How to Trout Fish

Trout fishing is a fun activity for the whole family.  But if you've never trout fished before, it can seem challenging ... and even very frustrating at times.

The secret to catching trout, is understanding them.  Trout are more active at certain times of the year than at others.  Knowing what trout like to feed on (as well as their feeding habits) play a key role too.  And lastly, having the right fishing gear is also important.

While I've devoted an entire eBook to helping master trout fishing, I thought I'd share a few basic tips here to help folks learn to trout fish. 

First step in learning to trout fish is getting the right gear.  You need a trout rod (or light action fishing rod).  You can pick up a descent one fairly cheaply at Walmart and the guy in the sporting good section should be able to help you.  Fly rods are different than spinning rods and so first you'll have to decide which kind of trout fishing you'd like to (fly fishing or spinning).  Again, the guy at the store should be able to help you pick the right rod, reel and line.

If you're using a spinning rod, I suggest using 2-6 lb test line.  Most new spinning rods come with 8-lb test on them (if the reel is pre-sprooled), but I always re-sprool the reel once I get it home.  While 8-lb test will work in some lakes, 4 or 6-lb test is better.  Smaller test line makes it harder for trout to see the line in the water.

Hooks and flies.  If you're fly fishing, you'll want to buy an assortment of trout flies.  You can either purchase these individually, or you can buy a pre-packaged assortment.  If you're spin fishing, you'll want to purchase single or treble hooks size 10-16.  I tend to like size 12 hooks, personally.

How you rig the pole, depends on where you plan to fish.  Fishing in streams and rivers require a different setup than fishing in lakes.  Figuring out the best rig can be one of the more challenging parts of trout fishing.  However, if you're new to trout fishing, I suggest you fish in a lake, and preferably within a day or two of stocking (you're more likely to have success).  Fishing rivers and streams is more challenging, which in turn can be more frustrating if you're a beginner.

For lake fishing, your best bet it to start with a bottom fishing rig or bobber rig. You can learn how to set up a bottom fishing rig by clicking here and watching the videos.  For help with bobbers, click here.  To Tie the hook (or fly) on to the line, you'll most likely want to use a clinch knot or an improved clinch knot.  

Once you have the gear and bait, you're ready to head to the lake.  Fall is one of the best times of the year to trout fish because trout are more active (mostly due to cooler temps and plenty of food sources).  So if you're just learning how to trout fish, Fall is an excellent time to get out there and start learning!  Your success rate will be much higher.  Here are some Fall Trout Fishing Tips to help you!  And If you're new to trout fishing, here are 8-Sure Fire Trout Tips to help you get started Quickly!

Learning how to trout fish isn't as hard as it sounds. Hopefully the tips and links above will help you learn more quickly.  For more detailed information and tips on how to trout fish, click here.

Fall Trout Fishing Tips

Fall it one of the best trout fishing seasons and we've shared many tips in the past to help folks catch more trout!  Not only does trout activity increase during the Fall months, but anglers are typically more comfortable in the Fall months as well (especially those of us living in desert regions).

To help you catch more trout, I wanted to share some of the best Fall Trout Fishing Tips available!  Just click the links below for more information. 

Orvis' Secrets to Fall Trout Fishing

Fall Brown Trout Fishing Tips

Fall Speckled Trout Fishing

Fall Trout Fishing in New Jersey

Fall Trout Fishing in Pennsylvania

Fall Trout Fishing in Utah

Fly Fishing Tips for Catching Fall Brook Trout

Top Fall Fly Fishing Tips by California Guides

If you've never been trout fishing before, Fall is one of the best times to get out there and start.  Because trout are more active in the Fall months, you're more likely to have an easier time catching them - which in turn, will make the experience more enjoyable.   There is plenty of information on this site to help the beginner fisherman get started, and loads more in the "Trout Fishing Tips" eBook.

For more Fall  trout fishing tips, click here.

How to Tie a Clinch Knot

The Clinch Knot is the most often knot used by many trout anglers.  This knot is primarily used to tie your hook onto your fishing line.  It offers more strength than a granny knot, so mastering this knot is essential to fishing.

The video below does a good job of showing you how to tie a standard clinch knot.  To make it easier to see how the knot is tied, the video uses a carabiner (instead of a fish hook) and rope (instead of fishing line).  But you should have no problem tying the clinch knot on your own fishing hook after watching this video.

While the video above shows you how to tie a standard clinch knot, this knot has been improved upon.  The "improved clinch knot" is very similar and only contains one extra step at the end.  The advantage of the improved clinch knot is extra strength.   The video below shows you how to tie the improved clinch knot. 

 

Fishing for Beginners - Getting Started

While the videos in this post may will be too basic for some anglers, they'll be perfect for those who have never fished before but are anxious to learn.  These videos are for the person who just bought their first fishing rod and need help getting it set up.

Setting Up the Basic Spinning Rod

Spooling the Reel (for Spin Fishers)

 

Bottom Fishing Rig

This is one of the best lake fishing rigs you can use to catch trout.  I've had a lot of success using this rig over the years and provided more detail about it (and other rigs) in the "Trout Fishing Tips" eBook.

The three videos above will help you get your rod set up as well as your first trout fishing rig. Of course, there's still a lot more trout fishing.  The "Trout Fishing Tips" eBook offers a lot more information and tips geared toward helping you catch more trout.   You'll also find plenty more of trout fishing tips on this site!

Float Fishing Tips for Rainbow Trout

Float fishing is one of many techniques used to catch trout.  It's primary used in rivers in and streams where there's a little current to help carry the float downstream.

The video below not only shows you how to set up a float fishing rig, but offers tips on using it effectively.  Note that also though the anglers in this video are using a fly rod, the rig and technique will work with a spinning rod as well.

Why does this technique work?  It's because trout are lazy!  In rivers and streams they often position themselves in the water so that the current brings food directly to them.  The idea behind this technique is to make your bait offering move with the current and look like a natural food source to trout lying in wait.

For more Float Fishing Tips, click here.

For Float Fishing Tips for Steelhead, click here. 

For help rigging plastic worms, click here. 

 

Fishing with Nymphs - For Beginners

Now that the weather has turned cold again, trout have gone deeper in the water again seeking comfort and food. Nymphs are a great source of food for trout during the Winter and Spring months. Nymphs are immature insects that start life underwater and then emerge to the surface when reaching maturity.

When fishing with artificial flies, the trick is to make them look as real and natural as possible. When fly fishing, casting your nymph upstream and letting it sink as it rides the current downstream helps. Letting the fly rest on the bottom and rise to the top gives the appearance of a natural nymph emerging to the surface.
The video below demonstrates this technique.

Here's another great video - demonstrating the use strike indicators and fishing a double nymph rig.

You don't have to be a fly fisher to fish with nymphs.  Many spin fishers fish with nymphs too!   If you're nymphing with a spinning rod, you'll want to use a float.   There's a great article on spin fishing with nymphs that shows you how to rig your pole and offers fly selection advice and more.

If you're having trouble catching trout, try fishing with nymphs!

Fly Fishing for Trout - Part 6

This is the final video in the Fly Fishing for Trout video series by Gary Borger. In this series, Gary continues his discussion on fly selection and presentation on the water. He also covers how to tie to a perfection loop knot for quick leader changes.

You can watch the rest of the videos in the Fly Fishing for Trout series by clicking the links below:

Fly Fishing for Trout - Part 1
Fly Fishing for Trout - Part 2
Fly Fishing for Trout - Part 3
Fly Fishing for Trout - Part 4
Fly Fishing for Trout - Part 5