Are you ready to catch more Trout? Then get ready for some insider Trout fishing tips. I’ve been guiding and chasing Trout across the globe for decades and have boiled down the complex world of these fish into a handful of simple rules. With a basic understanding of the environment, food, and conditions, anglers can adjust techniques, learn to read water, and find more Trout in their nets throughout the year.
Some of what I’m about to tell you may seem like common sense. But you’d be surprised how many anglers forget about the basics! There are also some more elusive tips that I’ll give, learned from my years of Trout fishing experience. Are you ready to fish like a pro? Read on to discover my top 10 expert Trout fishing tips!
1. Temperature is Everything
If there’s one variable that influences Trout more than any other, it’s temperature. Under ideal circumstances, the water temperature will range between 55–65 Fahrenheit (12–18ºC). In places where temperatures are consistently colder, Trout will acclimate to lower ranges. If the temperatures exceed the comfort zone, fishing can become dangerous as mortality rates are higher.
When the water is especially cold, Trout will seek slower-moving water to conserve energy. As it warms into an ideal range, they will move into faster water where oxygen is plentiful and insects are available for food.
2. Look for Oxygen
Speaking of oxygen, Trout are especially sensitive and require high levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. Look to riffles and moving water where oxygen levels increase to find Trout. Springs can also create turbulence that injects oxygen into the ecosystem.
Not only that, but oxygen is also a driver for insects that Trout eat. Stoneflies are prolific in rivers and streams with gradients and plenty of cold, oxygenated waters.
3. Match the Hatch
Trout are selective eaters when a hatch is present. Have you ever encountered a situation where Trout are visibly eating on the surface but will not respond to your lure or fly? I certainly have and it’s very frustrating. Take a closer look at the insects hatching and do your best to imitate them for success. On the flip side, you can try some different baits between hatches. My top tip for Trout fishing at these times is to use crayfish, sculpins, and other forage.
4. Move and Search
When the fishing is slow, go on the hunt to find more Trout. Working a single run or shoreline is productive at times, but Trout can concentrate in specific areas without notice. If you don’t see them and aren’t catching them, start covering more water until you narrow down the search.
Once you do find a Trout, whether through a missed strike or via a landed fish, pay close attention to the depth, presentation, and general place the Trout was holding. Use that as a template to find more Trout in look-alike waters.
5. Stay Put
Searching for fish is my favorite approach but there are times when it makes sense to stay in one place. If you’re fully confident that a run or lakeshore is holding Trout, it makes sense to stay put and solve the puzzle. How deep are they? What are they eating?
Adjust your tactics and continue working that place until a fish eats your presentation. This is especially true in very cold conditions, as the Trout move more slowly and often have a narrow feeding window. Working in one place is a good idea in this situation.
6. Adjust Your Retrieve
Speed is an important factor for Trout fishing, and my next tip is all about timing. When eating nymphs below the surface, using a dead-drift fly presentation is ideal. A suspended jig is also great for static feeding behavior. At times, however, the fish are willing to chase and make aggressive strikes. Speed up your streamer retrieves or accelerate lure speeds to test reactions. Sometimes, faster is better. Other times, slower is the ticket. I really love adding pauses, as well. Pausing throughout a retrieve imitates wounded behavior and triggers more strikes.
7. Fish at First and Last Light
It’s no secret in most fishing and hunting circles that most action occurs at first and last light. When it comes to Trout fishing, the same rules apply. Low light conditions are optimal, and some of the largest fish caught come from anglers focusing on these time periods. Any chance you have to fish until dark or to catch a sunrise, take advantage of the opportunity.
It’s worth noting that Trout are caught at all times of day so don’t avoid fishing the mid-day hours. In cold weather, early afternoon is productive as water temperatures reach the highest point for the day. This triggers activity and can offer the best fishing in colder months. I still tackle those low-light conditions whenever possible, however.
8. Pre- and Post-Spawn Activity Offer More Opportunities
I am adamant about avoiding spawning fish entirely. When Trout are spawning, they’re creating the next generation of fish to catch. Leave them alone and do everything humanly possible to avoid damaging spawning beds as well. For me, that means no anchor drops in riffles and careful wading.
But before and after the spawn is a different story. Big fish that are secretive and difficult to catch are more vulnerable as they pack on calories and move from safety. Fishing streamers and moving constantly to intercept these rare specimens has been a proven strategy for me.
Spawning occurs during spring or fall with different Trout species. The exact timing varies by region and environment but you can generally bank on peak activity in April and May, or September and October in most places. I fish hard for a few weeks preceding the spawn and move off those waters at the first sign of staging or spawning fish. After the spawn ends, I resume and really focus on larger streamers that present a calorie-heavy meal.
9. Learn to Read Water
The biggest hangup for new Trout anglers involves the difficulty of reading water. It’s tricky to determine where Trout hold in rivers and lakes. Larger bodies of water are especially difficult due to the large surface area of possibilities.
One of the best ways to read water is by fishing small streams and ponds. Trout will hold in pockets, seams, riffles, and tail-outs, but they are far easier to identify in a small body of water. After learning the nuances of Trout behavior in these places, you can narrow down the most likely holding places in bigger waters.
Reading water takes time to learn and I encourage anglers to experiment and fish different types of water. Don’t just focus on the deep and obvious-looking runs. Hit the fast water, work small pockets, look for riffles and spend your time working to better understand the fish, their food sources, and the types of waters they prefer.
10. Trout are Lazy
My final Trout fishing tip may seem counterintuitive. But it will help you to better understand Trout. Although you may see them darting across currents quickly or swimming along a lake shore, Trout are generally lazy. This means they want to conserve energy while also consuming as many calories as possible.
When you do see Trout on the move, it equates to food availability. They’ll work harder when the reward comes in the form of net caloric gain. In many situations, Trout will work to conserve energy while also gaining calories. An eddy in a river is the perfect example. They can sit on slow currents that require little effort while eating insects that are trapped and circle in the water. It’s a literal buffet on a conveyor belt when insects are plentiful!
If you can identify places where a fish can both conserve energy and gain calories, you just might hit the jackpot of Trout waters. Places like this will produce fish for many years after you learn to find them, read the situation, and make a quality presentation.
Trout Fishing Tips FAQs
Trout Fishing Tips: Now You Know
Armed with the knowledge I’ve presented to you above, you’re ready to hit the waters. Remember, finding the fish is half the battle. Then, match the hatch, adjust your retrieve, and you should be in luck! Of course, there’s a lot more to learn, such as the best rods and bait – and some things vary by species. But you’re already one step ahead of where you were just a few minutes ago! It’s time to get out there.
Are you an avid Trout angler? What did you think of our Trout fishing tips? Have some of your own that you’d like to share? Reach out in the comments below!
