Rainbow Trout Fishing In The Winter

Many trout fishermen believe that rainbow trout fishing in the winter is something that can only be accomplished on a frozen lake and that fishing in rivers is something that shouldn't even be attempted, but the truth of the matter is that fishing for rainbow trout in winter can actually be quite productive. As productive as it is during warmer seasons? No, not quite, but it can nonetheless be worth your while.

While you shouldn't expect to "hit the jackpot" when you go rainbow trout fishing in winter, if you adjust your expectations, you can usually have a great day on the river. The biggest key to river fishing for trout in the winter is to downsize your expectations, after all we aren't talking about fishing in early spring or early fall, we're talking about fishing in the winter. While during warmer seasons my goal whenever I head out in search of rainbow trout is to catch 3-5 fish, my goal when trout fishing in winter is to catch a single trout, then if I exceed this number, I'm very happy.

There a couple of rules that you should live by when it comes to winter trout fishing. Fishing at the right times and slowing your presentations down dramatically. Fly fishermen say that winter trout fishing is almost exclusively a nymphing game, with Hare's Ear, Copper John, Scud, or Pheasant Tail all being popular and effective nymph patterns. If you are a spin fisherman you can fish with nymphs by using casting bubble or small Styrofoam float above your nymph as an indicator.

Fishing at the "right times" in winter means that you need to be on the water when the trout are the most likely to be feeding. This means focusing on the warmer times of the day, on days when there is a "warming trend" taking place in the area that you are fishing, and fishing when the moon is in your favor. The rainbow trout will be more active when there is a "new moon" and when the moon is either rising or setting. That's right the moon rises and sets just like the sun does and a simple internet search will help you determine when the moon is rising or setting on a particular day so that you can plan your fishing excursions accordingly.

Keep these simple tips in mind the next time that you want to head out fishing for trout in winter. They will help you have a much more enjoyable experience on the water. And although the fishing might not be as productive as you're used to, at least you will be fishing, rather than sitting on the couch, right?

Trout Fishing In The Winter

For the trout fishing addict the wintertime can bring on a feeling that rivals the morning after a professional football fans team loses their final game and they wake up to the realization that there is no more football for seven or eight months. In other words, for many trout fishermen the winter means that fishing for trout is over and they have to wait until spring to wet a line. What's interesting about this phenomenon is that this doesn't have to be the case.
Although it is usually not as productive as during warmer seasons, trout fishing in the winter can actually be quite productive at times if you follow a few simple rules. As a matter of fact many states throughout the United States even have winter stocking programs that result in some nice catches even when the weather is less than what would be called "ideal".
First and foremost you need to dress properly which means wearing wool socks and insulted waders anytime that you are wading. A wool beanie and a pair of fingerless gloves or glove liners is also in order anytime that you are fishing for trout in the winter.
What about baits? In the winter I have always found that the saying smaller is better to hold true and this fact is true for the size of the hooks that are used as well. Trout feed much less often in the winter and often prefer to eat small meals when they do feed. Maggots and grubs are both good trout bait idea's in the winter, as well as the old standby salmon eggs.
You will receive bites from trout than you might be used to when trout fishing in winter, and don't expect the trout to "hammer" your offering. Bites will be very subtle during the winter so make sure that you watch and/feel your line at all times and anytime anything "out of the ordinary" happens, set the hook. Patience is the biggest key to catching trout during the winter months.
Next you want to maximize the time that you spend on the water, so try to fish during the heat of the day (which is when trout tend to be more active during the winter) and try to plan your trout fishing trips in accordance with the moon rise or set. For anyone who doesn't know, the moon rises and sets twice a day just like the sun does and during these times fish tend to be much more active. Do an internet search for the term 'moon rise' and you will find the information that you need.
The bottom line is that trout fishing doesn't have to stop during the winter months. It may not be as productive as it is during the more comfortable seasons, but fishing for trout during the winter can be an enjoyable and productive experience.