CATCHING THOSE LAZY SPRING TROUT
I don't know a lot about trout fishing. To be honest I am a catfish gal. But I can give you the following advice on early season trout fishing. It only scratches the surface of spring trout fishing. I put in sometime and did some research for ya'll.
Springtime is a challenge. You have lazy trout, high water and cold temperatures. Even though its not easy you can succeed trout fishing in early spring.
Even early spring you have discolored water that runs high and swift, the water temperatures are still cold. You have floating debris from storms and the temperature along the creek banks are still chilly to the bone weather. For true die hard trout fishermen thats the kind of scenarios they are willing to over come for the chance to land that next trout. It hard work to get that trout to strike and you have to be skillful enough to trick them into leaving their lazy beds to chase your bait. You can acomplish a good catch to if you figure out the right techniques for the weather conditions your in.
Water temperatures still hovering around 40 degrees most fishermen opt for bait.Just remember that trout are not bass. Please don't show up with a 10-pound-test line, jumbo bell sinker and oversized hooks unless you think you might yank a bass out of the weeds while your trout fishing.
GO SMALL FOR TROUT
Spring trout are not as leery as they should be, however they won't just jump on your hook and beg to be reeled in either. The last place you want your fishing line is on top of the water. That's what happens when you use heavy monofilament line. It gets cold and stiffens. Then the novice angler will tie on the usual over sized sinker that then anchors the bait to the bottom where the trout are lounging around. While it's greath that the lethargic trout sees the bait, this causes the bait to stop and flounder about in one spot in the current. This is not how natural bait behaves.
Instead of bass fishing for trout try this. Grab yourself an ultralight rod, run a good 4 pound test monofilament line, a No. 10 barbed blue bait hook, fasten a couple small split shot sinkers about a foot above the hook. Now keep in mind that you have to adjust the weight as necessarty to keep the bait moving in the current. In the spring, you'll find the trout lazing about a foot from the bottom. Your bait needs to drift along just above the floor. Your split shot should tickle the rocks along the bottom. You may even have a few hangs up.That is when you know your bait is just about where you want it If your hanging up more than tickling the rocks, shed a sinker. Lighten up your line for good flowage. Set your hook immediately when your bait stops You have a fifty fifty chance of snagging a rock or reeling in a hungry trout.
When you use the light lines it's harder for trout to see. He can't putting on his reading glasses to see what's in front of him. This is very important when the water is bright and clear in the summer. The light lines pays off in the high rolling spring waters also because it causes less drag than does heavy monofilament. .
EARLY SEASON LURES
Under some conditions artificial lures have their advantages to bait. An angler skilled in the use of artificials is able to drop his lures in front of more trout than the bait fisherman. This will lead to the artificial angler to catching more trout than the bait angler.
To become accomplished at catching spring trout with spinning tackle and artificial lures, you have to know which lure is best for the specific spring conditions. Also check the open water regulations before fishing in a trout stream of pond. Some waters allow only a single pointed hook while others only allow artificial lures. So read the regulations carefully before heading out to try your hand at spring trout fishing.
My son said if he could only use one spinner it would be an in-line spinnerThey flash and mimic a small minnow. This is what the lazy bass are looking for. If designed properly the spinner triggers trout strikes by its flash and sound. A wide, slow revolving blade is preferred because the wider blade emits more flash and sound for the trout. Carry spinners in 1/32- to 1/8-ounce sizes and in several blade colors for spring trout.
Under most conditions use a silver spinner. It will match the silvery hued minnows trout prey. If the water is discolored or turbulent try gold, chartreuse and copper spinners.. Use spinners with hair trailers for more bites as opposed to plain hook spinners.
HIDE AND SEEK WITH THE TROUT
The best waters to work a spinner in spring are behind obstructions and around current breaks. The most favorable tspots for early trout are undercut banks, especially under exposed roots or overhanging vegetation. You may lose a lure or two but it’s one of the best beds in a stream to hang a trophey trout.
Quarter your spinner up or across the stream based on the current of your stream. Then let the spinner sink and keep the blade spinning while its carried back downstream by the current . Usually the strike happens just as the spinner straightens and begins rising toward the surface. In the shallow waters, hold the rod tip high so you don't snag on the bottom.
A spoons flutters and makes it another hot choice for early-season trout. Often working better than spinners in swift water. They can be worked faster and more erratically than spinners. Also a good pick for fishing the tail of a pool above a fast running water, tailwaters below a dam, and in lakes or ponds/
A great choice for opening day trout are 1/16- and 1/8-ounce crankbaits. Just fish them like the spinners. Work them erratically for trout. Keep changing the speed of the retrieve until you find the one that works.
There are plenty of other information on trout fishing. I didn't even cover fly fishing because I am totally lost on that subject. But, there has been several books written that will cover the topic of trout fishing better than I have. Do you own research and see what works best for you. Most of all have fun fishing.
