VOL. 37 • ISS. 11 |
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FRESHWATER |
May 11- 22, 2018 |
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Stream Trout Tips
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When you target stream trout, it’ s you against the fish. You don’ t have the luxury and accessories afforded by a powerboat. When on the stream, you are limited to the tackle you can carry and the distance you can hike
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Spinners are a favorite choice of stream anglers. They are simple to fish and highly effective. Editor Cal Kellogg employs both Rooster Tail and Panther Martin spinners for stream trout. In terms of color, the well prepared angler will have some spinners in baitfish colors as well as some dark colored models
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Salmon eggs are among the best baits you can use for stream trout. Red eggs work great, but don’ t leave home without some yellow or orange eggs. Very often a yellow or natural colored egg will out fish an iconic red egg. Atlas Mike’ s offers some of the best eggs available in a variety of scents including cheese and shrimp
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Flies like the selection of wet flies and nymphs shown here are sleeper offerings for anglers armed with spinning gear. Spinning gear is a great tool for presenting sub surface flies and trout that have become wary of standard baits and hardware will often jump all over a fly.
Stream Trout Primer
Years ago, when I was youngster stream fishing for trout was a big deal. The opening day of the trout season was something you got excited about and prepared for. Looking back, I remember going through my canvas creel and later my fly vest weeks before the April opener to make sure I had gear to cover every possible situation.
These days things have changed. Sure, plenty of trout anglers still fish streams, but I believe that the outstanding year around
FISH SNIFFER HOW – TO by Cal Kellogg trout fisheries that have developed in many of our foothill reservoirs have stolen some of the steam that stream fishing held in days gone by.
Reservoirs hold certain advantages over streams. First reservoirs are easier to access than streams because they are typically closer to population centers. Second, the trout in reservoirs average bigger than those caught in most streams. Finally, reservoir fishing, be it from a boat or the bank, is easier and less labor intensive from a physical standpoint as compared to scampering along a rocky river bed as you weave in and out of the brush.
Yet, there is something intensely satisfying about stream fishing. The surroundings are beautiful and the sport is reduced to its quintessential foundation of man versus trout without the complications of downriggers, electronics and vast expanses of deepwater.
I’ d wager that there are three types of anglers reading this article. There are those that currently stream fish, some that stream fished in the past but have not done it in a long time and those that have never given it a try. For the hardcore stream angler, most of this article will be a review, but I’ ll discuss a few new kinks that will likely make you even more effective. presents
For anglers that fall into the other two groups we’ ll go over everything that you need to know to get out there this season and enjoy some great trout fishing action the way it was meant to be … in a stream!
At the center of any stream anglers tackle assortment is their rod and reel. Now as with most angling endeavors a variety of different rod and reel combos will work, but for maximum efficiency a rod that is matched to the specific task at hand will help you achieve the best results.
Over the years, I’ ve come to believe that a light 7’ graphite spinning rod with a fast action tip matched with a small spinning reel boasting a smooth drag is the best choice. In terms of line 6 or 8 pound moss green mono works just fine.
One of the things that I enjoy about stream fishing is its simplicity and nowhere is that simplicity better illustrated than the in the end tackle that is used. When fishing from a boat you have the luxury of carrying an extensive array of tackle, but when stream fishing you are limited to the gear that you can carry comfortably in a creel or vest as you hike from spot to spot.
Natural bait, synthetic bait, flies and lures all have their place in the stream angler’ s arsenal. For fishing natural and synthetic bait, you’ ll need a selection of bait holder hooks in sizes 8, 10, 12 and 14 along with good assortment of small to medium sized removable split shot.
When fishing with bait depth control and the speed of drift is of utmost importance and you’ ll want the versatility to make small weight adjustments that keep your bait drifting naturally along the bottom.
In addition to the hooks pick up a few small wobbling spoons, spinners and flies. My favorite stream fishing spoon is a
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