How To Catch Rainbow Trout In A River

By far, my favorite place to catch a rainbow trout is in a river, and to be a bit more specific, a small to medium sized river that can be fished while wading. This "is" rainbow trout fishing as far as I'm concerned and at the end of the day there is virtually no activity on this earth that I enjoy more. Below I will outline how to catch rainbow trout in a river, at least in the manner that I prefer to use to catch these beautiful fish. Sure, you can "fly fish" or use another technique to fish for rainbows in a river, but this entry is about the way that I learned to catch rainbow trout in a river and the technique has almost never let me down. 

The technique is known as drift fishing and is an extremely effective way to catch rainbow trout in a river. The technique involves allowing your bait (my favorite is a live worm) to drift naturally with the current of the river that you are fishing, usually while "bouncing" along the bottom. During feeding periods, rainbow trout feed heavily of virtually anything that is flowing with the current, and drift fishing is an excellent way to take advantage of this phenomenon as a trout fisherman.

Although the technique takes a bit of getting used to, learning to tell the difference between the bottom and a bite, drift fishing is no doubt how to catch rainbow trout in a river. I prefer to use live minnows, worms, and meal worms rigged on a set of gang hooks, but synthetic baits such as Berkley trout worms and Power minnows are quite productive as well. The bottom line is that if you want to consistently catch rainbows out of rivers, the technique known as "drift fishing" needs to be a part of your repertoire.

As you gain experience and become familiar with the technique, artificial lures such as jigs, spinners, and artificial nymphs can be added to your arsenal for the times when the rainbows aren't in the mood for something "natural". In time you will come to realize just how effective "drift fishing" is and I'm sure it will become one of your "go to" rainbow trout techniques.

River Trout Fishing: 3 Tips to Help You Catch More Trout When River 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.