Drift Fishing For Trout In High Water Conditions

At this time of the year, late spring to early summer, drift fishing for trout is a challenge to say the least.  The biggest challenge that any drift fisherman will face at this time of the year are the river conditions.  High flows make drift fishing much more difficult than it is at other times of the year, there's no doubt about it.  The good thing is that all is not lost when it comes to drift fishing for trout when the river flows are high as long as you make a few minor adjustments to your approach.

The first (and most important adjustment in my opinion) is the length of your fishing rod.  During most times of the year I will fish with a 4 and a half to 5 foot ultralight spinning rod.  But when the rivers are flowing high I switch to a six to seven and a half foot fishing rod. Why do I do this?  The answer is actually quite simple.  That extra foot to foot and a half in rod length gives me the ability to feel my bait much better.  With the longer rod I can keep my rod tip high in the air and follow my bait as is drifts with the river, something that is not possible when using my shorter ultralight rod.

The next thing to consider when drift fishing in high water conditions is the type of bait that you use.  Meal worms are an excellent bait for trout in muddy water conditions.  Rather than rehash old material you can read this post about drift fishing with meal worms for exactly how I like to accomplish this task. Don't forget that when current flows are very fast, the trout will seek the area's of the river where the current is a little less.  Concentrate your drift fishing efforts on these area's of the river.

The bottom line is that when the rivers are flowing high early in the year trout can still be caught, as long as you adjust your approach a little bit.  Make these minor adjustments to your approach and you'll be catching a stringer full of trout in no time. 

Do You Know How To Split Shot A Berkley Trout Worm?

If you are fishing in a lake that contains stocked rainbow trout, a great way to land a grip of  trout is to "split shot" a trout worm.  For many trout fishermen (including myself) the term "trout worm" makes the mind turn to small live worms such as red worms, but in this case live fishing worms are not what I am referring to.  Rather, I am referring to the trout worms that Berkley makes which are impregnated with Powerbait, which as you should be aware is one of the most effective trout baits on the market.  Well, these little four or so inch long floating worms are a great bait to use for rainbow trout that live in a lake.


One of the most effective techniques that I've come across for using Berkley trout worm is called split shotting, and it's as simple a technique as you will find.  The technique is best utilized in a lake that has been stocked with rainbow trout.  You can be fishing from a boat or from shore and because of the way the trout worm is rigged you want to use a fishing rod that may be a bit longer than you are used to?  In many trout fishing scenarios, I prefer a five or so foot long ultralight fishing rod.  Well, when I am split shooting a trout worm, I prefer to use a an ultralight trout rod that's at least six and a half feet long. Why do I do this?  Mainly because using a longer fishing rod, enables me to cast my lightweight trout worm rig much easier. 

Next we have the line that your reel is spooled with.  Make sure that the line that you are using is no heavier than four pound test.  You want to use either two or four pound test line any time that you split shotting a Berkley trout worm.  This means that your line will not only be invisible to the trout, but the lighter line will also aide in your ability to cast the tiny trout worm.

The rig itself starts with a #8 or #10 light wire (or Aberdeen) hook, which is tied to the end of your line.  A single split shot sinker is now pinched to the line two to six feet up the line.  The size of the split shot will vary depending on the depth of the water that you are fishing.  I find the BB size is usually a good starting point.  A Berkley trout worm is now threaded onto your fishing hook.  Make sure that the worm is rigged onto the hook is a completely straight manner with no "kinks" in the worm itself.  This will make sure that the worm achieves the proper "action" in the water. 

 Now cast your split shot rig into the water and allow it to sink to the bottom.  Now slowly reel the worm in, occasionally lightly twitching the tip of your rod as you reel.  Working the trout worm too fast will result in very few bites, so remember the slower you work the work the trout worm the better.  Work the water column, by varying the depth at which you let the worm sink, as you will often find that hungry rainbow trout will be a different depths within the water column. Varying the color of the worm can help as well.  I have found that pink, white, and red are effective colors.

Well, now you know how to split shot a trout worm.  As you begin implementing this simple trout fishing technique I think you will find that is as effective a technique as you will find for catching stocked rainbow trout. 

Ice Fishing For Rainbow Trout? Catch More Trout With This Simple Tip!

In many area's rainbow trout are often stocked (or planted) in waterways suck as lakes and ponds for the

express purpose of being caught by anglers.  Although often overlooked, during winter months when these waterways are covered my four or more inches of ice, ice fishing is a great way to catch these rainbow trout.  The winter months can often become monotonous and doing a little ice fishing is never a bad idea if you want to break up that monotony a little bit.

I have recently come a cross a simple ice fishing tip that has enabled me to experience quite a bit of success this winter ice fishing for rainbow trout.  As a matter of fact a couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to catch 5 rainbows, ranging in size from 10 to 17 inches.  If you fish for rainbow trout beneath the ice, this tip is going to be very valuable to you.

The tip involves the use of a new product that I was introduced to at the beginning of this ice fishing season, called the Jawjacker.  Actually it's proper name is the Jawjacker Hook Setter Tip-Up and it's the best piece of ice fishing gear that I've come across in years!  This ingenious little "tip up" is adjustable for rod length, sensitivity, and hook setting power.  What makes it so cool to me is that it is also adjustable to set the hook when even the most sensitive bite occurs (which as we all know often happens when we are ice fishing).  As a matter of fact after using my Jawjacker Hook Setter Tip-Ups about 5 times now, I'm convinced that I have been missing a LOT of bites from inquisitive rainbow trout while ice fishing over the prior 25 or so years. 

Depending on the number of Jawjackers you end up using, another quick tip is to buy a few small bells that can be attached to the tip of you're ice fishing rod.  You know, the rod that you place in the unit itself?  This way when a trout takes your offering, and the rod tip is released, you hear "ring, ring, ring" as the trout pulls against the resistance of your fishing rod.  It ends up being like a traditional tip up, but when you get to the hole you grab your fishing rod, rather than having to just had line the trout in, like I used to.  No more hand lining for me thanks to this simple ice fishing tip!

Trout Fishing Rods - The Features Of A Quality Spinning Rod

When it comes to trout fishing rods the choices that are available seem almost endless, yet using a quality spinning rod is important to experiencing success when fishing for the beautiful species of fish that are known as 'trout'. I have been fishing for trout for more than two decades and in that time have personally used many different trout rods, some good, some not so good, and I know from experience how important it is to be using the correct type of rod when you are fishing for trout.

If you want to know how to choose the best fishing rod to use while fishing for trout this article is for you. Below I will list what I have learned to be the most important features that all quality trout fishing rods have in common. Armed with this information you will be able to determine the best choice for you and your favorite style of fishing amongst the many choices that are available to trout fishermen.

1. The Grip (or Handle) - The handle of the fishing rod (where your reels is attached) is the first thing that varies from rod to rod. Grips are made from foam or cork and the choice as to which is best is usually up to personal preference. To me cork has always felt better to my hand, so cork grips are what I prefer when it comes to a trout fishing rod. The second aspect of the handle is the way in which your spinning reel attached to the handle. There can be a plastic screwing mechanism or just two plastic rings that need to be taped to the grip to secure the reel. Again, the better option is usually up to personal preference.


2. The Action - The action of a rod refers to the how much of the fishing rod bends when you put pressure on the tip, and the speed with which the rod returns to its neutral position. The construction material and construction method of a rod affects its action. You can look on the rod itself and see what the manufacturer says the action is and in the case of trout fishing rods what you are looking for is 'ul' which stands for ultralight.


3. The Length - The length of the fishing rod is pretty self explanatory, and refers to how long the rod itself is. Normal trout rods are from four feet to five feet six inches long and longer trout fishing rods are usually six feet six inches to seven feet long. A longer rod is normally used when one of two trout fishing scenarios are being dealt with: long distance casts are needed or you are river fishing for trout when water conditions are higher and deeper than normal. It's a good idea for every trout angler to have a normal and a long rod available to them so that they can use the one that is best suited for the situation that they find themselves in.

No matter what brand name you choose to go with, the bottom line is that the aforementioned features will all come together to make the best trout fishing rod for you and your favorite method of spin fishing for trout.

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Always Use a Longer Fishing Rod When Trout Fishing in the Spring

I don't know about you, but I'm primarily a river angler. There's nothing I enjoy more than standing in a flowing river and fishing. To me, there's something spiritual about the entire process. Many times the terms 'spiritual' and 'fishing' seem to reserved for fly fishermen, which is obviously a complete fallacy, but I digress. As the spring fishing season begins, it means that in many parts of the country, our rivers and streams become high and muddy because of run-off, rain, or a combination of the two. When rivers and streams become high and muddy, fishing becomes much more difficult.

The biggest mistake anglers make with these high water conditions is to try to use the same fishing rod that they use in "normal" water levels. This is a huge mistake and a big reason attempting to fish when the water's high is difficult. If a longer fishing rod is employed when the water is higher, fishing is much less difficult.

A longer fishing rod enables the angler to "feel" both their bait and the bottom much better. As a matter of fact, it makes all the difference in the world. In normal river and stream situations, I use a five foot ultra light fishing rod and reel for my fishing. When the water id high in the springtime, I use a six foot six ultra light rod and reel. That's the only thing that I do differently and it makes all the difference in the world. I still use four pound test line, gang hooks, and live worms. The only difference is that in the springtime I use a longer fishing rod.

This simple tip makes a ton of difference and is so easy. You can even use the same reel that you normally do, just have your longer fishing rod available when the water is higher. And the cost of having an extra rod is minuscule, when compared with the amount of fishing time you gain. So have a springtime fishing rod available, so you don't miss out on this productive time of year. Using a fishing rod that's too short in high water situations will simply result in you feeling so many more less bites that it's not worth fishing with. Having a longer rod available for these high water situations is a great idea.