Spring Trout Fishing Tips
It’s that time of year again; the opening of trout season and everyone is gearing up and getting excited. Spring is when rivers and lakes are stocked and ready for anglers nationwide. Trout fishing is the fourth most popular fishing in America mainly due to the fight, abundance, and sweet flavor of these freshwater fish.
If you’re getting ready to take on the trout this year or maybe for the first time we’re here to help you prepare.
There are three different species of trout throughout the US, and they are popular in many lakes, rivers, and streams. Let’s get into the meat and potatoes here to help you get excited for trout fishing this spring.
It helps to understand that trout are a shy fish, they don’t share the ornery and angry behavior that bass have. This behavior means they require a bit more finesse and strategy in order for you to have success catching them.
Trout generally prefer cold waters, and they feed most often during the early morning and late evening. This is because they hide from bright light, so the sun tends to scare them away. Your best bet is fishing in shady covered rivers at dawn and dusk.
Another significant difference between trout and a lot of other fish is they prefer open water whereas many other fish prefer mucky and crowded areas. Trout like to hang around unobstructed areas like sand and gravel bases.
If you have never fished before, and you’re looking to catch trout, you don’t need to go too crazy and spend a ton of money to have success. Standard gear will get the job done, and you’ll be able to use all of this gear to catch other fish as well. Most of what you receive in your FishVault monthly fishing subscription box will work.
For trout fishing, consider using a six-foot medium action rod with a spinning reel. Depending on the size of fish you’re targeting you want to use a four or six-pound mono-filament line.
If you have a brand in mind go ahead and use it, but I don’t believe in buying into a specific rod brand. Everything you buy should reflect your budget and how often you plan on fishing.
The rigging gear you bring depends on where you are fishing. If you’re fishing a lake or pond with live bait, you’ll want to use a bobber with a couple of weights. If you’re fishing a shallow stream or river, you might want to consider a floating bait with a sinker.
Here’s a list of gear you want to have with you to provide options for your trip:
- Rod
- Spinning Reel
- Four or six-pound mono-filament line
- Split shot weights of assorted sizes
- Egg Sinkers
- Hooks
- One inch bobbers
- Bait
- Lures
- Net
- Tackle box
- Fishing license
What about bait? The thing about fishing is it’s so subjective to the situation. You might head out one day using a specific bait or lure and absolutely kill and go back eight more times after and catch nothing. You can’t control the fish and make them do what you want so we can only consider the options and do our best.
There are a few different options you can use for trout bait, and everyone will have their own opinion on whether or not they work. These are some of the baits and lures that have worked best for us:
- Powerbait
- Live Worms
- Minnows
- Salmon Eggs
- Tubes
- Rubber Worms
Now you know what you need to catch the trout, but you need to know where to go. Trout are not hard to find in the US, and they’re available in every state, so chances are you won’t have to go very far.
Rather than telling you where to go, your best bet is to head out to a local tackle shop and talk to anglers in your area. This is the best way to find the ideal locations around your home to fish for trout. They can also help you get started with the right baits and lures as well.
Once you’ve settled on a location, we can get a bit more specific about exactly where the trout are hiding. Trout don’t hide that well, and they prefer open waters, so there isn’t a set strategy for catching them like there is for bass and most other freshwater fish.
There’s a couple of rules you can follow to help increase your chances though:
- Don’t wear bright clothing
- Fish early morning and late evening
- Cast into the shade
- Don’t fish rocky and jagged rivers
- Trout like slow-moving water
A Few Extra Tips
- Always talk to the locals
- Don’t use old bait
- Don’t buy into the hype, stick to what works
- Don’t be stubborn, if something isn’t working, try something else
- Tie a good knot and learn how to bait the hook properly
We hope these tips give you some more success the next time you head out to the trout stream.