Some Great Tips To Help You Catch More Fish While River Fishing

In my opinion, the most important thing to remember while river fishing is not to spook the water that you're about to fish. I've seen entirely too many anglers do this very thing. For example, they'll wade 1/4 of the way out into the river and begin fishing. Thus leaving themselves standing in the very water they probably should have fished first.

The first tip is: When river fishing, remember to work the area that you want to fish in "sections". Don't just jump in and start fishing in the spot that you think looks the best. And don't just fish the water directly below where you're wading. Make your casts into the current then let your live bait or lure flow with the current until it is finally below you, keeping your line as tight as possible the entire time. Repeat this step while varying the length of your casts in order to cover the water entirely.

The second tip is: When river fishing, while using live bait, the bottom is your friend. As my mentor used to say, "if you're not getting snagged, you're not fishing in the right place!" The goal is to bounce you're live bait off of the bottom as it drifts naturally through the current (JRW Gang Hooks are the most natural way to present a worm in my opinion). This is accomplished by adjusting the number of split shot sinkers you add to your line. Start with two and make a cast. If you don't feel bottom throughout your drift, add another on the next cast and so on. Once you're bouncing bottom, you'll be able to feel it. And with practice, you'll be able to tell the difference between the bottom and a bite with ease.

The third tip is: Look for deeper water. For the most part you'll want to spend 80% of your time on any given river fishing trip, fishing the deeper parts of the river. Deeper edges and riffles and of course pools are where a majority of the fish will congregate(especially in hotter weather. You don't want to get caught spending 80% of your time fishing the shallow riffles and 20% of your time fishing the beautiful pool below the riffles. And the deeper edges along most riffles (especially in the bend of the river) are generally more productive as well. Just remember: for the most part, deeper is better.

The fourth tip is: Match your fishing gear to the type of fish that your fishing for. I've seen all too many anglers out on my local stream fishing for rainbow trout with gear that would enable them to hook and land a small mako shark! My personal preference is a five foot ultra light rod and reel spooled with 4 lb. test. If this would be too "small" for you, a 6 foot light action rod spooled with 6lb. test would suffice, but any larger is complete overkill. If you're going river fishing for fall steelhead, obviously your going to need larger fishing gear. Just make sure to match it to what you're fishing for. I don't need to see any more shark fishermen on my local trout stream.

These tips should save you time, and with any luck, help you catch more fish as well. So get out there and do just that. And remember what a very wise person once said, "a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work." Amen!

River Trout Fishing

Trout can be caught in two main types of water; rivers and lakes and in my humble opinion there is no better place to catch trout than in rivers. Now rivers come in many shapes and sizes, so what size river am I referring to when I refer to the subject in the title of this article, river trout fishing? It's really quite simple; a river that is the size that can be waded in and fished effectively, what many people would refer to as a "small river".

I have been fishing for trout in this type of river for more than two decades and in that time have been taught and learned many tips and techniques that have enabled me to experience a ton of success while river trout fishing. In this article I will list 3 of these tips which will undoubtedly help you catch more trout when river trout fishing in water like the type previously mentioned.
So, what do you say we get down to business?

1. Focus on the New Moon - Many trout fishermen overlook this simple fact, but the fishing tends to be much more productive in the three to four days that surround the phase of the moon called the "new moon". It sounds strange, but is nonetheless true that being on the water during any "new moon" phase means that the trout that you are attempting to catch will be much more active, and thus more apt to bite whatever it is that you are offering them. The bottom line is that anytime that your are fishing for trout in a river, try to focus your efforts on the "new moon".
2. Worms are an Excellent Bait Choice - Worms, either live or synthetic, are an excellent bait choice to employ any time that you are fishing for trout in a river situation. The most popular technique to employ when you are river trout fishing is known as "drift fishing". Drift fishing with a live or synthetic fishing worm in a river fishing scenario can be as effective a trout fishing technique as there is. Never forget that worms are an excellent bait choice to use when you are trout fishing in rivers.
3. Keep Foreign Odors in Check - When I refer to the term "foreign odors" I'm referring specifically to your hands. You always want to make sure that your hands are free of any unnatural odors, as these odors will transfer to your bait or lure and be detected by wary trout. If foreign or unnatural odors are detected on your bait or lure, the trout are much less apt to bite whatever it is that you are using as bait. Keep foreign odors on your hands in check and you will experience more success when river trout fishing, there no doubt about it.

If you enjoy catching trout in rivers the aforementioned tips will serve you well for many years. Add one or all of them to your trout fishing arsenal sooner, rather than later.

River Fishing Tips - 3 Tips To Remember When River Fishing

In this article I will outline 3 tips to remember the next time that you go river fishing. Although the term 'river fishing' can mean many things, to me it has always meant wading in and along the river that you are fishing in an attempt to catch fish. To me this is 'river fishing', much like what you think of when you think of "fly fishing", except for the fact that I personally don't fish with flies. I prefer to fish with traditional ultra light spin fishing gear, yet fish in much the same manner that a fly fisherman might. The description above is what I consider river fishing.

While the following fishing tips are particularly effective when fishing in the manner mentioned above, they can also be used effectively in other river fishing scenarios with some minor tweaks. The bottom line is that if you like to fish in the flowing waters that a river provides the following tips will most certainly come in handy and help you catch more fish.

• Tread Lightly - When wading in the river that you are fishing an important river fishing tip is to tread lightly. What do I mean by the term 'tread lightly'? I mean that you want to shuffle you feet as little as possible while you are wading. This is especially true when you are within a hundred or so feet of the area you intend to fish. Remember, sound can travel great distances under the water and if weary fish hear anything "out of the ordinary" they are much less apt to bite. This is why you always want to tread lightly when you are wading in a river.
• Have A Bait Carrier - One of the best baits to use while river fishing are live worms, and when using live worms on the river having an effective way to carry said worms is of the utmost importance. This is easily one of the best river fishing tips that you will ever receive. A quality bait carrier, such as a JRW bait bag, will save you a ton of valuable fishing time on the water. With a bait bag, baiting up and re-baiting takes seconds, which means you spend more time with your line in the water where the fish are, rather than out of the water while you search for your bait.
• Be On The River At The Best Times - No matter what type of river fishing you are doing, being on the river at the best times is of the utmost importance. This can be determined by learning about the weather and moon and the simple ways in which these two natural forces impact fishing. By learning a few simple rules you can always be on the river at the best times for fishing.

These 3 simple river fishing tips will help you experience much more success on your next trip on the river. Add one or all of them to your repertoire sooner rather than later.

River Fishing Tips : Drifting Fishing For Trout

One of the best ways to catch trout in rivers and streams is to go drift fishing. For anyone who doesn't know what "drift fishing" is it is simply fishing by allowing your bait or lure to "drift" with the current of the river or stream that you are fishing in an attempt to catch fish. This technique is effective for most any species of fish that swims in a river and is one of the best river fishing tips that you will ever receive for river fishing for trout.

The first thing to consider when drift fishing for trout is the size of your rod, reel, and the line that said reel is spooled with. Both your rod and reel should be ultralight action. When it comes to your rod and river fishing tips, a great tip is to use different a longer rod the heavier the current is flowing. For example, when the river that your are fishing is flowing "normally" a five to five and a half foot ultralight rod is in order. When the current of the river that you are fishing is flowing "heavily" (such as in the spring) a longer ultralight rod is in order, say six to seven feet. The longer your fishing rod the more "feel" you will have as the current flow increases and your ability to "feel" in integral to drift fishing.

Next is your fishing line. Monofilament or fluorocarbon line that is either four or six pound test is the perfect size for drift fishing for trout. A key to drift fishing for trout is being able to visually see the line that is not underwater while the "drift" is taking place. This is why fishing line that is clear/blue in color is incredibly important to drift fishing. Clear/blue line is highly visible out of the water, yet is invisible to the fish beneath the water. Whatever brand of monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line you choose to use, make sure that the color of the line is invisible under the water, while being visible to you above the water.

When you are drift fishing for trout (or any other fish species for that matter) you want to do it by standing in the current of the river itself and casting parallel to where you are standing. The bail on your reel is closed and the bait or lure is allowed to "drift" as the current takes the offering downstream. When the bait or lure is directly below where you are standing the "drift" is over and the offering is reeled in. This is "drift fishing" and with practice will probably become your favorite river fishing technique.

Drift fishing for trout is an excellent way to enjoy trout fishing and/or to catch a trout. The biggest key to the technique is practice. As you learn all the little nuances of drift fishing, such as adding and/or removing split shot sinkers to keep your offering near the bottom, you will become much more successful at it. Make drift fishing a part of your arsenal sooner rather than later.