13 Trout Fishing Tips for Anglers [2019 Updated]

Fly-fishing is the most common among the fishing sports like bait fishing, spin fishing, trolling and ice fishing.

Though fishing was the preferred sporting encounters for men in the early days, women have also come forward and demanded for flies to catch their preferred fish because of the emergence of sport tourism among couples and families.

For fly-fishing, a conventional angling method, artificial flies are tied using materials including feather and fur onto a hook to imitate naturally occurring food. Rods are generally light and the lines are fairly light, together providing the weight and the momentum for casting.

Learn how to fly-fish!Here are the basic steps that you need to learn.

The first step should be to identify the best location for fly-fishing. Then, lay your fly on the water using the stop-drop-drop method.

The following is the most important step. Loop the fly line over the second and third finger of your rod hand and hold it loosely next to the cork handle when the fly hits the water, and take the hold of the line with your line hand in front of the reel.

This helps you pull the line as and when required. In order to get sufficient length, ensure additional rolls.

Now you are ready to hit the fish. Point your rod tip at the fly and follow it down the water. When the fish hits, strengthen your fingers on the rod handle and raise the rod sharply to set the hook. Keep your rod tip high, letting the fish run as the line slides out over your fingers.

Palm the reel to bring the fish down and once you gain the control over it, reel in quickly. Keep doing this process of palm and reel until the fish is exhausted. If the fish moves in your direction, raise your rod over your head and bring the line back to the second and third fingers of your rod hand.

Then separate the line as fast as possible and take up the slack. If the fish is moving away from you, keeping the rod high, allow the line to slide through your fingers and palm the reel after all the slack is over.

What do you do when the fly hits the water behind the fly-fisher during casting? There is a solution for this. Keep your thumb pointed straight to the sky as you cast and relax your shoulder, and you can get your arm fully back to the 1 o’clock position.

The other problem you may encounter is when the line and the leader pile up on the water instead of flying out. The solution for this is to practice the stop-drop-drop method for laying the fly on the water.

The stop-drop-drop method is used for stopping the rod hand at 11 o’clock position, letting the line begin to drop, and only then dropping the rod tip.

Trout Fishing

Trout fishing is a great adventure sport. It is a fresh-water sport. It is usually carried out on the river-shores and ice-capped mountain streams. Fast and high altitude streams at the river and lakes are ideal for trout fishing. It is a fun and challenging sport.

Preparation: 

It is important to find the suitable places where freshwater trout fishing is possible. It varies with the geographical location you choose.

The cold mountain streams are well suited for trout fishing for both-brown and rainbow trout fishes. Its is a fresh water sport, so it is generally possible to get a good catch during all seasons. Both the seasons are good to carry out fishing, but during winters the lake surface generally gets iced-up, and the trout fishes generally move deeper the surface.

However, they only return to surface when the temperature rises up again. Also fishing at the mountainous regions is generally difficult, it due to rough weather conditions, and ice-packed spots.

So, it is better to prepare yourself in advance with appropriate clothing and equipments required according to area you are going to visit. Apart from general fishing equipments, specific equipments such as rods, line, hooks, reel, spoon are all required for trout fishing, and should be carried in the back-pack. It is better to check the equipments in advance. Rod should be pumped enough and reel should be oiled, not to have difficulty after travelling.

Be careful with the kind of clothes you take. It should match the local weather conditions and the places you are going to visit for trout fishing.

Generally, casual clothing package such as light shirts and shorts works well at the warmer spots. Additional slip-on and loafers are generally recommended for high altitude fishing.

They are good water-soaking outfits and help protect toes as well. Lighting equipments such as torch are of help in a crisis situation.

Practical tips:

• It is primarily important to fish as near the rapids as possible.
• Patience is the key. It is important not to make much noise during fishing. They can easily perceive any kind of disturbances over the surface.
• Keep your reel properly oiled in advance. 
• All necessary fishing permits, depending on the geographical location you are going 
• to visit should be sought, before you travel.
• Destination should be chosen according to your budget, interest, and the season
• High peaks should generally be avoided due to health reasons.
• Always update yourself about weather conditions of the place you are going to visit.
• Take all the necessary clothing and other necessary equipments according to the place you are going to visit
• Sun creams, rubber shoes, other items of interest and use should be back-packed  carefully in advance.

Fly-fishing can be highly exciting, relaxing, rewarding and you will be very close to the nature. This is a sporty time pass for adventure-loving people

  # 1   Trout Infomation

Trout are usually found in cool, clear streams and lakes, and are distributed naturally throughout North America, northern Asia and Europe. Several species of trout were introduced to Australia and New Zealand by amateur fishing enthusiasts in the 19th century, contributing to the displacement of native freshwater fish to some extent.

Trout have fins entirely without spines, and all of them have a small adipose (fatty) fin along the back, near the tail. There are many species, and even more populations that are isolated from each other and morphologically different. However, many of these distinct populations show no significant genetic differences, and therefore what may appear to be a large number of species is considered a much smaller number of distinct species by most ichthyologists.

The trout found in the eastern United States are a good example of this. The brook trout, the aurora trout and the (extinct) silver trout all have physical characteristics and colourations that distinguish them, yet genetic analysis shows that they are one species, Salvelinus fontinalis.

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), like brook trout, actually belong to the char genus. Lake trout inhabit many of the larger lakes in North America and live much longer than rainbow trout which have an average maximum life span of 7 years. Lake trout can live many decades and can grow to more than 60 pounds (27 kg).

Most trout are restricted to fresh water, but many, like the steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) – which is the same species as the landlocked rainbow trout – spend their adult life in the ocean and then return to spawn in the streams in which they were hatched. This is called anadromous reproduction and is more often seen in salmon. Brook trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout, and Arctic char also have populations that run to salt water.

Trout generally feed on soft bodied aquatic invertebrates, such as Diptera, mayfly, caddis fly, and stonefly, although larger specimens of trout regularly feed on other fish.

As a group, trout are somewhat bony, but the flesh is generally considered good eating. Additionally, they provide a good fight when caught with a hook and line, and are sought after recreationally. Because of their popularity, trout are often raised on fish farms and planted into heavily fished waters in an effort to mask the effects of overfishing. While they can be caught with a normal rod and reel, fly fishing is a distinctive method developed primarily for trout and now extended to other species. Farmed trout and char are also sold commercially as food fish.

Trout that live in different environments can have dramatically different colorations and patterns. Mostly, these colors and patterns form as camouflage, based on the surroundings, and will change as the fish moves to different habitats. Trout in, or newly returned from the sea, can look very silvery, while the same “genetic” fish living in a small stream or in an alpine lake could have pronounced greenish speckles with far more coloration. It is virtually impossible to define a particular color pattern as belonging to a specific breed, however, in general, wild fish are claimed to have more vivid colors and patterns.

The cutthroat trout has 14 recognized subspecies (depending on your sources), such as the Lahontan cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi, Bonneville cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki utah, Colorado River cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

  # 2   Type of Trout

Trout is the common name given to a number of species of freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family, Salmonidae.

All fish properly called trout are members of the subfamily Salmoninae, but the name is used for fish from all three genera in the sub-family: Salmo, which includes Atlantic species; Oncorhynchus, which includes Pacific species; and Salvelinus, which includes fish referred to as char or charr. Fish referred to as trout include:

* Genus Salmo

• Adriatic trout – Salmo obtusirostris
• Brown trout -Salmo trutta
• Marmorata or Soča trout – Salmo trutta marmoratus
• Flathead trout – Salmo platycephalus
• Ohrid trout – Salmo letnica
• Sevan trout – Salmo ischchan

* Genus Oncorhynchus

• Apache trout
• Cutthroat trout
• Gila trout
• Golden Trout
• Rainbow trout

* Genus Salvelinus (Char)

• Aurora trout
• Brook trout
• Bull trout
• Dolly Varden trout
• Lake trout
• Silver trout (extinct)

  # 3   Line Tips

Follow these best practices to get the most out of your fishing lines

According to most major fly fishing line manufacturers there are many different reasons that fly fisherman should regularly clean their fly line. Some of these reasons are environmental such as exposure to heat, or fishing in dirty/stained water while others are human-induced like exposure to solvents found in insect repellents or sun screen. The bottom line is that if you consider all of these factors together they could severely hamper the performance and lifespan of your respective fly line. A properly cleaned line will reduce the amount of friction in the guides, decrease tangling and improve floatation of the line on the water.

• Which Fly Line is Suitable for Me?
  A line is a crucial component in fly-fishing delivery system. It determines whether the fly reaches the target or not and whether the fish is caught or not.
• For a starter in fly-fishing, selecting a fly line is a difficult task. He has to be familiar with the different measurements available and many terms related to it. To grasp the idea of choosing the appropriate line, conduct some research from various sources such as Internet, books, and professionals. Here are some tips on selecting the ideal fly line for trout fishing.
• Start thinking of two types of lines – a floating line and an intermediate line. The floating lines are helpful when using floating flies, otherwise called the dry flies. With floating line you can cast various nymphs also though they are sub surface preys for the trout. Floating lines can be used easily in shallow waters, and with the help of leaders you can reach them to more depths also. Intermediate lines allow your fly to remain in a steady position and thus ensure complete visibility for the trout. Applying long leaders have been a critical experiment among the fly fishers. Remember, the floating lines are very light, and in case you have to make a deeper drag for them, like for instance, to present a nymph at a deeper position for a long time, you need the combination of the floating lines with long leaders.
• Floating lines have micro balloons inside them which enable them float on the water surface. The floating lines are made with an optimum density so that the micro balloons inside them do not resist the movement of the line when there is a wind flow. There are new varieties of floating lines that are coated with water-resistant materials. When these are cast, they float higher than the old lines with the same density.
• The third type of fly line is the sinking line. These sink between three and five inches depending on the line weight. These types of lines are ideal for fishing at the drop-offs, i.e., the zone of the lake where the shallow water turns deeper, and the bottom is not visible. Drop-offs are the ideal hideouts for trout, and so the sinking line is an ideal choice for a trout hunting.
• Fly line length and weight are standardized. Fly line weights are measured in grains (7000 grains is equivalent to one pound). Ideally the fly lines are ninety feet long, and they come in different weights. The line weight should match the weight of your rod. If you have chosen a six-weight rod, you must choose a six-weight line. Heavier lines are used to cast longer distance and also when fishing in windy conditions. Lighter lines are used in still waters.

  # 4   Fly Tying Tips

• The trout dry flies are common in the market. One of the oldest among them is the Adams. It is the typical dry fly that can be used to attract a trout. The following steps will help you to make an Adams on your own.
• Take a pair of hen hackles that are matching and place them face to face with the convex sides inwards.
• Place the wings above the hook to measure the required length. Generally the length can be equal to the length of the hook shank, measured from the eye to the start of the hook bend. Once the length is set, make a nail mark on the stem of the hackles and cut at this point.
• Next the hackle tips have to be stripped, with feathers making a 45-degree angle downwards with the left side of the hook shank.
• The next step is to split the wing with the roll moving in the forward direction. Make a roll in the forward and downward direction between the wings with your fingernail. This will keep the two hackles apart in the forward- down position. When you stop rolling, they will return to the vertical position.
• Next part is the tail. The tail is made of a mix of Brown and Grizzly hackle fibers. The length of the tail can be equal to that of the hook shank. Take a bunch each of the Brown and Grizzly hackles, measure them, and tie the bunches one after another.
• The tying process starts again. This is the basic step in fly tying and it requires a meticulous practice and patience. Not adhering to the perfection will cost the efforts you put in making a fly. Keeping the tail fibers in your left hand, place them on the hook and raise the bundle a little. Roll the thread around them to bring the fibers up and on the top of the hook. Continue tying to the end of the bundle till it reaches the point above the barb. This is the point where the tail is free from the body of the fly.
• The thread rolling should move the fibers upwards on the top of the shank. Wrap the thread firmly around the shank to the end of the body. If necessary, you can trim the tail after this tying. Tapering or convex curve can be ideal for trimming. No square cuts.
• Once you reach rolling the thread near to the first wrap area, move the tip of the wrap to the hook. Again roll the thread all the way to the area behind the wings.
• The stem of the Grizzly hackle will be seen a little between the wings. This is wrapped the last. The last binding wrap should go towards the tail where the hackle bends and the barbs stand up. The Brown hackle is also tied in this manner, shiny side facing towards you.
• The last step is to bind the Brown hackles forward over the eye. This tying will soften the stem wrapping. One more wrapping is done with a second hackle binding down the last wrap of the Grizzly hackle.
• Ready for the whip finish.

  # 5   Rod Tips

Here we’ll look at some important aspects of the rod that you use when fishing

• As the fly-fishing situations vary from place to place and seasons to seasons, the fishing rods also have to be changed accordingly. There is no rod that is ideal for all situations. Here we discuss the different types of rods and their application, especially those used in trout fishing.
• Different rods with size 24 inches to 16 feet are available. Fly lines are designed with certain weights, and the rods that are to be used should match the weight of the line. For example, a 6-weight line requires a 6-weight rod. Generally, rods with 1-9 weight range are used, but heavier rods are also available in the market for specific applications like those for sea fishing.
• The selection of the flying rod depends mainly on three factors – the size of the fish, the type of the water, and the kind of fishing.
• There are different sizes of trout. The general conception is to use a lighter rod for smaller fish and the heavier one for bigger fish. Trout normally weigh 1 to 2 pounds. The largest trout come from East Central region that weigh an average of10 pounds, and those with more than 15 pounds are also found here. Gulf trout weigh an average of 5 to 8 pounds, but can reach up to 10 pounds.
• There is a misconception that thick lines have to be used for deeper fishing. Thick lines offer more friction in the water than light ones, and thus make the movement of the line difficult through water. In such cases, it is better to use thin lines and hence thin rods. For ideal lake trout fishing, a light rod with six-pound test line would be suitable if you are fishing about 60 feet deep. A heavy action rods have less flexibility, but these rods, along with thick lines, are be used to catch the heavier fish. The weight of the line offers the necessary force to resist the pull from the fish.
• Fly rods can be used very flexibly, moving in all directions with different speeds. The designations indicate the extent of flexibility during a fly cast. To start with, you can use a medium-flexible rod and then move to the faster ones. Medium action rods are more appropriate as it gives more ‘feel’ to you during fishing. Feeling the rod is important in the beginning, as it will help you direct the target properly and sense the fish as soon as it hits the fly.
• Water and wind conditions are also to be considered while selecting a rod. For example, if you wish to go for a pretty brook, you must look for a 1- to 4-weight range. For fishing in fresh water lakes, like those in Florida, a 5- to 8- weight rods are appropriate. Salt-water flat fly-fishing can be very exciting with a 6- to 10- weight rod.
• Though there is no exact specification of rods for different flies, it is ideal to use a 5- weight rod for dry flies and 8 ½ to 9-feet (4 to 5- weight) rods for wet flies.

  # 6   Fly Tips

Choosing the right fly is essential.

• The selection of flies is important in trout fishing. There are many features of the flies to be considered such as the size, nature, and its adaptability in different water conditions.
• The size of the fly is determined by the water conditions. You need a fly of 2 to 3 inches or more in colored water or cold water. Clear water of early summer requires small flies.
• Though hook size does not matter, the style can be a matter of concern. Single hooks are very common nowadays, but as most of them are low water hooks, they don’t work effectively on all occasions. There are double and treble hooks available. It seems that there are more chances of trapping the fish with these. But the singlers are more kind to the fish and often gives a natural look to the fly.
• The color of the fly is an important concern for fly hookers. Orange is the best bet for fly color, especially in muddy water. Orange, yellow or black flies are better in the beginning of the season. Blue flies, though, are not very common.
• Hairy wings are more effective, and they add a realistic image of a classic fly. Even if the paired wings cling together in the water, the hairs help to maintain the realistic effect of the fly for a long time. But the hair used should not be so stiff that it hinders the mobility of the fly.
• Rainbow trout are more aggressive for lures whereas brownies are not. Most brownie fishermen, therefore, use imitations of original fish in order to attract them. The only period when the brownies can be tempted with artificial insect lures are the beginning of the year. Most brownies are attracted by imitations like a nymph breaking the surface.
• A dry fly can be used in both upstream and downstream. Upstream casting keeps the angler out of the fish’s view, and casting downstream opens many traps for the fish. Some of the common dry flies include caddies, dries cripples, may flies, spinners, etc.
• A wet fly can be used in upstream, across the stream, or down the stream. In slow waters like the pools or lakes the line may be retrieved with the ‘8’ retrieve or by stripping the line.
• Streamers are bigger than any other types of artificial flies and can be used to catch trout of any size. Terrestrial flies can be used as both wet and dry flies. They imitate as drowning insects and so are normally fished in a dead drift. A nymph is tied on a heavier hook, often attached with a small weight to keep it underwater. Some of the common nymphs used as lures for trout are stone fly nymphs, caddis nymphs and may fly nymphs.
• The choice of the flies can make a difference in different seasons. For a trout hunting in spring, you can use the willie gunn tube, allys shrimp, tosh 2-3”; and in summer, stoats tail on a single or ally’s shrimp1″- 1.5″. The comets and allys are common in autumn. 

  # 7   Casting Tips

It’s not practice makes perfect, it’s perfect practice makes perfect.

• When starting out, it is important to focus on your back cast. The back cast is the basis of a good casts as it provides the platform for shooting forward again. Be careful not to overcast but you should give ample time for all of the line to go fully out behind you.
• Take care to frequently clean your fishing line. It seems mundane but lines that are dirty with algae etc are less easy to cast with. After cleaning your line dress it to keep it nice and smooth for easier casting. Dressing your line more frequently will also improve the floatability of the line which will help with roll casts.
• Start out with a “double taper dry line”. This kind of fly fishing line is the easiest for beginners to get to grips with because a stiffer line glides through the eyes of the fishing rod with more ease and does not get tangled as easily. When starting out, it is important to focus on your back cast. The back cast is the basis of a good casts as it provides the platform for shooting forward again. Be careful not to overcast but you should give ample time for all of the line to go fully out behind you.
• Roll casting is a valuable technique in trout fishing. This technique is used when there is no scope for backcast, or when the wind is hostile. This casting method can also be used for picking the line off the water. In the roll cast you can adjust the loop size by adjusting the angle of the rod and also the speed.
• Here is how it is done. Tilt the rod slightly from your body; lift your hand to bring the rod tip to 1 o’clock position, keeping the line behind the rod, forming an arc behind the rod. Now force the rod sharply in forward and backward direction, accelerating to the 9:30 position, and stop suddenly. The forward motion will roll the line forward and straighten it.
• Another casting method is a false cast. This method is used to change the directions of the cast. This is done by a combination of pickup and lay-down cast without allowing the line hit the water
•  If the line does not get straightened completely: Apply power on the cast again and make sure that the belly of the line is behind the rod, making it moving downward, not straight out.
• If a tailing loop is formed: A tailing loop is formed when a sudden application of power happens in the forward direction. To avoid this, move forward forcing yourself with the rod in the 10 o’ clock position and stop abruptly.
• If the line is slack and loose: The problem here is with your line speed. In order to get a tight cast, the leader has to be unfolded at least half the way before your next casting motion. Make sure you maintain a constant speed allowing the leader to speed the line up before the next casting.
• When the line hits the rod: This happens very often in the windy conditions. To avoid this, slant the rod about 20 to 30 degrees away from your body, and do the casting. If it still does not work, follow the Opposite Shoulder Casting, i.e., casting by placing arms across your body.
• When the line clutter at the end of the cast: This is often caused by the hasty casting. You should allow the line to go only after the rod turns to the 10 o’clock position.
• Always make sure that the rod tip is along a straight line.
• The size of the casting arc should be changed according the length of the line outside the rod tip.
• The speed of casting should be adjusted according to the length of the line. As the line gets longer, the time span between two consecutive castings should also be more.
• Make the back cast more powerful to ensure a long front cast.
• Apart from learning these tactics, a systematic practice is required to change you to a professional trout hunter. Try your hand at it now.

  # 8   Seasons

Which season you are fishing in will have a big impact on the way you fish

Spring is the ideal season for your trout hunt. Once the ice melts, the trout move towards the shallow shoreline and reefs, and they enjoy the warmth there till early summer. Plan your target at depths shallower than 30 feet. The perfect time is the dawn or dusk as the trout remain active in these times, but the lake trout can be caught any time during the day, except morning. In mid spring you need to move up to 35 to 45 feet deep, and in the late spring about 50 to 65 feet deep. The depth may vary slightly in different lakes. All common species such as lake trout, splake (a hybrid of lake trout and brook trout), rainbow trout, and brook trout can be found at these depths in the spring. 

Summer

Before planning a trout-hunting tour, you need to understand a little geography of the lakes and the climatic conditions favorable for trout hunting. The conditions may vary according to the trout species also. 

Spring

In summer, as they move deeper to enjoy the coolness, you need to target well below 40 feet at least. But don’t assume that they are at the bottommost part of the lake. This is a misconception. The trout normally stay in the 53o layer of the lake. This is because the small baitfish remain suspended here in the summer, and the trout mainly feed on them. Lake trout normally hit the prey in the morning, before 10:30 AM. The result will be better if the lake is calm and the sky is very clear. Brown trout are mostly active in the dusk. The ideal fishing time for Splake is till the end of May whereas that of rainbow trout is June and July and for the brook trout is June and early July. Brook trout have a tendency to hide near submerged boulders. Keep a watch on them!

September and October 

This is the period spawning, and because of the urge for reproduction, they come to the shallower upper layers or rocky shorelines. Rainbows are not the favorites for the anglers during this period, though a good fishing may be possible. Brook trout and splake find streams sutiable for their spawning, and so they move towards the streams. At the joints, you can catch them easily. Brown trout are available throughout September and October at the shallow shorelines. 

Winter

The lake trout is found in depths 15 to 40 feet during all winter. Rainbow trout roam just below the ice. The ideal ice-fishing period for brook trout and splake is just after the opening of winter fishing season in January. Brook trout is found at a depth less than 10 feet whereas splake may go deeper than this. 

Best bets

• Rainbows for starters in June. Use inflated nightcrawlers to catch them.
• Turnip, Thrush, and Boys lakes north of Grand Marais are the best places (if you have the permission) for big brookies. Best fly fishing in June.
• Brown trout are to be caught at night using big lures such as mouse imitations or crankbaits. 

  # 9   Clothing tips

The clothing you wear when fishing can have an impact on how well doyou do on the day.

• Wear all camo clothing.  Sneak up quietly and gently let your line out and cast it in the water.  Wait 30 seconds once you get a nibble and after that 30 seconds pull your line to see if the fish is still on, if the fish is on pull the line tight and give it a nice tugg.  I use this all the time.  It works!  You need to try it! But remember this is for little streams! – Luke
• Trout can’t see blue or green very well. Wearing green or blue will increase your chances of catching a fish because they can’t see you. Tight Lines! -Orrin
• Experts recommend for lightweight garments worn in layers because heavy woollen pullovers could become more heavy and difficult to remove if you fall in the water during the course of your adventurous sport.
• On your fishing trip, irrespective of the fishing environments, your clothes should be warm, comfortable and easily layered. If you are using clothes in layers, it is easy to remove if there is extreme heat or cold, especially when you are on the ice-fishing spree.
• If you are trying for a fly-fishing trip, it is recommended that your shirts should have large pockets for fly boxes, and lightweight and breathable underwear should be used.
• Think that you are looking for an outdoor sport and be ready to welcome rains. Pack an anorak!.
• On top of this, good footwear is a must for all fishing jobs. You can also wear a hat in order to avoid extreme heat or cold.
• Experts recommend for a boot that come half way up the calf with a good warm liner. Also, looking for toe-warmers, disposable-heating packets that can be put between the bottom of the feet and the boot will ensure additional comfort for you. Toe-warmers can be used as hand warmers if you can put inside your gloves.
• Your head can suck lots of heat and cold. Be it warm on the cold conditions. You need to have a couple of hats, if possible. It can be made either of wool or cotton though cotton may not work great when it is wet.
• Thermal underwear in multiple layers is also recommended to ensure protection to your body. Cotton should be avoided near your skin.

  # 10   Lake Tips

One of the best aspects of lake fishing is the accessibility.

• When lake fishing at reservoirs or fisheries you should be looking at a fly rod about  9’6″ or 10′ in length. You need to be prepared for a big rainbow! Also when lake fishing you may need to cast further than if on a river or brook.
• When starting out, knowing which rod to go for can be quite daunting. The best advice is to try out a few rods and see which one “feels right” for you. Many vendors have areas where you can have a test before you buy. Even if you do know what sort of rod you are looking for, it is usually still wise to try out a few prospective rods to see which one is for you!

  # 11   River Tips

The beauty of a river makes it an attractive proposition for the fisherman

1. For river fishing your ideal fly fishing rod is fairly short, around 7′ to 9′ is fine for small streams, brooks and burns.
2. Tips for fishing on the river
3. In windy conditions, the boat should point into the wind, and approach should be slow, steady to make boat run easy.
4. Always use a grub with a strong, sharp hook when fishing weighty ones. Fine-wire hooks are easily get flattened by bigger fishes. Thin-wire hooks are better ones, as they get into easily and swiftly.
5. Larger grubs are always better to catch big fishes in rivers and high streams.
6. The grubs are best suited for clear water fishing. The grubs are most commonly used for fishing in deep waters, but with experienced hands, it can also be used as effectively in shallow water as well.
7. Tube jigs are your better option for clear water fishing, where the water usually not deep.
8. Use heavier leaps always when fishing through heavy foliage.
9. For better catch, always try to tighten your pull down initially for better hook , then leave it go off during the fight.
10. Fish moves very fast. Once the fish rescues herself, stop reeling and let the fish wear out, and try the grab once the fish gets close to the boat.
11. When going for the bigger trawl, try to use tube as an extension to the rod and retrieve.
12. During spring season, always fish uphill. The position of the tip of your boat should be towards shallow water and cast of the boat towards deep water, and run your boat downward during the fall season.
13. Always sharpen your hooks in advance to make sure you have maximum hookup possible. It is extremely important to make your hooks razor-sharp enough, because if the hook is somewhat dull then possibility of missing a catch greatly increases.
14. Fishing in crystal clear waters is always a tough job.
15. Fishing at night is usually practiced in deeper, clear highland pools, where the weather is hot during daytime. Thus, making night fishing beneficial to find a catch.
16. Also try to master tying good knots to make your fishing fruitful.
17. When tying your hooks, use a egg loop snell. The benefit of using the egg loop snell is that with positioning egg roe into the loop makes the hook entirely exposed. Thus, it ensures enhanced chances of hook ups once the fish hits your roll.
18. Always maintain the best gear possibly you can afford. Make sure the drags on the reels are good enough to gear heavier catch.
19. Always re-spool with fresh line every year. The old line gets weaker with time, when it is stored, or exposed to light or if kept coiled firmly on the spool. So, always try to use fresh spool every year you out for fishing.

  # 12   Weather

Always keep your eye on the weather!

• Fairly obviously the type of weather that is prevailing will have a large impact on your luck. Easterly and North Easterly are the worst types of wind that you can get.
• Always check the wind direction before you cast. The direction and strength will have an impact on how you decide to approach a cast.
• It is desirable to have a slight breeze to move the top of the water. Fishing in a lake with a water surface like a mirror is difficult because casting can cause a disturbance of the water and spook the trout.

  # 13   Bonus -  Trout Recipes

Poached Trout recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm vinegar
• 6 freshwater trout
• 2 cloves
• 2 black peppercorns
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• Caviare butter
• 90 g (3 oz) butter
• 1 x 45 g (1 1/2 oz) jar black caviare
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• lemon juice to taste
• salt and pepper

Method

1. Pour warm vinegar over trout and stand aside for 20 minutes.

2. Add cloves, peppercorns, onion and bay leaf to fish kettle or a large pan of boiling salted water. Simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Add prepared trout and simmer over a gentle heat for 10 to 15 minutes, according to size. Drain.

4. Arrange trout on a serving plate and serve immediately with Caviare Butter.

Caviare butter

1. Beat butter with a wooden spoon until soft.

2. Blend in caviare, parsley, lemon juice and salt to taste and a good grind of black pepper.

3. Roll into balls with butter pats or wet hands. Chill until firm.

Cooking tip: A fish kettle has an inner perforated tray on which to place fish so that, when cooked, the tray can be lifted out without breaking fish. If such a utensil is not available, place fish on a large piece of muslin, tie ends, and lower into a large saucepan. The fish can then be easily removed when cooked.

“There few foods as satisfying as trout you've caught yourself!”

Trout Hollandaise Recipe

Serving Amount

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 6 trout, cleaned, heads left on
• 4 cups (1 litre) 1 3/4 pint Court Bouillon
• chopped parsley to garnish
• 1 cup (8 fl oz) 250 ml Hollandaise Sauce to serve

Method

1. Put the trout in a saucepan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Add the court bouillon, bring to simmering point and poach the fish gently for 15 minutes.

2. Carefully remove the fish from the stock and arrange on a heated serving dish. Garnish with parsley and serve at once, with the sauce.

Trout en Pappiotte

Serves 6

Take trout of 2 or 3 pounds – gut it and fill the cavity with bay leaves, salt, pepper and wedges of lemon or lime. Encase the fish in kitchen foil with a little dry white wine. cook in oven at about 170C for half an hour. Serve with sauté potato and a dressed salad.

If you have Trouble fitting fish into a roasting tray (or your oven) either buy a bigger oven or bend the fish around into a ring before closing the foil parcel.

Ingredients

½ cup cornmeal or corn flour

• 2 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp dried minced onions
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp. butter or oil
• ¼ tsp dried lemon peel
• ¼ tsp pepper
• A pinch of cayenne pepper
• And to add later – Two 9 oz. trout

Make a fine dry mix of the above ingredients and keep it in a plastic bag or airtight container. Carry the bag with you to the site. When the trout is in your hand, filet and clean it thoroughly. Shake the cleaned fish in the container or plastic bag containing the dry mix. Pour the butter/ oil in a thick-bottomed frying pan kept about one inch above the coal. Cook the fish for about 6 minutes, then flip it, and continue cooking till it becomes flaky. Enjoy!

Baked Trout

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp whole-wheat flour
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. freshly-grated lemon zest
• 2 tbsp. chopped flat leaf parsley, for garnish
• 1 lemon, cut into 8 thin slices
• Canola/oil cooking spray
• 4 trout fillets, 5-6 oz. each

At first, heat the oven for about 375 degrees and make a baking layer on it with the cooking spray and keep it aside. Meanwhile mix the other ingredients- the flour, onion powder, and lemon- in an airtight plastic bag or container by shaking it. Add the trout fillets one by one to the container/bag and shake it so that the trout is coated with the mix lightly. Place the trout one by one on the arranged baking sheet. Spread the canola or olive oil over the fish to make a coat of it. Bake it for about 20 minutes until the trout turns opaque and thick. Transfer the baked fish to the plate and sprinkle some parsley over it. Serve with lemon slices.

Grilled Trout

This will definitely be your favorite because it contains Ancho Chili and Almond Pesto.

Ingredients

• Two or three Ancho or Anaheim chilies
• ¼ cup blanched toasted almonds
• 1 tbs. olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 4 six ounce trout fillets, butterfly-shaped

(Instead of Ancho Chili you may use 4 ounces jarred, roasted red peppers)

Smash the chilies, almonds, and garlic with olive oil in a blender and keep it aside. Smear the trout properly with the orange juice and keep it on an oiled grate with the flesh side down. Grill it for 2 minutes. Then turn the other side and again grill it for 2 more minutes approximately till it turns stiff. Serve it hot with the chili-almond pesto.