Tag: Trout

Trout Fishing

Trout Fishing

Trout fishing has taken on two completely different characteristics in the last twenty years. One type is the annual stocking of the hatchery-raised trout to support a fishing event, and the second is the time-honored wild trout fishing.

Trout fishing has become so popular that cities and civic organizations conduct trout derbies to spur fishing and encourage family participation. Even in waters that cannot support trout in the summer, the fish are stocked for special events. Local waters are temporarily transformed into trout streams and lakes in the late fall or early spring. These stocked fish are normally eight to twelve inches and are ready to be caught. The most effective way to fish these stocked trout is to use natural bait. Do not try live fast moving bait such as minnows. These fish are farm raised and have never dined on live creatures unless they accidentally caught an insect. These fish are fed grain that is spread on the water and quickly floats to the bottom of the farm pond or hatchery. These type of trout are generally bottom feeders. When fishing stocked trout use salmon eggs, worms, or corn. Use a small hook baited well. Trout have small mouths requiring a hook they can get in their mouths. If the bottom has a great deal of structure and you keep getting tangled then use a float with a long leader. A long leader will keep the bait out of the tangles and deep enough for the normal eating depth of the trout.

Fishing for wild trout is totally different. Artificial bait should be your bait of choice. If the fishing is slow and you decide to try fresh bait, be sure to use a float. Trout in the wild feed on the top of the water requiring anglers to keep the bait close to the surface whether fishing in a fast moving stream or a lake. Be sure to use a clear float tied above the bait. This reduces the chance the fish will the see the unnatural float and scurry away. When fishing fast-moving water with natural bait, tie the float four feet above the baited hook. When fishing natural bait in a lake, tie the float as high on the line as possible. This will keep the bait suspended but below the surface. After trying some still fishing for a while, start a slow retrieve. Reel very slowly. This slow retrieve will create a moving target about four inches below the water surface. Only use baited hooks when all else fails.

]]>

Many expert trout fisherman use only flies. Many streams are in protected wildlife areas are fly-fishing only waters and often only allow “catch and release” angling. When fly fishing, gather local information to determine the best fly to use. Choices will vary based on water temperature, season, drought, flow volume and other natural factors. Seek the advice of another fisherman or a local tackle store. After selecting the fly, study the water patterns and look for spots that offer deep bank cuts, overhead cover or pools behind and down stream from rocks. Cast the fly above your target zone and let it drift through it. Repeat this action several times. For some variety, add a split shot three to four feet above the fly. This extra weight will drop the fly below the surface a couple of inches and might attract a trout that is lurking a bit deeper. If you decide to use artificial bait such as a Mepps spinner, be sure to start with one sixteenth of an ounce. If rapid water keeps the bait bouncing above the water surface, tie on a heavier spinner until you get a retrieval track two to three inches below the surface. When fishing fast moving water, cast the bait into the center of the flow and let it drift down stream. As the bait drifts it will naturally drift back towards the shoreline. If you are wading you have some flexibility as to the distance the retrieve can be executed from the bank. If you are fishing from the bank, then extend your fishing rod over the water to keep the bait a safe distance from the shoreline. If you spot a ripple or a pool of calm water behind a boulder or part of a depth change, cast across the water and above the target. Experiment until you get the correct casting distance to reel the bait through the pool. Never cast once into a likely target and give up. It make take several casts over the same water to generate a trout rise. Remember to allow your bait to drift past the target water and then reel the bait back through the target water. When retrieving, move the rod tip from side to side. This movement pattern changes the look of the bait and often entices the strike. The retrieve itself should be match the speed of the water flow. The faster the stream is moving; the slower the retrieve. Let the speed of rushing water spin the blade of the bait instead of reeling at a steady gait. In fact, the speed of the retrieve should change during every cast. The bait will cross fast and rushing water requiring the retrieve to slow down in fast water and speed up in slower water.

In all cases, scout the fishing grounds for cutouts next to banks, pools, ripples, overhanging trees or brush and boulders. Trout tend to wait in these areas for insects to pass overhead or to just rest. Trout do strike very hard and fight viciously. They die quickly when out of the water or handled improperly. If you are going to catch and release, or you hook an under-sized fish; wet your hands, carefully remove the hook and gently release the trout back to Mother Nature.

How to Fish for the Really Big Trout

How to Fish for the Really Big Trout

Article by Heidi Rucki







Old Timers have a saying that “If you find the bait, you will find the fish.” Pretty simple advice when you think about it – Watch for commotion by birds or water surface disturbances. Where you see birds hunting, you’ll find fish since these water instabilities are undoubtedly not lost on the trout!

Certainly, if you want to catch a trout, then by all means head out to a well-stocked pond or brook location with all the other opening day fishermen and hope to get lucky. However, if you are willing to figure out methods and means or listen to sage advice that work best for catching big, fat trout, then read on.

There are myriad methods, baits, lures and advice for catching trout; here are a few trout fishing tricks that may help you can land a big one.

No. 1 – Find the trout

Remember that Rainbows and other trout prefer water temperatures of 56 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll always find the trout if you get as close as possible to this ideal water temp. Furthermore, you’ll locate plenty of fish near water surfaces when air temperatures are cold. Conversely, if it’s a hot day, the fish descend to the deeper, cooler water.

No. 2 – Take this expert tip to your favorite brook, pond or lake

Always prioritize changing your fishing line before you head out on a “get the big one trip” since line becomes brittle and weak after use. Last thing you want is to hook a big one, only to have less than a stellar performance by the line or, worse, have the line snap. The simple resolution that puts the odds in your favor is to merely replace the fishing line at the “gitgo.”

One other tip you may not know – That big trout is Grandpa. This guy is stout as nails, experienced, and is the proud owner of a really tough mouth. Use a sharp new hook (try a Number 4) if you want to catch this big bad boy.

No. 3 – Use some old-time all-important advice when you cast

Your fishing spot is great, there’s activity by fish and birds and you’re ready to drop baited hook to get “Grandpa.” Drop the tip of your rod slightly into the water after the cast to assure getting maximum distance. The best part of this tip is that you will automatically maintain a tout line. If it is windy, using this cast method will prevent line arcing and you will not lose control of the bait.

That brings to mind another awesome tip for fishermen – never (never!) use bug repellant before or during line baiting. Grandpa is sensitive, smart and severely repelled by even the slightest whiff of bug repellant.

No. 4 – Give Grandpa a bait banquet

Rainbows and all trout enjoy a hearty meal and are always ravenous. The Old Gray Mare has compiled family tricks as well as Old Timers’ word of mouth recipes and suggestions so that Grandpa or his trout friends will want to jump on your hooks!

Trout Recipe 1: Mix up 2 ounces of good old Cod Liver Oil and 20 Anise Oil Drops (get these ingredients at the pharmacy). Blend these “odiferous” liquids well; cover tightly. At the fishing hole, dip the bait into the blended mixture and coat thoroughly. Happy fishing!

Trout Recipe 2: Get the ingredients at the grocery store or in a health food store. Mix up 2 ounces of ground All Spice and 8 ounces of ground Anise Seed (OR substitute Fennel Seed instead of Anise Seed). Sprinkle 1-1/16 ounce Oil of Cloves over this mixture and blend well. Once you’ve arrived at your fishing spot, put a generous dollop of your secret lure blend on the hook and enjoy your destiny with Grandpa!

Trout Recipe No. 3: Old Timers insist that ordinary biscuit dough is the perfect bait to angle for trout. I was told by a champion fisher at Bigelow Hollow State Park in Connecticut that, “An unbaked piece of biscuit will get ’em every time.”

Trout Recipe No. 4: Use this simple trick to get Grandpa. Plop your worm or favorite bait into a Smoked Oyster Can – hey! Don’t waste the Oysters – eat them first. Ever try baiting with them? Anyway, coat your bait well and relax as Grandpa, or a member of his associates, jump aboard the banquet, hook-line-and-sinker. Oh yes, the fish positively love this!

I have one final tip for avid fishermen. If you’ve been successful baiting with worms or salmon eggs, try impaling a mini-marshmallow on the hook, too. That soft little addition to the hook will keep your bait afloat and, hopefully, Grandpa will find it irresistible.

Fishing is communing with the great outdoors, and it will put a meal on the table for the shrewd angler. Try a new fishing trick and, hopefully, you’ll be telling whoppers about “The Big One” soon.



About the Author

Rucki writes as The Old Gray Mare on her websites and some public sites. She is active in the horse industry, is an expert horse woman, is a successful freelance author, is published and has a passion for family, horses, dogs and stained glass arts. Presently, Rucki’s websites include: http://www.DressYourHorse.com; wwww.TShirtsbyLily.com; http://www.Amway.com/HealthandHomebyHeidi; a startup Everything About Horses blog on http://www.OurHorseBlog.com.