Trout fishing is an excellent option for beginner anglers to get a foot in the door. It is also a simple and fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. And as a beginner, you may be looking for tips and the right gear to get. Thankfully, with a bit of guidance and preparation, your next trout fishing trip won’t be your last.
These trout fishing tips will get you on the right track for exploring this exciting pastime even further.
Choosing The Right Trout Fishing Setup
Choosing a trout fishing setup with the best options for trout, such as the rod power, rod action, rod length, and reel sizes, can become confusing if you don’t understand what you are looking for. The location you are fishing in should influence your gear choices. Also, understanding that trout are relatively small fish should help make the decision easier.
The tips listed below should be used as a reference for the most optimal options for trout fishing.
Rod Type: Spinning Rod
Spinning rods are the most commonly used rod type that there is.
Rod Length: The best length is between 4’6″ to 6′.
As mentioned above, the length of the rod is mostly location, and situation based. Also, the rods may sometimes exceed 6′ in length. For example, if you are fishing small mountain streams with many trees and bushes around, a smaller setup would suffice. And vice versa if fishing a pond or lake as trout would be in the deeper parts toward the middle of the body of water and would need a longer casting distance.
Rod Power: This rating should be either the ultralight or light option.
The rod power is based on the amount of force needed to bend the rod—the rod’s overall strength.
Rod Action: Trout rods should have a fast-action rating.
This rating determines what part of the blank the rod bends. The faster the action, the more sensitive it is.
Reel Type: Spinning Reel
Reel Size: 10/1000 Series – 25/2500 Series Reels are the best options for trout.
Like rod length, reel sizes are determined based on the location you would be fishing.
Now that you understand what ratings and options to choose, you should be on the right track in getting your setup. But if you still have trouble with the options, I recommend the Zebco 33 Spincast combo to get you out there fishing.
The Best Trout Fishing Line
When choosing a trout fishing line designed specifically for trout, you should know that there are several types: Monofilament, Fluorocarbon, and braided line. Each type has its own purposes, pros, and cons. But the most important thing to understand is that trout have keen eyesight and can easily frighten, so we recommend a smaller diameter fishing line for trout.
Monofilament: has good knot strength, easy to cast, and affordable prices.
Fluorocarbon: low visibility underwater, sinks well, slightly smaller diameter than monofilament.
Braided: exceptionally strong, excellent casting distance, very durable.
Although there are many options, we suggest sticking to monofilament as a beginner because it is cheaper and the most commonly used line. When determining the line strength called the line test rating, which is the amount the line can hold before breaking. The optimal monofilament test for trout rated between 2lb and 6lb test.
Get The Tackle
What are the right-sized hooks for trout? We recommend sizes #6 to #12 hooks for trout fishing. Eagle Claw has convenient packs of snelled bait hooks ready to tie onto your main line. Once you have the hooks, you should grab some sinkers and floats to have a variety in your fishing arsenal.
If you want even more variety in your tackle box, look for some trout lures. Small spoons are great attention grabbers with their flashing appeal. Another great well-known lure for trout is the rooster tail.
Grab Some Bait
There are many options for trout bait. Whether you are fishing for native trout or hatchery-raised trout, you should know some basics. There is some difference in food for natural native trout and hatchery-raised trout, so knowing when to use the right bait is imperative.
Worms are natural bait you can dig up in your backyard! Worms are great, and they work well. You could also go to the grocery store and grab a can of corn because it works as great bait. Power bait, however, works great for hatchery trout because it resembles what they fed on in the hatchery, and the native trout may not know what it is.
Get a Net
One tip that often gets overlooked is getting a landing net. Fly fishermen often use these nets to land trout and other fish. It is an excellent option if you are catching and releasing trout. And a great tool for the conservationist-minded person. You are handling them less and keeping them in the water while you take the hook out, which helps the overall health of the fish.
Know your local laws & regulations
Arguably one of the most crucial trout fishing tips. Your local laws govern your fishing experience and should be followed to be good stewards of this great outdoor activity. We should all understand that these laws and regulations are implemented to help preserve the environment for generations to enjoy. Check with your local state wildlife resource agency’s website for more information.
Conclusion
Trout fishing is a fun and enjoyable time! We hope that these five trout fishing tips help you understand the basics of getting started with fishing these fantastic trout.