subject: Stream Trout Fishing - Getting Into The Flows To Find The Fish [print this page] Stream trout fishing is popular in areas with smaller runs of water and large populations of trout. The best way to catch trout is to understand how trout think and live. Are they smart? No. Do they have built-in instincts? Yes. Do not expect to come out to the river and start splashing around if you desire to catch trout. They will perceive the splashing as a potential predator and go into hiding. Another caution is to watch where you cast a shadow. If you scare them, they figure you will eventually go away and they will wait you out. There are a few other things to think about.
Trout are naturally inactive fish. They want the food to come to them. They do not go out and chase their food most of the time. You will find them waiting in the slower currents near rocks or boulders. This gives them shelter while still bringing food to them on the currents. Fly fishing takes advantage of this natural tendency. The idea is to bring the bait to them, not to get them to run to the bait. You can drag a fly across the top of the water over their heads. You can drift a worm on a gang hook along the bottom of the stream. Successful stream trout fishing requires understanding how trout think.
Scouting out streams is part of the lure of stream trout fishing. You can trek miles into the mountains to find cold-water streams that trout love. Some spots naturally draw trout though. They love to take cover. This means you need to pay attention to logjams, and overhanging banks. They also look to beaver dams for protection as well. Natural pools are another favorite hangout. They go to where the water comes into the pool and wait for food to arrive by water express.
Sound, movement, and smell goes downstream instead of upstream. If you want to try your luck at a particular stream, start at the bottom and work your way up. As you move through a segment, you may have some luck. However, if you move downstream, the movement and smell will go ahead of you and scare the trout into hiding holes. You will likely need a number of lures to find the best mix of flash and movement for the particular situation. When you catch one, feel lucky. If you do not want to take it home, use care and release it.
