There are many tips of catching trout from what flies to use, how to read the water, what rods and reels to purchase, and even how to take the perfect fish pictures…
Many articles written are at best not based on experience or just market hype, trying to sell something. You will not see any affiliate links in the article. Just want to share my love for fishing and time spend hunting for these great fish. Hope this article is helpful…
Water
Reading the water is a full time endeavor when out on rivers or even small streams. Just looking for two things basically where the fish are and where they are not… Both are important, they may sound too basic but learning where fish hold and river currents is very important. Hydrodynamics is very important when fishing rivers for where these trout like to hold up, will improve your odds of catch not only trout but salmon as well.
Reels
I have always said it does not matter what you use for a reel. Just holds line and the fish don’t care. But with the cheapest of reels you can get free-spooling, or drag fill bind up, or line ends up coming our in places you didn’t think possible. I have had all these things happen to me especially when you have a large fish on. Reels are very important piece of equipment and try to save money on this equipment can just end up in frustration.
I have spent many hours untangling a cheap reel because I don’t want my line to go to waste. Even friends I take with me I love showing them how to fly fish but when they have reel problems it is usually I that spend the time to untangle…
Your Cast
There are many opinions on how to cast or even practice in the backyard. Many anglers proclaim they catch many fish without practicing a cast. You can decide but you really need to practice not only for distance buy situations. You may find that you up against a bank or trees without the room to back cast so you need the knowledge on how to roll cast or at least what cast to use in different situations. So practice your cast when ever and where ever you can. You find it starts to get easier and second nature. I am sure you can find some one to give you tips and advice.
Perception
What I mean by perception is how to approach a body of water, what clothes not to wear, large river flows and being safe. You need to pay attention to the world around you. When approaching a fishing hole a pool in the river don’t just charge in try to stay back and make short cast and then step forward to reach more water, so you don’t spook the fish. Clothes like white shirt and hat are not the best for sneaking up on trout. They watch the skyline and look up most of the time for bugs on the surface. They will surely see you approaching. Many large rivers in my state have sirens for when there is a large release of water and signage. I always look to a rock sticking out of the water just a little bit to see if that water level is changing. Winter fishing and stepping on ice sheets can be very dangerous. Use your head in all conditions and be aware what is happening around you.
Flies
Finding the right fly is only going to come with experience or a friend that has fish for a number of years. I mainly use streamers and nymphs. Ninety percent of a fishes diet is down stairs, so that’s where I fish with streamers and intermediate sinking line. I basically have four or five flies I use at any given time. #4 streamers like Grey Ghost, Wood specials, olive green wooly, and Golden retriever.
Tying your own fly is helpful to understand the critters you are trying to imitate. I even have mouse fly the brown trout just love. Knowing colors and patterns that you trying to mimic really help you to understand what trout feed on and why the strike.
Rods
Rod that the manufactures call fast acting can be stiff and limit your success. There are some exceptions, but if fly fishing for trout a stiff or fast rod is like to have a negative results on your casting. I also do not like the four piece rods. I have my two piece in a tube put up to the body of water. Reel is already mounted an line in eyelet, put the two pieces together and fish on. Well maybe not that fast but I like quick setup and being ready to fish fast and two piece rod helps with that.
Tippet
When I first started to fly fish, I didn’t understand the term Tippet. I have a leader what and where is the tippet go? The concept was strange at first and still I lean to use just plain old monofilament for a leader and nothing else. But if you are fishing dry’s or nymphing reducing the diameter of the leader with an attached Tippet is a great option. The Tippet is between your leader and fly. Purpose is to help to catch those leader shy trout or salmon using a small Tippet size.
Fish on!
Playing a fish is something that will come with experience to get a feel for how tired they are. Have a good net as well to land you fish. Lifting a two pound trout out of the water with just a fly rod will not be good and may end up with a broken rod. When the trout tires is the time to reel him in. I caught a three pound salmon one time on my #8 rod, and he came in when he was good and ready. If fishing rivers current is important to pay attention too, which will increase the fight. Watch for rocks and the fish may head for faster current. Try to control him the best you can so he will tire fast.
Netting
I have done away with the old nylon nets. I find I would spend a lot of time trying to get the hook out of the net after is just popped out the fishes mouth. I know us a rubber mesh instead which is safer for the fish as it does not wear off some of the slime if you are doing catch and release. Rubber mesh you will not have any hooks getting caught in the net. You usually want to keep the trout in the water as much as possible especially if you are doing catch and release.
Temperature
I big part of catching trout and or salmon is water temperature. Have a thermometer in your bag of tricks can be helpful. Water temps of 65 degrees some feel is ideal for catching these cold blooded fish. In summer months trout and salmon go deep to avoid the warmer waters. If you don’t want to carry a thermometer around there are websites that post current weather and water temperatures year round.
Pictures
Just simply using your phone to get a shot of your catch is a good way to do catch and release. But don’t keep the fish out of the water too long. I have a lanyard I bought online to tie my phone to my vest, so I don’t drop it. I use the photos as a reference for next year to know when and where I caught trout in the spring of the year, great resource.
Okay than tight lines…