What is Trout Fishing?

Trout fishing is a very popular national pastime that many people do for both entertainment and relaxation. There are many places throughout the country where people routinely trout fish and the sport provides enough entertainment to keep everyone from the most basic fisherman to the most advanced happy. There are plenty of reasons why you should give trout fishing a try!

Due to its wide following, many industries have popped up to support the growing sport. There’s an entire industry devoted to making quality fishing gear: things such as fishing rods, lures, and other fishing paraphernalia just for trout fishers. It’s extremely easy to get started with trout fishing.

What is Trout Fishing?

Trout fishing is a freshwater sport that has become extremely popular within the US. Ordinarily, trout are found in cold water streams, current/riffle areas, and deeper water very near the thermocline (the separation between hot and cold water in a deeper river). The two most popular trout varieties are brown and rainbow trout.

To go trout fishing, you must be well prepared by having the appropriate equipment and endurance because fishing in rocky mountain streams could be physically demanding. First, you need to necessary fishing gear to catch trout. This means that you need a fishing rod and right lures/bait. Additionally, the shores along trout streams are lined with lots of rocks which can have sharp edges. Walking along and wading into these streams requires sturdy footwear and possibly even special waterproof pants.

 

Getting Started with Trout Fishing

Trout fishing is one of the most popular fishing adventures in America for many reasons. First, many of the freshwater environments where trout are mostly found, such as in icy mountain streams, green rivers, and clear, calm lakes, provide picturesque backdrops while you fish. Second, these fish are not easy to catch. The excitement of fighting with the trout will keep you coming back for more thrills. Last, and most certainly not least, is the triumph that is felt in the victory over a worthy opponent. The satisfaction you will get while eating your catch is more than worth the time spent catching it. So what does one need know to get started on getting in on the action?

Environment

Trout fish are usually located in cold, clear brooks, lakes, rivers, and streams. Before you go fishing, find out what the fish in your fishing area typically eat. This will help you make wise bait selection choices. You can ask local fishermen or bait shops about what baits work best with trout in your area. Also ask them about local regulations that may restrict usage of certain live baits.

Species

Learn about the different trout species in your fishing spot. There are some characteristics that all trout share, so it’s a good idea to know their strengths and weaknesses. But, it’s also important to know that each type of trout has its own distinctive look and behavioral traits. They may be genetically the same, but due to their difference in color and patterns, they may be classified under different names.

Trout fishing is a sport that requires a thorough knowledge of the area that you’re fishing in and the type of trout you’re fishing for. Anyone can take a worm and drop it in the lake. But, if you want to actually catch something, take the time to do your homework!

 

Trout Fishing Equipment

Best Trout Fishing Rod

For trout fishing, an ultra-light or medium-light rod, moderate-fast action fishing rod is best since trout can be tricky to catch and you need to be nimble enough to reel them in when you’ve got one on the line. The Fenwick Elite Tech River Runner is a great spinning rod that will help you catch a lot more trout. Pairing the Fenwick with the Pflueger Patriarch XT spinning reel, a very lightweight reel, will make your trout fishing expedition much more rewarding.

Fishing Line

Trout fishing doesn’t require specialized fishing line beyond the basics. Look for monofilament line with a 4-8lb test. We recommend Berkley Trilene fishing line, but really most fishing line will do. Most bait shops and retailers will spool the fishing line for you.

Top Trout Fishing Lures

Trout fishing lures come in a wide array of designs and to improve your trout fishing experience; you need to know the specialty of each of these lures. Any experienced fisherman would tell you that the trout lures you select should be determined based on factors like the season, the kind of trout you are targeting and also, your comfort level.

During the spring months, trout fish are commonly found close to the bottom of the water. They are very slow as they are just coming out of their winter hibernation period. So the best type of lures, in this case, would be ones that are neither too light nor too heavy. If the lures are too light, then they may not reach the fish and just drift away. On the other hand, if the trout fishing lures are too dark, they may sink and get caught in plants, algae or rocks. It is advisable to carry different types of lures, and experimenting with them will indicate which ones to use.

Spinners

Spinners are meant to imitate the prey that the trout naturally prefer. But in all honesty, trout fishing lures don’t look much like the natural victims which they are designed after. You can use an un-weighted spinner and worm rigs during the spring time. Allow the spinner to drift along the bottom surface of the water, such that it stays there for short time duration and lures the trout in. If you are having trouble catching trout with a spinner, try using a fan casting method to randomize your casts.

Spoons

Spoons are the most popular type of trout lure. They are essentially spoon-shaped spinners that tremble when being retrieved. These lures are meant to resemble small bait fish, but the trout you are targeting may or may not fall for these, depending on what they are feeding on in your area. For instance, if the trout are not feeding on baitfish, they may realize that your spoon lures are out of place. Thus, they may not be attracted to the spoons. Spoons are available in several shapes and sizes. If you are trout fishing in spring, make use of heavy spoons that are less than an inch long.

Rooster tails

Rooster tails are popular trout lures, too. They are named “rooster tails” because these lures have some animal hair at the end. Rooster tails are meant to resemble minnow, a naturally occurring trout prey. By tweaking the lip on these types of trout fishing lures, you can adjust the water depth to which they dive. An average rooster tail would measure in at about 3-4 inches long.

If you are a new fisherman, it is best to try spin fishing upstream and across, based on the speed of the water current. While using lures, the cardinal rule is never to fix anything that isn’t broken and if something is broken, try something different till it shows positive results. Different lures work for different people and different fishing areas, so don’t get discouraged if your lure isn’t working for you.

Best Bait for Trout Fishing

• Worms – Worms are one of the easiest bait to use for trout fishing. You can easily catch worms yourself or buy live worms from any bait shop. Dew worms are some of the best bait for catching trout.
• Krill – Frozen krill are easy to come by and their scent easily attracts trout. However, you need to be gentle while casting with krill on the line since krill will also come off of the hook easily.
• Marshamallows – Yes. Those same marshmallows you used to make s’mores also make great bait for trout fish. They are espeically great for shallow water since they float.
• Deli shrimp – Cooked shrimp that is available at any grocery store is also a favorite of trout. Although shrimp are not in the diet of trout, they still love the flavor.
• Dough – Dough style bait is a very popular artificial bait among trout fishers. Powerbait is the leading brand of dough style bait.

Trout Fishing Hooks

Determining the best hook and hook size for trout fishing is essential. Make sure that you get the smallest hook possible since trout have great vision and notice if anything is out of place in their environment. For an explanation of hook sizes, see the following section.

Treble Hooks

Treble hooks are very popular among trout fishermen who like to use dough style trout baits such as Powerbait when fishing for trout. These hooks can also be used when trout fishing with soft cheese (such as Velveeta) or even marshmallows as well. Many anglers tend to use treble hooks that are entirely too large under the mistaken assumption that “the bigger the bait, the bigger the fish” when in truth a size #12 or #18 treble hook is all that you need to use when fishing for trout.

Gang Hooks

This style of fishing hook is not known by a lot of trout fishermen, but it should be. A set of gang hooks is a pair of fishing hooks tied in tandem and is an excellent choice when fishing for trout with live bait. This fact is particularly the case if a technique such as drift fishing is being employed.

Single Hooks

Single fishing hooks are used by many anglers when fishing for trout. The most popular and effective styles of single hooks for trout fishing are salmon egg and bait holder. Again the bottom line here is “smaller is better” and the best sizes to use when fishing for trout would be #10 or even #12. Single trout fishing hooks are also available that are painted red, which is an option that many trout fishermen swear by when it comes to single fishing hooks for trout.

Understanding Hook Sizes

Understanding fishing hook sizes can be tricky at first, but it is actually quite simple. There are two types of hook size measurements: numbers followed by a zero and numbers not followed by a zero.

Hook Sizes Followed by a Zero

Hook sizes that are followed by a zero increase as the first number increases. For example, a 3/0 (“three bar oh” or “three oh”) is larger than a 2/0 and a 4/0 is larger than a 3/0.

Hook Sizes Not Followed by a Zero

Hook sizes that are not followed by a zero decrease in size as the number increases. For example, a 14″ is smaller than a 12″ which is smaller than a 10″. These hook sizes are very counterintuitive.

 

Wrapping Up

Trout fishing is indeed a favorite pastime of many Americans. It provides hours of fun and challenge for all levels of fishermen. Now that you know what trout fishing is, you should go out and try it yourself. Explore the great outdoors and catch as many trout as possible!