Trout Fishing Complete Guide

New to trout fishing? Not sure where to start or what type of tackle to purchase? Check out the tips below to get started.

Trout Fishing equipment

1. Rod and Reel

Before going out and purchasing a rod and reel, consider what type of trout you are going to be fishing for. If you plan on trout fishing in smaller rivers and streams, get an ultralight or light rod. If you are going to be fishing for lake trout, you will want to get a heavier rod.

There are many rods and reel combos you can purchase as well. A great starter rod/reel combo for trout fishing is the UglyStik GX2 Spinning Fishing Reel and Rod Combo.

2. Line

For trout fishing in streams and rivers, go with a 2-4 lb. test, fluorocarbon line. Trout will have a more difficult time detecting a smaller, lighter line.

3. Bait

There are variety of baits you can use for trout fishing. Worms, like night crawlers, are a great all-around bait. If you plan on fishing with lures, spinners like Panther Martins and Rooster Tails are a great choice. Check out our article on seasonal fishing to determine the best type of bait to use.

4. Waders

Unless you are going to be fishing at a small pond or lake, you will want to invest in a good pair of waders. Having a pair of waders will allow you to cover more water so you can target structure and other places where trout are hiding.

5. Polarized Sunglasses

These are not absolutely necessary, but if you plan on being on the water all day, having a pair of polarized sunglasses will reduce eyestrain. More importantly, polarized sunglasses reduce glare and allow you to see structure you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. So if you plan on wading in the water, polarized sunglasses can help you avoid slipping on a rock or stepping into a hole.

6. A Vest

Again, this is not a must, but carrying around a tackle box can become somewhat of a burden if you are trying to cover a stream or river. Having a good vest also allows you to access easily your lures and sinkers, reducing the amount of noise you might make while on the water.

7. A Net

A good net is critical if you plan on catching and releasing your trout. Trout are fighters, and if you lift them out of the water by the line, you risk the chance of losing the trout or ripping the hook out. Get a net that you can attach to your vest.

Once you have your gear, you are good to go. However, fishing for trout, especially in rivers or streams, is different than fishing for other types of fish. Keep the following tips in mind when you are on the water.

Look for Structure: Like all fish, trout will hold near cover. Furthermore, trout will look for places that provide both cover and some type of current that delivers food to them. Undercut banks, fallen logs, or large rocks are prime places for holding trout.

Fish With the Current: Once you find a spot where you suspect the trout are holding, don’t just drop your bait right on their heads. Instead, cast up or across the stream and let the current take your bait to them. This will make the bait appear more natural.

These tips will get you started as a trout fisherman. Just be aware that trout fishing can become highly addictive!

How to Read Water

1. Understanding Trout

Although there are some differences between brown, rainbow, and other types of trout, like other fish, they look for cover, and they stay in places where food can be delivered to them. With these two things in mind, below are some areas you want to target when trout fishing.

2. Rocks or Boulders

f you can find rocks or boulders in the water, try fishing in the current that forms on either side of the rock. Generally, you can follow the foam to see where baits like insects are carried. Trout will hold in these areas and go after anything that comes by. If the current is especially fast-moving, try fishing behind the rock where the water is calmer.

3. Undercut Banks

Undercut banks can be a great place to trout fish. Undercut banks are usually formed in the bend of the river, therefore making them an ideal place for trout to hold while bait drifts by.

4. Fallen Trees or Logs

Logs and trees are difficult areas to fish, as the likelihood of snagging your line increases. However, these are also trout magnets, especially for brown trout. If you are fishing this type of area, cast upstream and let your bait drift as close as possible to the tree or log. If the current is not too fast, you can put some weight on your line and drop your bait next to the tree.

5. Deep Pools

Trout love to hold in deep pools, especially in the warmer months. If you find a deep pool, put some weight on your line and try casting up or across the stream and let your bait go right over the trout’s head. Oftentimes, the biggest trout stake out the deepest pools.

6. Riffles or small waterfalls

Riffles and small waterfalls create oxygen in the water, thereby attracting trout. Again, try casting upstream and letting your bait go right through the riffle. Oftentimes a trout is just waiting behind a rock, ready to attack anything that comes through the riffle.

Just remember, trout do not like to be out in the open, and they will hold in places where food is delivered to them via currents. If you can find and fish these areas, you will have more success.

How to Rig a Line For Trout Fishing

Although you can sometimes catch trout by just throwing some bait on a hook, knowing a bit about how to rig a line for trout can help you be more successful. Below are two basic, yet very effective ways to rig your line for trout fishing.

Fishing with Spinners

Spinner fishing is very common amongst trout fishermen. Rooster Tails, Panther Martins, and other types of spinners all are effective at catching trout. However, just trying one of these lures to the end of your line is not the best way to go. Instead, follow these tips:

1. Snap Swivel

Use a small snap swivel and tie it to the end of a 2-4 lb. test fluorocarbon line. Then, just simply snap on your lure. This is an effective rig because the swivel helps lessen the amount of line twist produced by the spinner, but you are also able to change quickly lures without tying on another swivel. If you are fishing fast moving water, put a sinker on your line about 12-18 inches from your lure. This will help you get your lure to the trout. Another tip to remember is to use a small (1/32-1/16 oz.) lure.

2. Barrel Swivel

Cut a 12-18 inch piece of line and tie it to one end of your barrel swivel. At the other end of the line, tie on your spinner. This will give you a leader that you can attach (through the other end of the swivel) to your main line. The advantage here is that you will get less line twist, and your lure will appear more natural with the swivel so close. As with the snap-swivel setup, you might need to use a sinker to make sure your lure gets to the depth of the trout you are fishing.

Fishing with Natural Bait

If you are fishing with natural baits like worms, insects, or minnows, try the rig below. It is simple, yet very effective.

Get a small hook (size #8-#10) and tie it to the end of your line. Put your bait on the hook, making sure to cover the hook as much as possible (using a treble hook is very helpful here). Then, about 12-18 inches up from your hook, put on a small sinker. The weight of the sinker should relate the flow of the water. If you are fishing a very, very fast-moving stream or river, use a larger sinker. If you are fishing in relatively slow-moving water, use a lighter sinker. Again, the sinker will help you get your bait to the trout, but it will also appear more natural because the sinker will not be placed too close to the hook.

Rainbow Trout Fishing Tips

Rainbow trout are found in rivers, lakes, and streams across the United States, and they are one of the most popular trout for anglers. When fishing for rainbow trout, there are a few things you need to pay attention to in order to have success. Below are some tips to consider when fishing for rainbow trout.

1. Blend in with the surroundings

Rainbow trout are easily spooked, so when fishing for them, it is very important to be as unnoticeable as possible. Try to be as quiet as possible when walking, talking, wading, etc. Try to wear natural colors like green, brown, and black. When you get to the river or stream you plan to fish, rub some dirt on your hands to get rid of any unnatural smells that might transfer to your bait.

2. Use light or ultra light tackle

Try to use light rods, lines, and lures or hooks when fishing for rainbow trout. Again, rainbow trout are easily spooked, so you want to make sure your tackle is as undetectable as possible. Using a light line (2-6 lb. test) and lure or hook will prevent the fish from being spooked as easily.

3. Fish with the current

Trout are very aware of their surroundings, so you want to present your bait as naturally as possible. Cast up or across the stream and try to let your bait or lure go right past the trout. This might mean you sometimes have to add some weight to your line.

4. Use natural baits whenever possible

Worms, insects, and minnows work great with rainbow trout because they are, well, more natural. However, using a spinner like a Rooster Tail or a Panther Martin can also be successful, especially when the trout are less active. Either way, just make sure you completely hide the small (size #10-#12) hook you are using or use a very small lure (1/32-1/16 oz.).

Rainbow trout fishing is a lot of fun, and if you are interested in keeping your catch, they make a tasty meal. Just wrap them up in aluminum foil with some lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic and put them over an open fire for 7-8 minutes.

How to Catch Stocked Trout

Stocked trout are trout that has been raised in a hatchery and then placed into the rivers and streams. In many areas, stocked trout provide the only trout fishing opportunities for anglers. Below are some tips to keep in mind when you are fishing an area that primarily contains stocked trout.

1. Check out your local DNR website to see if there is some type of stocking schedule.

Many DNR sites and publications release some type of stocking schedule (after they have already stocked). This will give you an idea of which lakes, ponds, or rivers are typically stocked and when. Just do a google search for “(your state) DNR” or “(your state) trout stocking.”

2. Try using PowerBait to catch stocked trout

When stocked trout are in the hatchery, they are fed food and do not have to “hunt” insects or other small fish. Therefore, PowerBait, if presented properly, is a great way to catch stocked trout, as they are more likely, especially when they have just been stocked, to go after a PowerBait. To see how to rig effectively your line for PowerBait, check out our article here.

3. Try using corn

Again, when trout are in the hatcheries, they are fed food. Oftentimes, the type of food they receive is a type of grain. So it makes sense that corn would be effective trout bait. Use a small hook (size #8-#10) and add some weight to get your bait down to the trout. Make sure your hook is completely covered.

4. Try fishing against the current

This might seem counterintuitive as most fishing tips recommend fishing with the current to make your lure or bait appear more natural, but with stocked trout, this is not as important. Tie on a Rooster Tail and cast downstream. Slowly retrieve your line. You will need to add some weight to your line to keep you lure down in the water, but this method is great for catching stocked trout.

5. Try using marshmallows

Again, this might seem a bit odd, but stocked trout are a lot less picky than other types of trout. Since marshmallows float, you will likely need to use some type of rig that keeps your bait just off the bottom of the lake or river. Check out our article on PowerBait to see how to rig any type of floating bait.

🎣 Also Read: Best Fish Finder

Trout Fishing With Spinner or PowerBait

1. Trout Fishing With Spinner

What is a Spinner?

Spinners are meant to imitate small fish like minnows or other baitfish. They have a small blade that rotates or spins when being retrieved.

When to Use a Spinner

Spinners are a great choice to use in most fishing situations. In warmer months, spinners are almost irresistible when presented correctly.

Trout Fishing With Spinner Tips

Below are some tips to keep in mind when fishing with spinners.

1. Use a Swivel: Spinners create line twist, so using some type of swivel is a must. You can use a barrel swivel and attach a leader, or you can simply use a snap swivel to allow you to change lures easily.
2. Use Natural Colors: This does not mean that more vibrant colors will not work, but generally speaking, natural colors like brown, black, and green work well. Trout are very aware of their surroundings, so base your color on the type of insects and other food sources that you see on the bank, in the water, and in the air.
3. Pay Attention to Size: Spinners are meant to imitate bait fish, so try to match the size of your spinner to the size of the baitfish the trout would likely feed on. If you are fishing in small streams and rivers, your spinner should be no bigger than 1/32-1/24 oz.
4. Cast Up or Across Stream: When casting your spinner, don’t just drop it on top of the trout’s head. Instead, cast across or upstream from where you suspect the trout are holding. Reel with the current so as to make your spinner look natural. In other words, if you reel too fast, your spinner is going to go right over the trout’s head, and if you reel to slow, you are going to get snagged on the bottom. If you are fishing in the fast-moving water, put on a sinker or two to get your lure down to where the trout are holding.
5. Check Spinner for Performance: Every so often, watch your spinner as you reel it close to you and check it for performance. If it is not spinning, check to make sure there are no weeds or gravel lodged in it.

2. Trout Fishing With PowerBait

PowerBaits have become increasingly popular with trout fishermen over the years. PowerBaits are synthetically produced baits that are meant to attract trout through a strong smell. In fact, PowerBait actually refers to the type of bait produced by Berkley, but it has become a generic term for all types of synthetic baits, so it will be used as such throughout this article. There are a variety of PowerBaits available, the most common being the dough-like substance that comes in a small jar. However, you can also buy worms, insects, and other types of plastic baits that are all synthetically produced.

When to Use PowerBait for Trout Fishing

As with most baits, PowerBaits can work in any type of situation, but they mostly work with stocked trout in slow-moving or still water conditions. Native trout will usually not go after a PowerBait, but most stocked trout that was raised in a hatchery will. So, if you are fishing in a slow-moving river, a stocked pond, or even a lake, using PowerBait can be a great choice.

How to Use PowerBait for Trout Fishing

Most PowerBaits are very light and float when they are in the water. Therefore, you are going to have to use some weight when casting. However, the floating capability of PowerBait is a great advantage if you know how to rig your line correctly. Below are two great ways to fish for trout with PowerBait.

1. Get a small single or treble-hook (size #8-#10), a sinker (size depends on water and weather condition-go with a smaller sinker if there is no wind and the water is slow and use a slightly bigger sinker if there is wind and/or the water is moving faster), and a small bobber. Tie your hook to the end of your line and then snap on the sinker about 6-8 inches above the hook. Then, put on the bobber a few inches above the sinker. This type of rig will allow your bait to be carried down by the sinker, but it will still float a bit in the water. If you are fishing in a stocked trout pond, this is a great rig to use, especially if the trout are rising to the top.
2. Get an egg sinker, a single or treble-hook (same size as above) and a barrel swivel. Make a small leader by cutting a 12-18 inch piece of line (2-6 lb. test) and tying one end to the swivel and the other end to the hook. Now, on your main line, put on an egg sinker and tie the end of the line to the other end of the swivel (the swivel serves as a “stop” between your hook and egg sinker). Put your PowerBait on, making sure it completely covers the hook. When your bait is in the water, the egg sinker is going to sink to the bottom, but your line will float about 12-18 inches (depending on your leader) above the bottom. Especially in the summer, when the warmer months force trout to seek out cooler water on the bottom, this can be an especially effective rig. And, if your PowerBait is completely covering your hook, you are less likely to get snagged on any weeds or other obstructions on the bottom.