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 Fun!

In the past two weeks, I've made several trips to Lynx Lake in Prescott, Arizona to enjoy the fall trout fishing action. I've been teaching my nephews and their friends how to trout fish ... so we've taken full advantage of their days off school.

As usual, we've managed to walk away with our daily bag limit on each fishing trip. But in addition to sharing our boy's excitement when they reel in their catch, one of the more interesting things to me is watching others around us get skunked.

It doesn't take long before they start moving in closer to us (thinking we've found a secret trout hole), and eventually they start asking our secret - of which I'm always happy to share (especially when there's kids involved).

Anybody can bait a hook and throw it into a lake and wait for trout to swim by. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. But the good anglers are always paying attention to the little things .... such as outdoor temperatures (especially water temps), where trout are rising, and other things.

These are the things that separate intermediate trout fishers from advanced ones. If you want to be a successful trout fisher, you need to understand these things and adjust your fishing tactics accordingly. And the longer your fishing day, the more changes you may have to make.

Fall is one of the best times of the year to be out trout fishing. Water temperatures are cool, and so trout are usually actively feeding near the surface. Pay attention to where they're rising (or jumping). That will tell you where they're feeding - and if you look closely, you may even see what they're feeding on!

Trout are lazy fish - they don't want to work hard for a meal. So if you can get your baited hook to them (rather than wait for them to swim by and find it), you'll have a greater chance of catching trout.

For more trout secrets and tips, check out the "Trout Fishing Tips" eBook. Take advantage of the fall trout season while you can!