Trout Fishing - Begin To Fish

It is often said that the best bait, is the one that the fish are willing to bite onto at any particular moment. What this means, is that what may have worked perfectly only yesterday, may be ineffective today. During the springtime, for example, trout may not seek out worms simply because they are plentiful due to the rains. But, during the summertime, they may be more likely to latch onto any worm they find floating in the water. What Do Trout Eat? Believe it or not, trout have been known to eat just about anything that they find in or near the water, that they can fit in their mouths. The typical diet for most trout consists of insects, invertebrates, as well as other smaller fish. But if they are hungry enough, they may even attack a duckling that is swimming on the surface. Aquatic Insects The vast majority of a trout's diet, consists mostly of insects. There are a number of insects that trout love to eat, virtually year-round. This is why fly fishing is such a popular way of trout fishing. Not only do trout love the taste of stoneflies, midges, mayflies, and caddis, but they also have been known to go after insects regardless of which form they are in. Depending on the location, trout may also grab a hold of the occasional dragonfly or damselfly when they get too close to the water. Terrestrial Insects While aquatic insects are readily available in any lake or river, terrestrial insects are a special treat for any trout. During the summer months, trout have been known to grab a hold of ants, crickets, beetles, and grasshoppers. If the insect happens to fall into the water, then they are fair game to any hungry trout. The fish are not generally picky when it comes to insects, because they are more than happy to grab a hold of grubs, maggots, and other larvae that they happen to come across. Crustaceans Believe it or not, crustaceans are also a very important part of any trout’s diet. One of the most popular crustaceans is crayfish. These smallish crustaceans can be found in streams and lakes across the country, and are easy prey for a hungry trout. Depending on the location, trout have also been known to enjoy the occasional mysiss, scud, copepod, or sowbug. Smaller Fish Most of all, as trout get bigger, their appetites grow larger as well. The larger trout are known to eat other smaller fish, including other trout. When a fish gets hungry, it will hunt whatever is available to eat. It’s not uncommon to find grown trout grabbing a hold of the fry, minnows, baitfish, and others smaller fish. Other Stuff But no matter how you look at it, trout will eat just about anything that is available to them. If a trout comes across a frog, lizard, or even a salamander that is small enough to fit into its mouth, then you can rest assured that they will grab hold of it. In Alaska, rainbow trout have been known to bite at shrews and mice that fall in the water. Trout Fishing with Live Bait The first thing that most fishermen grab a hold of are their trusty lures. While there is a time and place to fish using lures, it is always best to use live bait whenever possible. While lures are designed to mimic live bait, they are not perfect and fish can tell the difference. 1. Worms Without a question, the most popular live bait used to catch trout, are worms. There are many different types of worms that trout are known to grab a hold of. Chances are, you should be able to pick up composting worms, night crawlers, as well as red wigglers at most bait and tackle shops. Depending on the size of the worm, you may get several dozen worms in a single container. The red wiggler and composting worms are the smallest and are best when fishing for smaller trout. Nightcrawlers are also good, but they are generally too long for trout fishing and must be cut down into smaller pieces. 2. Leeches Just like worms, trout love the taste of leeches. These ugly little bloodsuckers, love to latch onto human skin, but trout love to latch onto them. Unlike worms which are terrestrial, leeches will continue to wriggle underwater for a longer period of time. Live leeches can be purchased at just about any local bait and tackle shop, and when rigged properly, they can be the best baits for trout. 3. Crickets Many anglers often overlook crickets as live bait and instead choose worms or minnows instead. While smaller than grasshoppers, crickets are actually an excellent choice for anyone who is fishing for trout. Not only can crickets be purchased at most bait and tackle shops, but they can also be picked up at most pet supply stores as well. When rigged properly, they provide a tantalizing treat that most trout simply cannot ignore. 4. Crayfish Crayfish are a delicacy for trout. Although they are found in most lakes and streams, they are also very good at hiding from the fish. If you are able to get a hold of crayfish that are between 1 and 2 inches in length, then you will find that they are the perfect bait for fishing trout, year-round. All you need to do is run a standard number 8 hook through their tail, and you are ready to go. 5. Maggots While stinky and disgusting, trout just love the taste of live maggots. It is best to use maggots when you are fishing for trout at nighttime, and only in streams or lakes that have a gravel bottom. Although it is possible to fish with maggots during the daytime, you will get the best results just before the sun has risen. After sunrise, it is best to switch from maggots to worms, in order to get the attention of hungry trout. 6. Fish Eggs Another delicacy for trout is fish eggs. Fish eggs are generally sold in a wide variety of options from containers filled with loose eggs to small bags that are ready to be tossed in the water. During the spawning season, it’s not uncommon to see trout actually gobbling up fish eggs. But when spawning season is over, it’s harder to find this delicacy, which is why they are more likely to grab a hold of a spawn bag during the rest of the year. Trout Fishing with Synthetic Bait Not every angler is comfortable with touching live bait, which is why many still use synthetic baits and lures when fishing for trout. There are a number of different styles of synthetic baits to choose from, which will make catching trout a more enjoyable task. From simple beads that can be picked up at any hobby shop, to time-tested rooster tails, you will find that there is a perfect synthetic bait for just about any occasion. 7. Beads In recent years, beads have grown in popularity, due to their low cost and ability to imitate eggs. Beads can be found affordably priced, at just about any arts and craft store. During the spawning season, real fish eggs are a delicacy to trout, so naturally, whenever they are presented, the fish will bite. Beads are perfect for almost any season and are a great alternative to live fish eggs, as long as they are set properly on the hook. When presented to the trout in a natural fashion, the fish will grab hold without thinking twice. 8. Artificial Eggs There are also a number of different options when it comes to artificial fish eggs. Imitation fish eggs can come in both plastic and rubber forms and are an excellent choice for fishing trout. Just like beads, they can be used year-round, and assuming they are properly set and presented, the trout will strike. You can purchase loose artificial eggs in containers that can be prepared in any way you see fit, but they also come in prepared egg sacs. You will also find a large assortment of colors to choose from, which can be used to mimic a wide variety of different fish eggs. 9. Plastic Worms and Leeches The most common artificial bait, are plastic worms and leeches. Just like fishing with real worms and leeches, during the summer months, the trout cannot get enough of them. These soft plastic lures are designed to mimic common worms, leeches, crawfish, frogs, minnows, and many other invertebrates. In order to add to the authenticity, these lures may also be purchased pre-coated in fish oil, to give them a more traditional aroma. With a little bit of experimentation, plastic worms and leeches can be used just as effectively as live bait. 10. Spinners and Spoons If you were to ask any seasoned angler, what the best lure is for catching trout, there is a good chance that they will grab a spinner or spoon from their tackle box. Spinners and spoons come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes that are designed to attract different species of fish. As a result, while one lure may work great when fishing for bass, it may not work too well for trout. That is why it is important to have a large selection of spinners and spoons to choose from. During bright days, it might be beneficial to choose a golden spinner, simply because it is better at capturing and reflecting the sun’s light. But on cloudier days, silver spinners may be the best option. It is important to take the time to check out the smaller bait fish in the water around you and choose a spinner that resembles them in color and size. If one spinner doesn’t work, simply exchange it for another one. 11. Balsa Crankbait Another very popular artificial bait used for catching trout is crankbait. You can find crankbait in both plastic as well as balsa, but balsa is considered far superior. While plastic crankbait is more durable and offers a larger selection of paint options, they have a far lower rise rate than balsa lures. There are two major factors that come into play when fishing with crankbait. The first factor is the bait’s ability to dig into the water. Because of the increased durability of plastic crankbaits, they are much better at digging in than balsa wood. The other factor is the bait’s rise rate. The rise rate is the speed at which the bait rises back to the surface of the water. Plastic baits are generally heavier and are not as buoyant as the lighter balsa wood. Likewise, the rise rate of balsa wood is more consistent with that of live minnows and baitfish. When fishing with a balsa crankbait, you want to dig the bait under a school of fish and let it rise up through the middle of the school. Because of the slower rise rate of plastic baits, they are less efficient at attracting the attention of trout. This is why some many consider the best artificial baits to be the older balsa wood crankbaits that can be found in grandpa's tackle box. 12. Rooster Tails Trout love insects and they really love going after flies. Fly fishing is a very popular way of catching trout, simply because of the use of the fly. For those using a standard casting rig, rooster tails are the perfect alternative. These in-line spinning baits are very popular and have been shown to be extremely effective at catching trout. Rooster tails come in a large variety of sizes, patterns, and colors to choose from. When using a rooster tail, it is generally recommended to tie the rooster tail directly to the line, rather than using a swivel, as swivels can interfere with the natural look and action of the bait. When rigged properly, rooster tails can be considered as the most effective artificial bait on the market today.