How Many Fishing Knots Should A Good Fisherman Know How To Tie?

As a 45 year old man and a person who has been an avid fisherman for almost four decades, it occurred to be a couple of years ago that I more or less know only ONE fishing knot! Many years ago, when I was about 10 years old my grandfather taught me how to tie what I later learned was the improved clinch knot, and this fishing knot had been my go to knot for the entirety of my fishing "career". Now don't get me wrong, the improved clinch knot is a fine fishing knot and has served me well, but the thought occurred to me a few years ago, "shouldn't you know how to tie another knot or two?"

At about the same time that I came to this realization, I was doing some research on new trout fishing techniques and learned that some anglers were using an age old bass fishing technique, but were using it while fishing for trout.  The technique is called "drop shotting"  and it involves using a drop shot rig.  Or more to the point tying a drop shot rig.  Well I quickly found out that my old improved clinch knot simply wasn't going to work in this instance, but rather a Palomar knot was in order when an angler is tying a drop shot rig.  I then also found out that this fishing knot was amazingly easy to tie once it is committed to memory.  Kind of like the improved clinch knot.

Then, I of course thought to myself, "How in Gods name have you gone this long without knowing and tying more than one fishing knot?" So I found a little laminated tool to show me how to tie the fishing knots that I might need while I was fishing.  Although the information that I needed on tying fishing knots is readily available for free on the internet, I wanted something I could carry with me on the water as a reminder of what I had seen on the internet.  The next thing I knew I was tying drop shot rigs and catching trout using said rigs on my favorite trout fishing lakes.  And you know what else?  I now know how to tie a Palomar knot, even without my little "cheat sheet".

I still carry my little cheat sheet in my fishing vest however, just in case a need to tie two pieces of line together (I still need a cheat sheet for a nail knot) or just want a little refresher.  So, to answer the question posted in the title of this post, one knot will due just fine, just as long as you never want to try anything different as far as techniques or strategies are concerned.  Otherwise, knowing at least 3 fishing knots is probably a good idea for most fishermen. 

Attempting To Catch Rainbow Trout With Mini Jigs In High Water & Wind

The other day my daughter and I headed out to my favorite trout river (The Swan River) in search of some rainbow trout. I knew that the weather had been cold and ugly for a day or two, but figured that since on this particular day we had partly cloudy skies that we would be fine. Before I made my first cast I noticed how high the water was.  Then, as my mini jig sailed through the air I noticed how windy it was.  "This might make for a challenging couple of hours", I thought to myself. 

We were fishing at the base of a small dam, so there was some water that was more than "fish-able", even though the rest of the river was very high and muddy.  And although cloudy, the water and current didn't seem too bad in the area that we chose to fish.  After getting snagged a few times using a 1/16 ounce jig head tipped with a Powerbait floating trout worm, I changed my jig head to a smaller 1/32 ounce which eliminated my getting snagged problem.  The problem with doing this was that it became even more difficult for me to cast my offering into the water with any distance, considering the wind.  Not to mention the fact that the only rod I brought fishing on that day was my 5 foot ultralight rod, which doesn't help either when it comes to casting distance. 

In the meantime my daughter was casting and retrieving a small Panther Martin spinner, which was brightly colored due to the murky water conditions.  Within 15 minutes she had landed a small lake trout.  I realize this might sound strange, a lake trout being in a small river like the Swan River, but be were fishing a couple of hundred yards from Flathead Lake.  And Flathead Lake is renowned for it's lake trout population.  You see, at this time of the year when the river is as high as it is, small lake trout will often run up the river in search of an easy meal.

I kept fishing my mini jig and although I wasn't getting hardly any bites from the area's I could reach with my short fishing rod, I did manage to hook and land a lake trout also.  And mine was quite nice, not by lake trout standards mind you, but by the size of the gear I was using.  The one I caught measured almost 24 inches and was quite heavy.  I would guess 5 or so pounds.

Although the rainbow trout weren't cooperating, at least the lake trout did and all in all it was a decent little day on the water.  And since this particular spot was new to me, I got some good reconisence in for the next time, when I guarantee you I will have my seven foot rod, so that I can cast to the really good looking trout water that I couldn't quite reach on this particular day. 

Why a Bait Bag Is a MUST For Anyone Who Enjoys Fishing With Live Worms

The first question that might come to you mind after reading the title of this post is, "What exactly is a bait bag?" Well, the answer to this question is quite simple. It's just a little bag that carries live fishing worms, thus eliminating the need for toting around the container in which the worms were purchased.  In truth, carrying a container of live worms isn't a big deal if you are fishing from the bank or a boat, but for anyone who like to move around when they are fishing a bait bag really comes in handy.

For me personally my bait bag is a must, because I prefer to fish the flowing waters of small rivers and streams. I like to wear waders and drift fish up and down the river and live worms are often my go to bait. With my bait bag, the live worms that are being used as bait are literally at my fingertips at all times.  This makes baiting up and re-baiting my hooks a breeze.  I don't have to dig through my fishing vest for a container of worms, then open said container and dig a worm out, only to have to do the exact same thing the next time that a worm is needed.  This "digging around" for my bait while on the water, is a huge time waster, but this problem is solved with the simple bait bag.

So how exactly does this must have fishing accessory work?  This is also very simple.   First off the bait bag is attached to your fishing vest or shirt.  Next, live fishing worms are simply taken from the container that they are purchased in and placed into the bag.  Not the dirt or worm bedding mind you, just the worms themselves.  Once the worms are in the bag they just sit there waiting for their turn.  When one is needed, you simply take your thumb and fore finger, reach into the bag and pluck a worm out.

This incredibly simple device saves a ton of time for me, time that ends up being spent fishing for (and catching) fish, rather than searching for and using my favorite bait, the live worm.  So, if you a person who enjoys fishing with live worms, and especially if drift fishing is a fishing tactic that you employ, then a bait bag needs to be a part of your fishing arsenal. 

Are Polarized Glasses Really Worth Using When You Are Fishing?

As a fisherman who has been on the water chasing fish for more than two decades, the answer to whether or not I need to wear polarized glasses when fishing is really quite simple.  Of course I do!  Now, keep in mind I spend most of my time in rivers, so being able to see into the water is very important, both for safety and strategy.  

There was a time when technology and manufacturing quality hadn't caught up to the products that were being sold to fishermen and there were a lot of inferior polarized glasses on the market.  This is the time when I was originally introduced to the world of polarization and glasses and at that time also had a limited budget.  What this meant is that I would purchase inexpensive polarized glasses and invariably be disappointed the their performance.

Luckily, this all changed about 5 years ago and now find very serviceable polarized fishing glasses in the $25-50 range.  I mean sure, the you can spend more than that (which I now do) simply because I prefer certain manufacturers, but the bottom line is that you no longer need to.  There are plenty of choices for the frugal fisherman and with online reviews, you can be confident in your purchase decisions. 

So, the answer the question posed in the title of this article, probably, depending on your preferred fishing style and/or method.  But, with the decrease in cost and increase in technology and manufacturing processes, for the very minimal investment that is now required there is probably no reason not to have a pair of polarized glasses on hand any time that you hit the water. 

Fishing For Rainbow Trout When They Are Spawning

The other day my buddy and I headed out for a little spring trout fishing and quickly discovered that

the rainbow trout that we were fishing for were actively into their spawning routine on the particular lake that we were fishing.  How did we figure this fact out?  It was pretty darn easy seeing as how we could see some nice rainbows not more than 10 feet from shore circling in and around each other.  In fact one of them was actually protecting her bed from any would be evil doers. 

I had no interest in fishing for the trout that I could see, as I assumed they had more pressing business on their minds than eating, but I know from experience that rainbows that have recently spawned are are going to be spawning in the future are usually susceptible to being caught, so I rigged up a drop shot rig and got to work.  After forty minutes or so with nary a nibble, I decided to try a simple technique that had enabled me to catch spawning rainbows in the past, still fishing with eggs.

Eggs are often a good trout bait choice for spawning rainbows, so I figured this would do the trick? Since the bottom of the lake was quite weedy, I rigged up a single # 10 hook with a small egg sinker and a two foot or so leader.  I then baited the hook with a couple of pink Berkley Power Eggs and casted the rig out for a little still fishing.

Although the trout weren't biting like crazy, with a couple of hours I had caught and released a nice seventeen or so inch rainbow trout, fought and lost another that felt the same size, and missed multiple trout that were nibbling at my eggs.  This made me remember the fact that the best bait to use for rainbow trout in and around spawning time are eggs, and although I was using artificial power eggs, I'm sure salmon eggs would have been effective as well.      

How To Catch Hatchery Trout

In the spring of the year many people's attention turn to the act of fishing and a popular type of fish to target are trout.  In many instances, such as in central Pennsylvania where I grew up, spring trout fishing meant that you were likely going to be targeting a specific type of trout called hatchery trout.  Hatchery trout are just like any other trout, except that rather than being born in the wild they were born and raised in a fish hatchery and then released into the wild to be caught by anglers. 

The bottom line is that hatchery trout usually aren't that difficulty to catch, especially when compared to a trout that was born and survived multiple seasons in a body of water,  but that doesn't mean that you will can catch them no matter what you throw into the water.  Below I will outline what I do to catch hatchery trout so that you can do the same thing.  Believe me this little "how to" lesson certainly couldn't be compared to consistently catching Steelhead or anything else that is known to be difficult, but it is nonetheless effective and will enable you to catch a limit of hatchery trout the next time you head out in search of these fish. 

Let's start with your rod, reel, and line.  For the particular hatchery trout technique that I will outline, "still fishing" is the name of the game, so a fishing rod that is six to seven feet long is in order.  Using a longer rod when fishing form the shore means that you will get a better and more effective hook set.  The rod should also be ultralight power (often indicated by an UL) and I prefer fast action (which means the tip of the rod is pretty "stiff").  A matching reel should then be added to the mix and your reel should be spooled with line that's no heavier than six pound test mono filament.
  
Next there are three pieces of terminal tackle that you are going to need;  a small barrel swivel, an egg sinker, and your choice of trout fishing hook.  You can use a treble hook, a single bait holder fishing hook, salmon egg style hook, or a set of gang hooks.  In the case of your fishing hook choice the only caveat is that your keep your choice small.  In the case of salmon egg, bait holder or gang hooks don't go any larger than size 8 and in the case of treble hooks don't go any larger than size 12.  When it comes to hatchery trout (or most any species of freshwater trout for that matter) remember, the smaller the better when it comes to your fishing hooks.

Now we have  the rigs itself.  Start by taking the end of your line and clipping off a 12-18 inch length of line for a leader and set it aside (the leader will be needed unless you are using gang hooks where this won't be necessary as they are made with the leader attached).  Now slip one egg sinker onto your line and tie a small barrel swivel to the end of your line.  This accomplished two things, it acts as a stopper for the sinker and it helps to prevent line twist by hooked trout.  Finally the leader (or set of gang hooks) is tied to the opposite end of the barrel swivel and your fishing hook of choice is tied to the end of the leader. 

That's your rig, now all you need to do is bait the hook and there is no more productive bait for hatchery trout in my experience than the trout bait known as Powerbait.  Enough Powerbait is molded onto the hook so that the hook is completely covered and you are ready to go.  If you prefer not to mold your bait onto your hook I have found that Powerbait Magnum Eggs are often just as effective (if not not more so) without all of the mess.   This rig is now cast into the water and allowed to sink to the bottom.  The slack line is then slowly reeled in until your line is completely taught.  Now the "still fishing" begins.  When the rod tip starts to bounce a hungry trout is biting your offering. 

You've Tried Berkly Power Eggs, Right?

For many years I have been using Berkley Powerbait to catch stocked trout.  There are plenty of posts using Powerbait to catch trout throughout this blog for because this particular trout bait is so darned effective when you are fishing for rainbow trout that have been planted into a body of water.  But the other day I was introduced to another form of Powerbait that for some strange reason had not been on my radar for all of these years?  Actually it's probably due to the fact that because the dough style of Powerbait has always resulted in success, so I had never tried to investigate the situation any further.  You know,  the "path of least resistance" rule?

In any case, due to one of my colleagues (whom I hadn't seen in quite a long time until the other day when we got a chance to wet a line) I am now abundantly aware of Power Eggs and I couldn't be happier. These little buggers are great!  All of the trout attracting power of the Powerbait dough bait that we are all so familiar with, but power eggs have a couple of unique distinctions.  The most important in my estimation is that Power eggs are much more durable and easy to use than the dough style Powerbait. 

Power eggs come in the same variety of colors as the dough style trout bait that we are all so familiar with, but stay on the hook much longer than you are probably used to.  As you are no doubt aware, traditional Powerbait becomes slimy and disintegrates in the water after a period of time (30 or so minutes in my experience) and comes off of the hook fairly easily for a variety of other reasons as well.  Well this is not the case when it comes to the much more durable Power eggs.  These unique fishing eggs stay on the hook, even after multiple bites.  My colleague actually caught 3 trout from 10-13 inches the day we were out fishing, without having to put on a new Power Egg!  I can promise you that nothing like this ever happens when traditional Powerbait is being used as bait.  I mean sure you'll catch trout, but you'll be re baiting after every caught trout.

The bottom line is that if you use dough style Powerbait when fishing for trout, do yourself a favor and give Power eggs a try the next time you head out trout fishing.  You may never buy the dough bait again?  Power eggs are just as effective, without all the hassle of the traditional version of Powerbait. 

Effective Strategies for Rainbow Trout Fishing Through a Hole in The Ice

During the winter months of December all the way through March in many area's, the most effective way to catch a trout is to head out onto a frozen lake or pond and do a little ice fishing. Although rainbow trout can be caught in rivers during these months, getting them to bite your offering is much more difficult than it is during the warmer months of the year. So, for trout fishermen who want to fish during the winter months, the best chance of landing a trout or three is to do go ice fishing. In this post I will discuss a couple of effective strategies to implement the next time that you head out onto the ice with the intent of catching a few rainbow trout.

The first thing to keep in mind no matter what strategy you are going to employ is that under the ice, is that trout are much more active during the changing light conditions that occur during the early mornings and late evenings than they are at other times of the day. This means that you need to be on the ice early in the morning and/or late into the evening if possible.   During these low light periods rainbow trout are almost always active, and thus the most apt to be feeding (which is what you want anytime that you are fishing).

Many anglers who ice fish for trout fish in water that is much deeper than it needs to be. This was a mistake that I used to be notorious for making when I was fishing for rainbows while ice fishing. The truth is that many times trout, and often large rainbows are caught in very shallow water when ice fishing. This means fishing the shorelines and drilling holes in water that is from two to four feet deep. This shallow water ice fishing strategy is very effective when ice fishing for trout in my experience.  Ice fishing in shallow water means that you are very close to the trout you are fishing for and those trout can (and often do) "spook" easily. So being as quiet as possible on the ice is paramount when employing this strategy.

Another effective thing to do when ice fishing for trout is not to neglect fishing with Powerbait. If you fish for rainbow trout during other seasons you undoubtedly know how productive fishing with Powerbait can be. Well, believe it or not Powerbait is also a great bait to use when ice fishing for trout. Powerbait can be used by itself and rigged on a small treble hook with a split shot or two pinched onto the line to keep it from floating to the surface or can be used to "tip" a small jig, but the bottom line is that  Powerbait is effective even when you are standing on top of the water that you are fishing in.

Finally, there is one of the most popular strategies that there is for fishing for rainbow trout beneath the ice, which is to use a small marabou jig, tipped with a meal worm or maggot for added attraction  Hungry rainbow trout will readily goggle up these little morsels as they cruise around in the freezing water of a winter lake.  I have caught many trout on tiny maggot tipped marabou jigs.  I have found that a key to using this strategy is to not be afraid to let your offering just sit there.  With many ice fishing jigs, the goal is to constantly "jig" the lure up and down, but with marabou tipped jigs, I have found that less is more, so to speak.  I will often just jig my rod once every 5 or even 10 minutes and let the rod sit there motionless in the mean time.  I have found that hungry rainbows will often take the bait when the jig is sitting there doing nothing. 

These simple strategies will help you to experience more success the next time that you head out onto the ice in search of rainbow trout, I guarantee it.  Now bundle up, get out there, and have some fun. 

Fall Trout Fishing: Making The Best Of A Rainy Situation

Although fishing for trout in the fall of the year can be a very productive endeavor, the weather can be unpredictable to say the least.  One day it's beautiful, the next it's cold and rainy with the threat of winter looming over the situation like a father over his 15 year old daughter when she shows up an hour late after her first "party".  This is exactly the situation that I find myself in today.


It's cold and rainy, the type of day no one in their right mind would want to spend on the water chasing trout, however I have never claimed to be in my right mind.  I am acutely aware of the fact that November is officially upon us and that I have very little time left in the year to fish for trout, so it is of the utmost importance that I spend as much time on the water trout fishing as I can, while I can, because soon it will be too cold to spend very much time at all on the river that I love so much. 


Therefore I have a plan.  I have checked the weather forecast and the radar map on the interweb (technology is a wonderful thing) and have determined that the rain should stop at around 3:00 for six or seven hours?  Is this an idea that I should be confident about?  Probably not because I know how unpredictable the weather actually is, but a girl can dream can't she?  In any case, I'm planning on giving fishing a shot at around 3:00 this afternoon and we'll see what happens.  One thing I do know is that the temperatures aren't supposed to even hit the 40 degree mark today, so a pair of Wristies will be on my hands no matter what.  This is without a doubt the kind of day that fingerless fishing gloves were made for. 

The Leaves Are Starting To Fall & The Rainbow Trout Are Starting To Bite

As I began my hour or so hike down the partially dry creek bed to get to this years favorite fall trout fishing spot, I couldn't help but notice that the leaves on the birch trees have not only changed color, but are also beginning to fall from the trees.  I would imagine that the three or four days of unseasonably cool weather that we had a week or so ago "triggered" the color change, but whatever it is that is causing the leaves to do their thing earlier than normal, I'm not complaining.

I love to see the fall color change happen, because it triggers the real start of the fall trout fishing season in me and I know that I have some great fishing for the next few months.  I had returned to the same stretch of the swan river that I fished on the last trip and for the first 40 minutes or so I didn't receive a single bite.  This really confused me, but within another 10 or so minutes I had a bite, which I missed, and caught and released a nice little 15 inch bull trout.  At this point I worked my way downstream to a really nice hole that I discovered at the end of my last trip.

I tried to fish this hole but found that it is so deep and hard to get good casting angles in, that I would have to try to fish a little further downstream.  Well after about 5 minutes of drift fishing a stretch that looked good, I had another bite.  As I quickly lifted the tip of my rod to set the hook I felt that I was dealing with a fairly heavy trout.  I started to slowly step back, trying to raise the trout enough so I could see it.  It was nice alright, but not fighting like a rainbow of that size usually does?  With 5 minutes I had the rainbow landed, and it was indeed a nice one (about 20 inches) and I quickly removed the gang hooks and released the fish. 

I worked my way downstream a step or two and began fishing again.  I quickly hooked another larger rainbow, and this rainbow trout acted like I have come to expect during the fall of the year.  The trout immediately jumped out of the water and when it reentered the river began zipping line from my reel as the fish bolted directly away from me.  It the made on last jump and just like that was gone.  This time the line didn't break, but rather the small #10 gang hooks that I prefer to use simply disengaged from the rainbows mouth. "Jesus!", I thought to myself, "That was a nice fish".  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted and saved what would have otherwise been a less than epic fish catching day. 

The Big Fall Trout That Got Away

The title of this post is a but misleading as the trout in question would have "gotten away" no matter what seeing as how I don't kill any of the trout that I catch, but nonetheless this large rainbow released itself before I had the chance to land, admire, and release it.  In any case, as I mentioned in the last post I was having a good afternoon on the water, catching and releasing multiple rainbow trout that ranged in size from 9 to about 15 or so inches.

Now I'm not sure if it was because the fishing trip was going so well or because of the fact that I'm really out of practice and don't get to spend nearly as much time on the water as I'm used to, but I neglected to do many of the things that I normally do when fishing for fall trout.  One of those things is always checking my gang hooks (particularly the leader) for wear and tear each time that a trout is caught and released. 

It had been 10 minutes or so since my last bite and I had worked my way 20 or so yards downstream when during a very nice drift, I felt the familiar 'pull' from what is often a good sized fish.  I quickly set the hook and immediately felt the weight on the end of my line.  I raised my arm high in the air, making sure to not give the fish any slack, as I stepped backward towards the edge of the river.  Almost immediately the fish jumped completely out of the water.  When the trout landed back into the water it sounded like someone threw a cinder block into the water.

I was a bit shaken, haven not felt a rainbow of this size on the end of my line for more than two years, but at that point it didn't matter because the fight was on.  Although the trout was 20 or so feet away when it jumped, I could tell that it was 20 plus inches long, and as wide a rainbow as I have ever come across on this particular river. The fish then peeled off a bunch of line and towards the bottom of the river.  It then began to slowly shake it's head (as large troiut tend to do), before bolting towards the surface of the river once again. 

This time rather than jump the trophy sized rainbow trout opted to shake it's head on the surface and when it did, snap, it was gone.  That's right, the massive rainbow broke my line, something that rarely happens.  Unless of course you don't visually inspect your gang hooks when you bait up to make sure that there are no nicks or other wear and tear on the leader, which I had failed to do on this day.  There is no doubt that this is the reason that the large trout got away, but in truth is that as rusty as I am, I'm not sure would have had a hard time landing a rainbow of this size by myself in any case?

Fall Trout Fishing Is Upon Us

When I got done with my morning run I checked the times when the moon was rising and setting for

the day and found out that neither of these events were going to be "in my favor" on this afternoon.  I knew that the moon was almost full as I saw it when I awoke (yea, I tend to get up a little early) and know from experience that a full moon can be okay for fishing, but a new moon is much better.  I was going to fish a spot on this day that I hadn't been to in a couple of years, one that involves a mile or two hike down a dry creek bed, so I figured, "what the heck, if nothing else it will be good exercise and a beautiful walk" so the preparations for an afternoon fall fishing trip began.

I packed my fishing gear right after I ate lunch and headed out.  It's an hour or so drive to the area where I park and once I arrived there it was a little after twelve noon.  I began the hour or so hike down the creek (which had water in it by the way) and worked my way over and through all of the fallen trees that had obviously emerged due to the high spring run off.  After about a half an hour of walking, the water in the creek dried up and I was hiking through the dry creek bed that I remembered.

While traversing one particularly jumbled maze of fallen trees I managed to have to jump/fall a nice little four foot drop that  caused me to have to throw my fishing rod into the air, which ended up with a broken rod tip. This would have upset me, but I was thankful for the fact that I didn't break my ankle or leg on my little fall, so I proceeded to the river with my fishing rod minus the last eyelet.  

Twenty or so minutes later I arrived at the river, took a ten minute water break and began to fish with my broken fishing rod.  I fished the first hole that I came to (one that I hooked and lost a VERY large rainbow in about 10 years prior) but only managed to catch one little 8 or 9 inch rainbow.  I proceeded to cross the river and work my way downstream.  I then began to fish a great looking stretch of water that was absolutely perfect for drift fishing, which is exactly what I did. 

Within 3 drifts I had hooked and landed 3 more small rainbow trout ranging in size from 9-12 inches.  10 minutes later I hooked and landed a very nice 15 or so incher and was feeling pretty darn good about my day.  I continued to work my way downstream for the next 20 minutes or so only hooking one more fish, which I lost, when something special happened, of which I will discuss in my next post.  The bottom line is thta fall trout fishing is without question here my friends. 
 

Having Trouble Catching Rainbow Trout This Summer?

As I have said before, other than the dead of winter, there is no more difficult time of the year to rainbow trout that the hot summer months.  There are many reasons why this is true, but the most important in my experience is the fact that water temperatures often rise above the high end of the rainbow trouts ideal temperature range (61 degrees).  Once water temperatures start to climb above the 60 degree mark rainbows will become less and less active, thus making them much more difficult to catch.

consistently catch

Here is Northwest Montana where I live we have gotten lucky this year, as the run off lasted quite a while and the water temperatures are still well below the 60 degree mark.  This sucked for the spring trout season, but should bode well for the fall season.  In any case, trout can still be caught during the summer, especially if a few simple tips are adhered to. 

First, you always want to make sure that you are on the water at the most opportune times, meaning when the rainbows are the most likely to be actively feeding.  I accomplish this by doing two things.  The first thing I do is check the moon rise and set for the particular day that I am going to be fishing.  Here's a website that makes finding this information simple and easy.   Over the years I have found that rainbows are almost always more active during the times when the moon is either rising or setting.

And the next thing that I check is what phase the moon is in at the time when I am going to be fishing for rainbow trout.  If at all possible I try to plan my trip around the New Moon phase, especially during the warm summer months when rainbows tend to be less active anyway.  In my experience the fishing is almost always more productive when the moon is new, as opposed to many other times of the month. 

Finally, because water temperatures are the major enemy of summer trout fishing, do your best to be on the water fishing when the water temperatures are their coolest.  This means fishing right after rainstorms, early in the mornings, or after cold fronts pass through your fishing area.  All of these things cause slightly cooler water temperatures, which oftentimes "turn" the rainbows on so to speak, if only for a short period of time. 

If you are having trouble catching rainbow trout this summer, implement one (or all) of these simple tips.   If you do you should definitely experience more summer trout fishing success. 

Why Should I Wear Polarized Glasses While Trout Fishing?

For people who have never worn a pair of polarized sunglasses while fishing a question that is often

asked is why exactly it is that a pair of polarized sun glasses should be worn? I know this is a question that I used to ask myself all the time, right up until I actually purchased and used a pair of quality polarized fishing glasses. Since doing that, you would be hard pressed to find me on the water fishing without a pair of polarized sun glasses covering my eyes.

The bottom line is that if your favorite style of fishing involves sight fishing in any way such as; bass fishing over spawning beds, drift fishing live bait in a river or stream, or fly fishing in any way a pair of polarized sunglasses are one of the most important pieces of fishing gear to have. So why exactly is this the case?

The main difference between regular sunglasses and sun glasses that have polarized lenses is that the polarization cuts through the glare created when the sun refracts horizontally off of the water or other objects, enabling you to see into the water rather than seeing a ton of glare. Without getting into the science of polarization and boring everyone to death, the point is that wearing polarized fishing glasses is key to fishermen because by wearing them the glare is eliminated and you can then see into the water (for lack of a better, more concise description). Not only that, but keeping the glare from entering your eyes is good for the health of your eyes themselves.

For many styles of fishing, such as the ones mentioned above, polarized fishing glasses are a "must have" item. There is however one caveat to polarized sunglasses whether they are being used for fishing or any other outdoor activity and that caveat is that when it comes to polarized sunglasses you get what you pay for. In other words if you head out to your local mall or super center and buy a cheap pair of polarized sunglasses they more than likely aren't going to perform very well and leave you disappointed. No matter what type of product you are referring to, quality products are more expensive and when you are talking about polarized sun glasses this rule certainly holds true.  

I used to try to buy polarized glasses for twenty five bucks or less and found that they were terrible and didn't "work" very well, if at all.  As a matter of fact the cheap glasses that I would buy used to distort my vision to the point that I thought polarized glasses were some sort of joke.  Then a fishing friend convinced me invest in a quality pair of polarized fishing glasses (that cost me $150 by the way) and I realized what all of the "hubbub" was about. The point is that when it comes to polarized sun glasses expect to "invest" $50 to $150 and you will be extremely happy with your decision because not only will the glasses look good, but they will perform as they should as well.

As to the answer to the question posed in the title of this article, "should I wear polarized fishing glasses", the final answer is a resounding YES.

Want To Catch More Rainbow Trout? Follow These Simple Rules

If you want to consistently catch more rainbow trout, you need to do things that other trout fishermen

are unwilling, unable, or too uninformed to do. Below I will outline a few rules that the "average" rainbow trout fisherman might not be aware of, all of which will help him or her catch more trout. How is it that I am aware of these rules? Simply because I've spent the better part of thirty years on various rivers and lakes throughout North America fishing for these beautiful fish and in that amount of time have managed to learn a thing or two. In other words, if you are new to the world of rainbow trout fishing or are experienced and just want to catch a few more rainbow trout, you have indeed come to the right place. Below I will outline a few simple rules that I have learned over the years that will without a doubt help you catch more rainbow trout the next time that you have chance to hit the water.

I will begin with the easiest rule and the one that can literally be implemented by anyone, when they go fishing. Whether or not you believe me, the weather and the moon play a huge role in whether or not the rainbow trout that you are fishing for are going to be feeding and as you can imagine, you will catch more trout if you are fishing when the trout are feeding. The more that you can use this information to your advantage on the water, the more trout you will catch. Learn some simple rules concerning frontal systems, moon phases, and the rising and the setting of the moon and you will almost automatically catch more rainbow trout the next time that you head out fishing.

Next we have the size of the rod, reel, and fishing line that is used when you are fishing for rainbow trout. In my experience 75-80% of the trout fishermen that I encounter are using gear that's entirely too heavy when it comes to fishing for this beautiful species of fish. If you want to catch more rainbow trout than the "average" trout fisherman make sure that you are employing a rod and reel that are ultra light power and fishing line that is no heavier than six pound test. When it comes specifically to fishing line I prefer to use four pound test and rainbow fishermen that are more serious than me go often use line as light as two pound test.

The final rule that I have for you is to make sure that whatever trout bait, lure, and hooks that you choose to use are also smaller than you might be used to. For the most part rainbow trout aren't excessively large fish and prefer to eat small meals. This is even true for large rainbow trout, as they are often used to eating a lot of small meals as opposed to one or two large meals when they are feeding. For this reason, keep whatever bait portions, trout lures, and/or hooks that you use as small as you can. Doing this will result in more bites from hungry rainbows.

The bottom line is that by employing these simple rules, you will without question experience more success anytime that you are fishing for rainbow trout. These rules have been helping me for almost three decades and I know they will do the same for you.

River Fishing Tips For The Rainbow Trout Fisherman

When it comes to fishing for rainbow trout there is one place that I prefer above all others and that

place is the flowing water that a river provides. I have been fishing for rainbow trout in rivers for almost 30 years and enjoy it so much, there is virtually no other form of fishing that I prefer anymore. I mean, sure I'll head out bass fishing once in a while or go on a steel head trip from time to time, but the older I get the more I prefer simply standing in the flowing water with my ultralight gear and catching a nice healthy rainbow or two.

When you have spent as much time as I have on the river you can't help but learn a thing or two, so keep in mind that all of these tips are born from real world fishing experience and aren't fabricated in any way. They are all tips that I have learned and continue to use to this very day and help me catch rainbows virtually every time that I head out fishing. If these simple tips are added to your arsenal, I have no doubt that they will do the same for you.

The first tip has to do with when I head out fishing. I have learned that if you want to consistently catch rainbow trout you have to make sure that you are on the water at the most opportune times, which is to say when the trout are the most likely to be feeding. When I was a younger fisherman, I never paid attention to such things and I believe that this fact alone made me a much more inconsistent fisherman. So now I am always cognizant of when I am fishing so that I can "tip the odds" into my favor.

So when are the odds "in your favor" as a trout fisherman? Well we all know about the morning and the evening, so that's the first way. But there is also the weather and moon both of which I am also aware of when it comes to river fishing. You see, the weather and moon both play very large roles in whether or not the rainbow trout that we are fishing for are going to be actively feeding. For this reason you want to familiarize yourself with some of the simple ways that these two forces of Mother Nature impact fishing so that you can use this information to your advantage on the water.

The next tip that I have is to be as efficient as possible anytime that you are river fishing for rainbow trout. The more efficient you are the more time you will spend with your line in the water where the trout are rather than out of the water while you perform menial and repetitive tasks. This means employing fishing gear such as a fishing vest, waders, a bait bag, and polarized sunglasses just to name a few of the more pertinent items. The bottom line is that the more efficient you are, the more trout you will catch because you will be spending more time with your bait or lure in the water.

Keep these simple river fishing tips in mind as the trout season gets underway and you will be on your way to your best season ever. As I said, these fishing tips have helped me tremendously over the years and I know they will do the same for you.

3 Easy Tricks That Will Help You Catch The Biggest Rainbow Trout You Have Ever Caught

I have been fishing for freshwater trout for more than twenty years and my personal favorite species of trout to target is the rainbow trout. These beautiful fish, which usually have a large pronounced red stripe running along the length of their body, are hard fighting, tasty, and a challenge to fool when they reach the twenty inch mark and above. In this article I reveal 3 easy tricks that will help any serious rainbow trout fisherman catch the biggest rainbow trout that they have ever caught.

Rainbows can be caught is rivers, lakes, and ponds, but by far my favorite type of water to catch rainbow trout in are rivers. For this reason, these three tricks all relate to fishing in the flowing waters that a river or stream provides. The other fact that I think is important to point out is that I am not a fly fisherman, but rather choose to fish for rainbows while using ultralight spinning gear. Some people find this strange, but it's nonetheless true, and means that these tricks all relate to this style of trout fishing as well. With that being said, let's get down to business.

1. Focus On The Most Productive Areas - Large rainbow trout are usually found in certain area's of a given river system, and these are the area's that you want to focus your fishing efforts. In a given river system, larger rainbows will inhabit prime feeding area's such as deep runs and pools, especially if there is a good place withing a deep run or pool that they can lie in wait and ambush their prey. Some good ambush points are large underwater boulders or sunken trees within either a deep run or pool of the river or stream. I have also found that the 'head' of pools tend to be more productive when it comes to larger trout that the 'tail' of pools.
2. Use The Lightest Fishing Line Possible - Many years ago I used to use gang hooks that were tied with six pound test line. I generally experienced success when I was fishing for trout with these gang hooks, although on one particular day I was getting "skunked" and catching nothing. I then ran out of pre-tied hooks and had to tie some on the river as I was fishing. Since I always spool my reel with four pound test line, I carry an extra spool of line with me in my fishing vest for emergencies and had to use this line to tie my gang hooks on the river that day. I tied myself a set of hooks, baited up, and almost immediately hooked and landed a sixteen inch rainbow. Over the next hour I hooked and landed 3 more trout that were from sixteen to nineteen inches and I realized that the lighter line is what made the difference, because the tactic that I was using (drift fishing) remained the same. I have since tested this hypothesis and always come to the same conclusion, lighter line means more bites, especially from larger rainbows.
3. Do Your Best To Stay Hidden - You always have to remember that large rainbows don't become large by accident. They have usually been caught and released multiple times and have survived multiple fishing seasons, which tends to make them quite weary of human beings. Things like making a commotion when wading, wearing bright colored clothing, and casting a shadow on the water that you are fishing are all things that can "spook" large trout and send them "running for cover" so that you never get the chance to catch them. The more hidden that you can stay to the trout that you are fishing for, the more opportunities you will have at large trout, it's a simple as that.

Do yourself a favor and test these tricks out for yourself and what you will find is that these simple tricks will help you catch the biggest rainbow trout that you have ever caught.

What Is The Best Way To Catch A Rainbow Trout?

If you are new to the world of trout fishing and are wondering what the best way to catch a rainbow rainbow trout, from throwing a small lure to fly fishing, I have found that this method outperforms many others when it comes to catching rainbow trout during many times of the year.
trout is, you have landed in the right place. Below I will outline what I see as the best way to catch a rainbow trout based on my thirty or so years of experience fishing for these beautiful fish. While it is obviously true that there are many ways to catch

I believe that it’s also important to point out that I prefer to fish for rainbows while using a four to six foot ultralight rod with a reel that contains four pound test fishing line or lighter. Yea, I know there are a portion of fishermen that fish for rainbow trout while using fly fishing gear, but I am not one of those anglers. I prefer to fish for rainbow trout while utilizing ultralight spin fishing gear and tackle.
With all of that said, let's get down to what I consider the best way to catch a rainbow trout, what do you say? The technique is performed in the flowing water of a river or stream (usually while wading). For some reason fishing for rainbows while wading in the water which is being fished has always "felt right" to me, and given the choice this is the type of water that I prefer to fish for these beautiful fish in. The specific technique is known as drift fishing and has been my "go to" rainbow trout technique ever since it was taught to me almost 3 decades ago.

Drift fishing can be done with a small crank bait or trout spinner, as well as with live trout bait such as a live worm. By far my favorite bait to use while drift fishing is a live fishing worm, preferably a red worm or mini night crawler, and in lieu of these a normal night crawler that I pinch in half can be used as well. The technique involves allowing your live trout bait or lure to drift naturally with the current of the river. In the case of live trout baits, it's often a good idea to adjust your weight so that your offering bounces along the bottom of the river as it drifts. With crank baits and spinners, bouncing along the bottom isn't as imperative and a slow and steady retrieve will usually do the trick just fine.

Although drift fishing takes a little practice to get used to, mainly because telling the difference between a bite and the bottom can be a challenge in the beginning in the case of live bait, as you gain experience you will learn just how effective a rainbow trout fishing technique that it is. With practice you will quickly learn why I believe that drift fishing is the answer to the question of what is the best way to catch a rainbow trout. Do yourself a favor and make sure that drift fishing becomes (or is) a part of your rainbow trout fishing arsenal.

When To Fish: Is There a "Best Time" To Go Fishing?

As a fisherman with more than a quarter of a centuries worth of fishing experience, for me the answer to the question of when to fish used to be, "whenever I can". Then, on a fishing trip with my Grandfather in Northern Ontario about fifteen years ago, something happened that made me question my answer to this often asked question. What's interesting about this is that at the time of the fishing trip, nothing dawned on me other than the fact that I hooked and landed some very nice fish. It wasn't until later, when I began to question if there were some times that were better for fishing than others that the realization came to me.

You see we had just gotten to our cabin and wanted to get some fishing in before the end of the day, so we quickly loaded up our boat and headed a couple of miles up river to troll one of our favorite bays, never even thinking about if this was a good or bad time to go fishing. As we were motoring down the main river channel I noticed a storm approaching from the north and wondered is we would get rained on before we got a chance to fish.

We didn't, and withing five minutes had our #18 Rapala's in the water and were trolling. As we made our first turn, we hooked and landed a very nice Pike. After letting our lures out again, within a few minutes I had hooked and landed a nice twenty or so inch Walleye. Within 15 minutes, we caught 3 more Walleye and had to head back, as darkness was approaching fast. I began to reel my lure in fast so that we could get the heck out of there, when I hooked something BIG. After a 30 minute or so fight, I landed a 42 inch Muskie. At this point it was all but dark and sprinkling rain, so we finally headed back to the cabin. It wasn't until thinking about this fishing trip years later that I realized that the trip probably wasn't just a "lucky day" as I had assumed it was for so many years.

You see I was researching a book about when to fish and trying to figure out if a "best" time to go fishing could be determined, when I started to put two and two together. I was learning that things like the weather, sun, moon, and barometric pressure all play a role in whether or not fish are likely to be feeding and when I applied these principles to that day in Ontario, I was beginning to see why we had caught so many fish.

First it was dusk when we were trolling. Second, a storm was approaching which means that the barometric pressure was likely falling. I have since learned that both of these things play a big role in whether or not fish are going to be feeding. I have also learned that the moon play's a role as well, and although I don't know for sure, I would bet that the moon was in it "new" phase for the month at the time of the trip as well.

The point here is that I now know that there is a best time to go fishing and "when to fish" has a lot more to due with controllable factors than simply relying on blind luck. All you have to do is educate yourself a little bit about the weather, the moon, the sun, and barometric pressure and how these factors influence fishing and you won't have to wonder when to fish. You can get to a point that you almost <i>know</i> when.

3 Easy Tricks To Help You Catch More Trout In Cold Weather

Cold weather and trout fishing don't generally go together, other than when you are speaking of ice

fishing of course, but if you want to catch a few cold weather trout there are some things that you can do to "tip the odds" into your favor. In this article I will reveal 3 easy tricks to help you catch more trout in cold weather, in case you get a hankering to get out there and brave the elements this winter. I know these tricks work because I use them and they come from more than twenty five years of trout fishing experience.

Since trout are generally much less active during extended periods of cold weather, it is vitally important that you are on the water when the trout are most likely to be feeding. So that you don't become to overwhelmed with the subject of when trout may or may not be feeding, I have always found that it's best to keep things simple. The "heat of the day" is often when the trout will be the most active in cold weather, so this is a great time to head out for some trout fishing. That's pretty simple, wouldn't you say?

Next we have the moon. Although many anglers overlook the moon when it come to fishing this is a mistake in my opinion. Over the past 20 or so years I have learned that the moon in fact plays a very large role in when the trout that I am fishing for are going to be "active". Thus I have learned that being on the water fishing for trout when the moon is either rising or setting, means that I have a much better chance of experiencing success. Find out when either one of these things are taking place on the day that you are going to be fishing for trout and do your best to plan your fishing trip accordingly.

When fishing for trout in cold weather the last trick that you want to remember to downsize and slow down. This means that your baits and/or trout lures need to be smaller than you might normally use and the presentation needs to be slow. Sluggish trout aren't usually looking for big meals and have little interest in chasing down a meal any more than they have to. For this reason you always want to remember to downsize and slow down if you want to catch more trout in cold weather.

These 3 tricks certainly couldn't be compared to quantum physics, but if you want to catch more trout in cold weather they will certainly help you out. Fishing for trout in cold weather can actually be effective as long as your strategies change a little bit from what you do in the warmer months of the year.