Trout Fishing 101

As spring heads into full swing, it can only mean one thing. Springtime means trout fishing. Whether you prefer to fish in lakes that have been stocked with trout or rivers that are home to native trout, there are a few basic things to keep in mind about catching these wonderful and equally beautiful fish. The first and most important thing to keep in mind as far as trout fishing is concerned is your fishing gear.

When I say fishing gear, I'm referring to your fishing rod, fishing reel, and fishing line. For trout fishing in normal situations, nothing heavier than light action rods and reels should be used. I prefer ultra light gear, but nothing heavier than light action is permissible, in my opinion. Trout fishing is a lot more fun and a ton more effective when the proper fishing gear is employed. If you're one of those anglers who use 1 rod and reel for all of your fishing, you need to change this. Using gear that's too heavy for trout fishing will cost you not only bites, but also fish, it's as simple as that. Your fishing reel should be spooled with line no heavier than 6 pound test. I prefer 4 pound test, but 6 pound is the maximum. The first lesson of trout fishing 101 is to have the proper fishing gear.

The second lesson of trout fishing 101 is to use the proper hooks. Yep, I said hooks. It seems as if nothing could be simpler than a fish hook, buy there are certain kinds that should be used. That kind is called gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply 2 small hooks tied in tandem, rather than 1 single hook. Is this simple? Yes it is, but it's also very important. You see, a set of gang hooks enables the angler to present bait in a totally natural manner. They also enable the angler to present twice as much bait when using something like salmon eggs or Powerbait. Both of these aspects are an incredible advantage to the average trout angler.

The third lesson of trout fishing 101 is to become as efficient as possible. The more time that you can spend with your line in the water, the better your chances of catching a fish, it's as simple as that. This means that the more efficient you become, the more time your line spends in the water. Employing things like a bait bag is a great way to become more efficient. A bait bag is simply a small bag that hangs from your vest, which you can carry your bait in. For example, if you fish with live worms, you simply place the worms in the bag and go fishing. A bait bag is the only way to carry them. With the help of a bait bag, you spend less time fumbling around for your worms and have them waiting right there at your fingertips.

These simple tips complete the trout fishing 101 lesson. Begin using them when you go trout fishing and you'll be well on your way to catching fish. Remember what Steven Wright said of us anglers, "There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore looking like an idiot." Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid the 'looking like an idiot' part of that quote.