These Trout Fishing Basics Will Help You Catch More Fish

It's easy to forget that many people have never experienced the thrill of trout fishing. Perhaps they've spent most of there lives in places where trout fishing isn't possible. Whatever the reason, when the day finally comes, you can improve your odds for success by learning some basics about fishing for trout.

When is the best time to go trout fishing?

Forget the theories about lunar and solar calendars, cold fronts and wind. Your fishing can be productive at any time as long as you are giving the fish what they want. My recent encounter with a nice 3 pound rainbow in pouring rain, howling wind and goodness knows what moon cycle, taught me that if fish are hungry, they'll bite.

Trout fishing basics

So the trout is smarter than you? The old story that trout are canny, smart and can outwit the most experienced angler probably originated from the fisherman who consistently came home with an empty creel. It's also likely to stop the beginner from persevering with trout fishing.

Sure, the trout has basic survival instincts, but this fish has a brain the size of a pea. It doesn't have the capacity to outsmart you. If you are suffering from empty creel syndrome, maybe its time to look at your technique.

Fishing for trout involves much more than walking up to the water's edge and tossing in a line. A little bit of thought and some scouting around could make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful experience.

A beginning trout fisherman often waits for his rod to bend and a lunker to race off with the fly. I'd hate to count the number of fish that have been lost because the take was missed, or the hook set a little too late.

It pays to watch your line closely and set the hook at any movement that is out of the norm. Dry fly fishing is easier because you can see what is happening, but most of the trout you catch will be caught under the surface and that requires even more concentration. A fish moving toward you is more difficult to feel than the one moving away.

Trout fishing: habitats

Find a good trout fishing stream is fine, but if you don't know where the fish are in that stream you have a problem. It is important to know where the fish are likely to be holding in any waters.

Fish have basic needs: protection from predators, relief from strong currents, and food. If your stream has one of these features it is possible that there are trout living there. If the river has all of these features then trout will be around.

Cover takes all form. Overhangs, deep water, roots from riverbank trees. Anything that can camouflage or hide the trout is cover and a likely area to throw a fly to.

Any area where boulders or debris provide relief from currents is also a holding place for trout. Sometimes you have to present your fly very carefully to fish these spots.

The presence of food can be the strongest trout attractor of all. When there is a particularly dense hatch going on few trout can resist the urge to feed. This is not the norm; you will catch more trout by presenting the right fly to the right spot than any other way.

Trout Fishing: favorite holding areas

Streams and rivers have a variety of features and to shave a successful trout fishing encounter you need to know what these are and how the trout use them.

The Riffles

Riffles are one of the most productive trout fishing features. They fill all the needs that a trout requires, food, shelter from current, and cover.

The very feature that protects the trout from predators also gives the angler an advantage over the trout. Trout have difficulty seeing an angler through the moving water so you can approach closer than in still waters.

The Pools

The tongue of a pool is also a prime holding area for trout. This is where the food will come into the pool and the fish can feed and then quickly return to the safety of the deep water.

The same characteristics of the tongue of the pool are found in the tail where the water leaves the pool. This is also a good place to cast a fly.

The Flats

Flats are like shallow pools. If the flat has vegetation growing on the bottom is a likely place for trout to hold. You need to be especially astute when fishing flats, using long leaders and keeping yourself hidden from easily spooked trout.

Any area where there are tree roots, overhanging vegetation, and other cover is worth a try when trout fishing. This is especially true when the cover is combined with other features such as deep water.

It is unlikely that trout will be around rapids. You would do better to fish other areas where the currents are not so strong.

Trout fishing is an experience not to be missed. Every stream, river or large body water has its own unique characteristics. Practice your techniques on home waters and then apply what you learn to other trout fishing areas. You might find that you are as hooked as those fish in your creel.

Wyoming offers some of the best fishing for rainbows, cutthroats, brook and brown trout in the Western United States. Find out more about Wyoming Trout Fishing.