How to catch trout: July 2009

Trout fishing Is best in the summer from dawn until the sun strikes the water. Fishing for trout is relatively slow during midday,and picks up again near sunset. Why is this?Because that is when the bugs are most active.. Big fish that have been hiding all day often start to feed after sunset.If you know where one is, plan to try for it as the light fails,but remember your State fishing regulations. Trout Tackle The tackle for fishing a trout stream is very different from that used for trolling,bait casting,or ocean fishing. The trout fishing beginner who uses a stiff boat rod is doomed to dissapointment.He would be better off using a flexible willow limb. When a beginner buys their outfit he should go to a store that has a huge selection of tackle,and a staff of salesmen who are expert in fishing equipment. Buy tackle when there is not a croud in the store,not the day before season opens,as the salesman will try to sell you anything to get to the next customer. Most salesman will gladly spend an hour with you if you tell them you are a beginner and need to know what to buy,how to use it and where to go fishing with it. Rod, Reel and Line The key factor in catching trout is to use a balanced outfit.Rod,Reel,Line and terminal gear should all compliment each other. It should be the right size for the water and fish you are seeking.A good tackle salesman,knowledge gained from talking to experienced anglers,books available on line or at the library can guid you. Light spinning outfits are preferred for beginners.A 5 1/2 foot to 7 1/2 foot Rod with a light good quality spinning Reel suitable for 2 to eight pound test line is about right for trout fishing. Buy the best outfit you can afford,even if you are buying for children.Less expensive equipment may work most of the time.but when you loose that trophy fish because of faulty equipment,you will not be happy. Fly-Fishing Gear Fly fishing is a sport of it's own.This method has the advantage of being less cumbersome than bait fishing,and allows the sporting and sensitive gesture of easily releasing hooked fish. Fly Fishing is more fulfilling than other forms of fishing as the thrill of seeing a trout come to the surface and grab a fly you personally tied.The lightness and flexibility of fly fishing allows the fish no matter what size to put out it's best fight. Fly Fishing clubs are good places to get started with this technique. The kinds of fly fishing gear are so varied, and the method so different from bait fishing, that I will not attempt to cover them all. Leaders As used in trout fishing,a leader is monofilament line placed between the line and the hook in an attempt to hope the fish will not notice it. Most beginners will use a leader that is too short and too heavy. A three foot leader of 10-15 pounds breaking strength is used,when a 6 foot leader with a strength of 4 pounds would get better results. For Fly-Fishing,a 71/2 foot knotless nylon leader,tapered to a 4X point (about 5 pounds)is probably the most useful on a small stream(the more Xs the finer the leader. A tapered leader is the easiest to cast,and when it breaks you loose the tippet not the whole thing.Carry one or more spares and some leader material to replace broken tippets. Special knots are needed for tying leader material Most ordinary knots will slip or come untied and goodby fish. Pull all knots tight before using them.Pulling on the ends is not enough. Moisten knots before you pull them tight. Hooks,Lines and Sinkers Two to Six pound test line for spinning gear is about right. Minimize the attachments to the line.All you really need is a couple split shots and a single number 12 hook. For still fishing lakes use a number 10 or so sliding sinker on your line,a small swivel to stop the sinker between the sinker and your leader,and finally a prepared lake rig of two hooks appropriate for the type of bait you are useing. Most useful hook sizes ae # 14 through 8.A number 10 or 12 is excellant for worms,salmon eggs or grubs.For salmon eggs a short shank #12 or 14 hook is best.Generally the less weight of sinker you can get along with the better.I sometimes fish with no weight as the bait slowly sinks like a natural insect,which doesn't caution the fish to disregard.Place your sinker a foot or two above the bait. Fishing Basket or Creel Fish do not keep well in a sack or on a string if the are not cleaned.Clean fish immediately and place in a cool dry place such as a creel.Do not leave your fish on a string in the water ,they usually die quickly when kept this way.When they die,fish absorb water,causing the flesh to become mushy.The fish should not taste like liver,since trout raised are fed a complex dry meal,never liver.. Tackle Box Get a tackle box small enough to carry in your creel or pocket. A few pill boxes will work. A fishing vest is a good purchase as it will hold numerous items. Learning the drop or underhand cast Hold the rod in one hand,the bait in the other and have the line from bait to rod tip sag slightly. Point the rod at the horizon. Now drop the bait and simultaniously lift the rod tip.The bait should swing away away from you,first down then up. As it starts to rise ,drop the rod tip and the bait will keep on going and land in front of you. Practice till you drop your bait exactly where you want it nearly every time. On a stream you will have to be precise as there are sticks ,and branches to miss. This is the simplest of all casts,and for bait fishing on a small,brushy stream 90 percent of your casts will be this way.

Do not use more than one bait.A second bait is apt to scare your fish away,besides you have created a wonderful snag collecter. A hungry trout in a stream is usually watching for anything edible,that the current may carry it's way.So let the current carry your bait past places trout may be hiding.Drop your bait a few feet above the place you might feel there is action and let it drift with the current.Keep you line slack as this enables the bait to roll along on the bottom,which makes it more enticing to a strike.If there are logs or other debrie to dodge you will have to guide your bait around the obstacle.If there is a small falls,drop your bait in it and let it flow in the eddy.If there is a fish it will normally strike the bait,andd sometimes will swallow the bait without moving. When you fish a riffle, cast your line at the head of it and let the bait drift through on a slack line into the pool below.You will be surprised how many fish you can catch in a shallow riffle,even when you can see the bottom. Remember fish hide under rocks,logs and banks. Hooking and landing a Trout Whenever you drop your line into the water ,watch the bait if you can do so without showing yourself to the fish.If the bait suddenly stops you have euther hooked a fish or are caught up on a snag.If your line suddenly heads upstream you can be assured there is a fish on the hook. Even if you have no reason to suspect a bite ,be ready for action whenever you pull in slack line.All the time your bait is out keep your finger tips alert.Feel for a faint tugging as well as a violent strike. I have caught my biggest trout who verily tug at the bait,as they are trying to steal it off the hook. If you think you have a fish on gently pull in your line until it becomes snug and then set the hook,but not with a jerk or you will most likely pull the hook free and wound the fish. When your fish is hooked,pull gently and keep pulling.If it is a small fish lift it out of the water,but if it is a big fish you will have to play it for a while to get it close enough to net.If the fish heads for the brush stop it if you can,all is not lost if it does tangle in the brush. Releasing Fish Released fish will live to be caught again if handled properly. 1.Land the fish gently 2.Never squeeze the fish hard 3.Never touch the gills 4.If you cannot dislodge hook,cut the leader at the fishes mouth. 5.If the fish is exhaustted hold it in an upright position and move it gently back and forth until it swims away. Do not throw it back in the water as it will not recover and be bashed against the rocks. 6.Use only barbless hooks when fishing the catch and release method.This way some other lucky fisherman can have fun catching this fish. GOOD FISHING AND GOOD LUCK!! Climate change on fish We hear about climate change on a daily basis . but it's often from a global, overarching, far-from-home perspective. So what does it all mean for the Clark Fork basin? This report explores what the future holds for inhabitants of this 22,000-square-mile area and the waterways that define its landscape, culture, and economy. "Low Flows, Hot Trout" delivers a plain-language synthesis of key findings from years of data-gathering in our watershed blended with anecdotal observations from river basin citizens. We gathered perspectives from realtor to rancher, fishing guide to firefighter. Our report is accessible to the public, informative to those whose livelihoods are directly tied to the river, and illuminating to policymakers looking for effective responses. The bottom line is: things can be done in the face of climate change, and everyone can make a difference-- from simple at-home fixes that improve energy and water use to large-scale policy changes that stimulate renewable energy production and river-sensitive growth management.

Don't let the Hatch pass you by!!

Welcome to my blog on how to catch trout,and do not forget too check the fishing report below,as the Salmon Fly hatch is happening in a western river near you.
Seeing these big three inch orange bugs makes a flyfishers eye bug out and the trouts also.
Some good areas to fish are the Blackfoot River and Rock Creek in Montana,right outside of Missoula.
These are rivers where fishermen come from all over the world as it is one of the best Salmon fly hatch areas.
The Clark Fork is another hotspot also.The rivers are flowing mighty high right now,here in the first week of June,but are starting to subside a little.
Best to call an outfitter for answers on time to come here and fish.

You can also head up to Kalispell and fish for Kokanee.
Kokanee are land locked salmon,which are caught mostly from trolling gear.
You can also try your luck at Kamloops trout,which grow to 20 lbs.in some lakes.
Lake Kookanoosa is one of these lakes.

How to catch trout

Friday, July 3, 2009

Don't let the Hatch pass you by!!

Cabela's has great deals for the New Year.

another good day

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