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Trout are a very popular gamefish in North America. There are several species of true trout, such as the rainbow trout, steelhead
(a migratory, sea-going form of rainbow), brown trout, cutthroat trout and golden trout. There are also several species that
are called trout, but are actually char, including the lake trout (also called makinaw), the brook trout and the bull trout
or "dolly varden." Consequently, the whirling disease that has reaked havoc on many populations of true trout does
not appear to affect the species in the char family.
While trout are often stocked in lakes and reservoirs, many
anglers prefer to catch them in rivers, streams or creeks. Trout are strong swimmers and very efficient predators, but they
are not the top predator in many waters, as almost all larger fish will eat trout, including larger trout. Their tasty flesh
is at its most delicious when it is very, very fresh. This delicate, distinctive meat appears to be preferred by man, predatory
birds, many mammalian predators and many predatory fish.
Many anglers insist on practicing catch-and-release of all
trout caught. Others enjoy the meat so much that they keep all legal fish for food. A growing number of anglers, including
this author, practice catch-and-release of all wild fish that can be safely released, but catch-and-eat of all legally-caught
stocked trout. Stocked trout can usually be differentiated from wild trout by the wear on their fins and tail caused by rubbing
against concrete swimways and fighting over food. Check your local regulations, as many waters are catch-and-release by law,
with very specific gear restrictions.
Anglers who release any trout at all must be extremely careful, as trout are
very fragile and subject to rapid death from hook injuries, squeezing, trauma, being kept out of the water for more than a
few seconds, and even the loss of the protective slime layer. Those trying to practice catch-and-release for any reason, including
the release of undersize fish, should try to use artificial baits with single hooks or use small single bait hooks (single
egg hooks, for example) and do their best to hook the fish in the mouth. A trout hooked any deeper than the jaw, especially
with a treble hook, will almost certainly die. The use of a net and wet hands to handle fish will help prevent over-squeezing
and the loss of protective slime while removing hooks. Whenever possible, trout should be unhooked and released while their
heads are still in the water. Many anglers purchase special hook removers that can release their flies, hooks or lures without
the fish being handled. Virtually every fly-fishing store has special catch-and-release hook removers.
Trout diets
consist of insects (both aquatic, such as mayflies, and terrestrial, such as grasshoppers or ants), other invertebrates (including
scuds, shrimp, crawdads, and the ever-famous worm), and other fish and their eggs. All trout will eat other species of trout
and even their own species. The lake trout eats fish almost exclusively, including its own species.
Trout are caught
using several techniques. Artificial flies include dry flies, nymphs, terrestrials, glow bugs (a roe imitation) and streamers,
often specifically designed or selected to "match the hatch" of local food sources. Spinners include french spinners,
colorado spinners and sonic spinners, with a wide variety of colors and body styles from metallic to painted to soft plastic
fish to artificial fly bodies. Trout spoons come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from the folded metal "super-dupers"
to more traditional spoon shapes. Trout jigs and other lures include marabou jigs, micro-jigs, small soft-plastic jigs, and
even specially-designed artificial worms. Baitfishermen use live insects and other invertebrates, live baitfish, cheese, marshmallows,
factory-prepared doughbaits (such as power bait), salmon eggs and roe sacks.
For fly-fishing, matching the hatch
is often a must. Trout can get completely focused on a particularly prevalent food source, such as hatching aquatic flies,
and "zone-out" everything else. A good fly fisher becomes a careful observer of fish behavior to determine what
the fish are eating, whether they are feeding at the surface or staying deep, and whether the angler has any flies that duplicate
the size and color of the target food source. However, trout feed on nymphs (larval aquatic insects) and smaller fish most
of the year, attacking "dry fly" hatches when they occur. For this reason, hare's ear nymphs, muddler minnows and
woolly buggers are some of the most versatile and productive flies available. Try using a "right-angle leader,"
which uses a strike indicator at the end of a tapered leader, with the tippet tied onto the line behind the indicator at a
right angle and a small split shot a foot or more ahead of the nymph, streamer or wet fly. The best knot for this is an uni-knot,
but other strong knots will do. Good strike indicators include a variety of new foam models, traditional floating indicator
yarn and high-floating dry flies. A foam ladybug makes a particularly good indicator, since it is highly visible, and has
the added benefit of being able to catch surface-feeding fish.
Anglers using spinners in moving water need to select
a spinner that will run as close as possible to the bottom in the current being fished. Cast at an angle upstream, as close
to the bank as possible and give the rod a twitch to start the spinner rotating. Reel in the slack as the spinner washes downstream,
allowing it to swing down and across as it passes your position. This is better than casting downstream and retrieving the
spinner against the current, because it imitates a weak baitfish that can't keep up with the current.
Baitfishermen
should consider using a single hook, so you can release undersized fish more safely. A single salmon egg on a single egg hook
will sometimes outfish a treble hook loaded with eggs because the fish don't expect a human to be attached to such a small
offering. Powerbait or other paste baits can be used on single hooks with springs around them to help hold the bait, such
as are used for carp, though a smaller size is necessary. In moving water, consider placing a Berkeley Power Wiggler maggot
imitation on a small single hook about 12 to 18 inches behind a split shot and drifting it with the current, stopping to let
it wiggle from time to time.
Anglers pursuing trout in moving water should focus on seams, eddies, riffles, pools,
undercut banks, rocks, logs, weeds or other structure. When pursuing trout in still water, start by focusing on structure,
since often relate to structure like most freshwater fish. However, keep in mind that trout also cruise lakes, particularly
in the shallows or wherever fly hatches are occurring. Smaller trout cruise in small schools and larger trout often cruise
alone.
In stillwater lakes and reservoirs, many anglers like to troll for trout and lake trout using leadcore line
and spoons, spinners, wet flies or species-specific plugs like the hot shot. Multi-species plugs like the snap bean are also
effective.
Where legal, try this chumming technique. Scoop up some road kill, take it to your favorite water and
tie it to a tree branch overhanging the water. After a few days, fly maggots will be all over it and many will fall into the
water. Toss in any white nymph on fly gear or a Berkeley Power Wiggler or mealworm on spinning tackle and hang on for the
ride.
If you like ultralight fishing for trout, but don't like short rods, consider a crappie rod. They come in lengths
up to 12 feet. There are rods designed for spinning reels or casting reels. There are flexible, whip-like rods and rods with
more backbone to horse fish out of cover. A careful shopper will find an action he or she likes that is very effective for
trout. The long rods are great for reaching into tight spots without spooking fish. In fact, many crappie jigs, particularly
marabou jigs, mylar jigs and tube jigs, will catch trout.
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