. It’s hard to predict what the fish will be biting for on a given day, so bring along several varieties of bait and try a few until you find something that works.
Trout Fishing Tackle
Trout fishing is like most other forms of fishing in that you will need a rod and reel, fishing line with a hook on the end and some bait for that hook. That about sums up your basic trout fishing tackle. Of course, since fishing for trout is a fairly specialized area of the fishing world, you may need some specific types of tackle.
Most any kind of rod and spinning reel can be used for pond and lake fishing. One key point when going for trout is to keep the gear light. Sometimes a trout strike can be pretty subtle, and you want to have light gear so you can feel it when the fish takes the bait.
Since most trout are not overly large or heavy, (unless maybe you are fishing in Alaska), a lightweight line is best. 4 to 6 pound test line should be all you’ll need for most trout fishing. Part of the thrill of this type of fishing is testing your ability to “play” the fish skillfully without losing him to a broken line. “Horsing” in the fish on an overweight line just takes some of the challenge and enjoyment out of trout fishing.
Many lightweight spinning rods and reels are available. Fiberglass and graphite are the materials of choice for the rods, while many excellent reels are made of lightweight aluminum. Due to the huge popularity of the sport of fishing, reasonably priced spinning outfits are available nearly everywhere.
One problem a fisherman may experience when using a spinning rod is the inability to cast very far because of the light weight of the bait. This is not such a problem when using lures like spinners, plugs, flatfish and such, but can be when fishing with flies and some live bait. One way around this problem is the use of a casting bubble.
A casting bubble is a clear sphere of plastic that is attached to the fishing line. Similar in shape to a bobber, the bubble can be attached 24 inches or so from the bait to add some weight to the line to allow for a longer cast. After the cast is made wait for the ripple to smooth out and then reel in the bait or lure as usual.
Fly fishing in streams and rivers calls for fly fishing rods and reels. These rods are usually much longer than spinning rods to better enable the whipping action to the casts. A heavier, thicker, colored line is often used with these reels, and it can be floating or nonfloating, depending on the fisherman’s objective and the local habitat. A light monofilament leader is attached between this line and the fly.
Again, fiberglass and graphite are the modern materials of choice for rods and aluminum for the feels. There are literally thousands of combinations of stiffness of rods, drag of reels and materials used. Depending on material and manufacturer, you can spend from under a hundred to many thousands of dollars for a fly fishing rod/reel combination.
In addition to the rod and reel, some form of bait is needed to entice the trout to bite. There are many kinds of bait, with the major types being live bait, spinners and jigs, and flies.
When first starting out in fishing, many children will simply go out to the yard and dig up some worms or night crawlers. This is a time-honored bait, and many thousands of fish have been caught this way. Other simple but effective baits include corn kernels, mini-marshmallows, cheese, bread dough and other local concoctions.
Anyone who is familiar with fly fishing will know that there are literally thousands of different variations of trout flies. All of these are designed to mimic a particular type of food that a trout eats, be it an insect, amphibian, reptile, rodent or other fish. The fisherman will choose a certain fly on a certain day, depending on what the fish are eating in the wild at the present time.
Lures and jigs are designed in the same way – to imitate a live creature that a trout would normally eat and to try to entice him to strike after it . Many spinners and flatfish type lures are made to appear to be an injured bait fish that a trout might normally feed on. Others are made to look like frogs, salamanders, crayfish or other wild prey.
Of course no fishing trip is complete without the peripherals of trout fishing tackle. Most fishermen will have a tackle box to hold all the tools, lures, flies, different lines and other odds and ends. Some fishermen use a fishing vest with many pockets to hold small items that need to be available, such as hand tools and flies. A net is usually employed to capture the fish when he is brought close to the fisherman.
If fishing in a stream, waders are often worn so the fisherman can enter the water and move to an optimum position. If lake fishing, a boat and motor may be in order. Fishing from shore will often require on only a comfortable chair to sit in and maybe a cooler for cold drinks.
The bottom line is – regarding trout fishing tackle, the list can be short or it can be almost endless. To keep it simple, all that is required is a rod, reel and some bait. If you are really into trout fishing, the list of exotic tackle can be almost endless. If you want some fancy gear, the manufacturer is out there who is already making it or will be glad to custom design it for you.
Whatever kind of fishing tackle you use, the sport of trout fishing is a very enjoyable one. Good luck and bring that big one!
Trout Information
Fishing is one of the favorite pastimes in the great outdoors, and many sportsmen report trout fishing as one of the best-loved types of fishing. The sight of a hungry trout exploding out of the water to strike at a fly or lure has to be one of the most enjoyable things a person can witness. Some quality trout info can enable you to make it happen.
Fishing is not an expensive sport either. A decent rod and reel and a collection of some lures and flies is all that is really needed to partake in the enjoyment. For that matter, a trip to the back yard to dig up some worms or a browse through the kitchen snack drawer may be all that’s necessary to lure a hungry fish on to your hook.
Trout have been known to bite on such mundane things as miniature marshmallows, kernels of corn or even hunks of cheese. Of course if you are the obsessive type, don’t even get me started on fly-tying. Multiple books, videos and who knows what else have all been created to deal with this phenomenon.
In the wild, there are many things that a trout will feed on. Their primary foods are insects, both larvae and adult, but they will devour many other things as well. Grasshoppers, crickets, small rodents, amphibians like frogs and salamanders, crayfish, worms, and even other small fish have all made their way to a trout’s stomach. Even such things as cigarette butts and pull can tops have been found in trout bellies!
Fishing for trout can be a tricky task however. They are very cautious creatures that are easily spooked, so it is imperative to be stealthy when approaching their habitats. Trout are very sensitive to vibrations in the water they inhabit. When fishing in shallow streams, it is important to avoid disturbing the water and letting the trout see you.
Trout are a mostly fresh water fish. They are most comfortable in the cool, clear waters of streams and lakes. Native to Canada and the northeastern US, they are nonetheless spread all across North America, northern Asia, Europe and other parts of the world, especially in higher altitudes and where the waters are cooler. Trout such as steelhead spend much of their life in the ocean, but return to the stream of their birth to spawn.
There are quite a few varieties of trout. Most are genetically similar, with the principle differences being size and markings. Different colorings and patterns will depend on local conditions. Some species have a belly that turns a bright reddish color during spawning season.
Rainbow, brook, lake, brown, golden and cutthroat are some of the more popular types of trout. Some trout live in rivers and streams primarily, while others are more at home in lakes and ponds. Where you are fishing will, of course, determine the method used to catch the local fish. Fishing in shallow streams may call for floating flies down a rapid, where lake fishing may be more efficiently accomplished by trolling in a small boat.
Trout are a good-tasting fish, which probably accounts for why they have been so over-fished in the wild. Many fishermen now practice catch and release, where they immediately release any fish caught, so that they may be caught another day.
Trout farms have sprung up in many areas and countries. These have provided a way to restock over-fished lakes and streams each year. A portion of fishing license fees goes towards paying for these fish. This insures that the supply of trout for fishing will not dry up and prevents the species from becoming extinct as well.
Trout fishing is a popular, wholesome way to spend some quality time in the outdoors. If you haven’t tried it yet, get yourself some gear, some trout fishing info and report to a stream or lake near you and discover for yourself how much fun it can be to hook a fighting trout on your line.
