If you are an angler with a passion for freshwater fishing, you know how exciting and rewarding trout fishing can be. But trout fishing with a spinning rod is something that takes a little bit of knowledge and practice. In this post, we are going to provide some important tips that will make the process easier for you.
When you want to fish trout, make sure you have the right preparation. Before you dive into action, make sure you have a pretty clear idea of what you are getting into. Below we are going to mention a few things that must be taken into consideration.
Know where to target trout
When using lures, you have to choose the right section of the water body. The concentration of baitfish is the highest in lower reaches. The availability of mullet, bullies, smelt and whitebait also depends on the time of the year. You will have more chances of hits if you target these areas.
If you are fishing in a river, find the estuarine part. Several miles upstream can also be highly rewarding. Larger prey often roams in such areas. Experienced anglers know that trout often chase small flounder.
In the upstream, trout have very few choices like chubs and smelt. Trout love to hang around in slack water. Trout is not comfortable when the water is flowing constantly. Look for trout near submerged snags or willow trees.
Water clarity and weather
If you are willing to go spinning, the perfect time is perhaps after some rainfall. During this time, rivers swell a bit and water gets muddy. In muddy water, they react easily partly because they lose their normal vision. Trout can choose what to grab only when they have a clear vision.
So, when they can not see, they are more likely to hit the bait. Before a take, a trout does not usually inspect your swivel, mainline, or leader. In the spring, whitebait leaves the ocean and come to rivers. And during this time both rainbow trout and brown trout are attracted to whitebait. The color of the water turns milky blue, which is great for casting spoons.
Retrieving your lure
The way you fish a lure should be determined by the depth of water. Several factors such as retrieve speed sink time and varying the retrieve should be taken into consideration. When you are fishing, make sure you work out the depth or shallowness of the water.
If the bottom is visible, it is obvious that the water is shallow. It may be deeper if the color is bluish. When you are using lures to fish, you have to make sure that the lures reach the bottom. This is one of the most important things to consider for trout fishing with a spinning rod.
Use heavier lures when you are fishing in current. In fast water, a bibbed lure is also a good option. Make sure the speed of retrieving the lure is consistent with the water column. For trout fishing, a fast retrieve is good, but it should not be too fast. If the retrieve is too fast, the trout will not be able to catch the lure.
Different variations are suitable for different trout. To master the variations, an angler needs some practice. As you spend some time casting, you will get better at it.
Vertical jigging
If you are not going to fish a large species of trout, a medium-weight spinning rod is the best option. When you are jigging, you need something strong to pull the bait out of the water. Choose a 10 to 15 Pound braid for the purpose.
Furry jigs, spoons, and spinners are the best baits to jig with. Consider using wax worms or minnows for bait.
Locating trout
When you are fishing in a river or stream, look for trout in deep water, where the current is slow. Trout love to hang out in slow water. Deliver your bait once you have found a soft edge of the current. Find a promising whole and cast upstream. Let the current carry your bait away.
It can be hard to locate trout in lakes and ponds because in a lake or pond current is not a determining marker. Here you should look for trout in drop-offs, coves, islands and the edge of points. In these areas, you can almost always find trout in the water column.
Now we are going to discuss some additional tactics that can help you locate trout.
When you are fishing in a river, make sure your boat is positioned along the main channel. Find the water column and send the baits to different depths. Schooling trout will become a lot easier because you will determine how deep the water column is.
Jig your bait slowly, and gradually make it faster. Trout like jig baits, just like bass. For this type of jigging, a baitcasting or spinning rod is ideal.
More tips and tricks
Apart from the things we have already mentioned, there are some tips and tricks that will make trout fishing with a spinning rod easier for you. Now we are going to discuss them.
Choose the right spinning rod
In some ways, trout fishing is different from other freshwater fishing techniques. Specialized equipment is needed for trout fishing. You may not have a good experience if you choose the wrong rod type for this purpose.
There are some amazing brands, but you have to be choosy if you are seriously considering trout fishing with a spinning rod. Different brands have their pros and cons, and you may feel a bit overwhelmed with so many options. An experienced angler can help you make an informed decision. Do not hesitate to talk to someone if you find it hard to choose a spinning rod for trout fishing.
Work upstream
Trout have their eyes on both sides of their heads. As a result, they get a very wide angle of view. As an angler, what you need to know is that trout can not see what is happening on the back. They face upstream, and you can make the best use of this knowledge. So if you work upstream, this tactic will work most of the time. It will help you make an accurate cast.
Cast where other anglers do not crowd
Trout can easily sense the presence of people on the bank. So, it is not a very good idea to cast in a place where other anglers are crowding. It is helpful to know that trout like to hide behind rocks. So, if you have to wade through the water, do it. Cast between overhanging branches, under root tangles, and over sunken logs.
Lighten up
Spin fishermen often make this mistake: they use heavy lines to fish trout. For the best experience, use a lighter monofilament line. First, trout can not see its fine diameter. Another important benefit is that the thin cross-section of the line can easily cut through the surface tension of the water. So, using a fine line is really a good idea.
Use the right lures
Before you go trout fishing with a spinning rod, you should have a clear idea of what lures you are going to use. You can use critters such as crickets, beetles, and grasshoppers. Other effective lures include tubes, swimbaits, worm imitators, cranks, salmon eggs, spoons, spinners, and power baits.
It is also important to know which baits are suitable for fishing in a particular place. To understand it more, you can read some articles online or talk to some experienced anglers.
Use a strike indicator
When you are fishing upstream, you may not find it easy to notice the twitches of the strike of a trout. Take a 2-inch colored fly line and slide it onto your spinning line. Make sure it is positioned about 3 feet above your bait or lure.
The floating line, which is bright, will work as a strike indicator. Whenever there is a little bit of activity on the lure’s drift, the bright floating line will indicate it. This strike indicator will make things a lot easier for you.
Keep it small
Trout have great eyesight, and they are choosy about what they eat. If they are offered fake food, they can detect it. If you are not very careful, they will also be able to spot your hook. So, it is a good idea to use a small lure. Do not use a lot of worms; use a small one.
When it comes to using a powerbait, avoid using a large one. Make sure your hooks are small enough. Do not hesitate to use a number 14 hook. It is perfect for trout.
Conclusion
We have tried to cover all the aspects of trout fishing with a spinning rod. But certainly, there are experienced anglers who have come up with their own effective methods of trout fishing. As you gain more experience, you will find trout fishing a lot easier. You might even bump up to fly fishing once the trout works it’s way into your heart.
As always, good luck and happy fishing!
In some ways, trout fishing is different from other freshwater fishing techniques. Specialized equipment is needed for trout fishing. You may not have a good experience if you choose the wrong rod type for this purpose.
There are some amazing brands, but you have to be choosy if you are seriously considering trout fishing with a spinning rod. Different brands have their pros and cons, and you may feel a bit overwhelmed with so many options. An experienced angler can help you make an informed decision. Do not hesitate to talk to someone if you find it hard to choose a spinning rod for trout fishing.