John Kranick: The Essential Trout Fishing Guide

You’ll recognize this trout because he’s more of a and the Cascades.

butter color along the sides with black and red spots

following the lateral line of his body.

Because of this, finding “good” golden trout is

not one of the easier goals of the angler. To fulfill

Many people simply don’t care for the colorings this goal, you may find yourself hiking a long way to of this trout, even calling him “ugly”. (Doesn’t seem a secluded lake or you may even discover you need to faze him one bit, though!) This is especially true to horse pack in (no, I’m not kidding about that one!).

when he’s being compared to his cousin the rainbow

trout.

These fish are small. After all, they live in very

cold water with few nutrients.

Of course, once you’ve successfully hooked one

of these guys, you’ll probably consider him one of WELL WORTH THE EFFORT

the prettiest fish in the world.

Before you get discouraged, you must know that

M

the trout is definitely worth the “hunt”. Despite the

AYBE YOU BETTER

low fishing pressure they receive, what seems to be a

GET USED TO HIM

trait of their species — being difficult to catch — can

also hold true for this particular type as well.

Some experts predict that this particular species

may become the most dominant and plentiful in the

In the case of the elusive golden trout, it is,

next several years — and there’s some logic to this surprisingly, a little choosey about what it eats. Oh, thinking. For one thing, they are remarkably resilient. and perhaps I should warn you right now that even They also have an extremely strong survival instinct. if you do find what you think is a nice secluded alpine lake or river, don’t count on there even being

Another advantage is their love of the warmer trout in them. Not every body of water in this category waters. Many trout prefer the colder waters. Then can actually be counted on to contain golden trout.

consider the fact that this particular species is I hate to be the messenger of bad news, but…

remarkably resistant to Whirling Disease. This disorder,

caused by a parasite, creates a deformation in the

Yes, you may have hiked all the way to this

fish’s skeleton as well as neurological damage that beautiful lake to find it absolutely barren of golden makes the fish chase its tail, whirling in circles.

The Secrets Professionals Refuse To Share9

THE ESSENTIAL TROUT FISHING GUIDE

trout. (But wasn’t it great exercise and simply

And as you can probably guess, it takes quite a

wonderful communing with nature?)

bit of effort to reach these locations.

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Because they are so isolated, the cutthroat doesn’t

HYSICAL APPEARANCE

receive a lot of fly-fishing pressure. This, is turn, makes

Don’t worry that you won’t recognize one of these them a little easier to catch than their relatives the guys when you see one. They are, indeed, aptly golden trout and brown trout.

named. Golden in color, these trout can’t be mistaken

This trout doesn’t possess the aerial agility and

for any other fish. They also have a splattering of the other physical attributes of its cousins, so they black spots as well as red striping along their lateral are easier to bring in once they’re hooked.

lines, bellies and even their gill plates.

So just how do you know when you’re looking at

Many fishing enthusiasts ask that if you actually one of these guys? First, they can be identified by find and catch a golden trout, that you don’t reel two red slashes on the outside and under its lower him in and eat him. They ask that you simply “catch jaw. Beyond this, their sides are a brownish yellow and release” him. Yes, they really are becoming just highlighted with black spots.

that rare.

Of course, these fish can have several other

Besides, in the same waters you can fish brook colorings as well. This is due to the crossbreeding trout. More of this fish exist and according to many, that has occurred among them, the rainbow and the the brook trout just taste better!

brown. The cross breeding not only occurred naturally

in the wild, but in hatcheries as well. And the end

THE CUTTHROAT TROUT:

result is usually called the “cut-bow” trout.

SOUNDS LIKE A CRIMINAL

WHEN IS A TROUT

Meet the original trout of the Rocky Mountains —

the Cutthroat Trout. And I do mean original. They NOT A TROUT?

are native to the western half of the United States.

When it’s a char, of course! It’s true. Some species

Well, meet a Cutthroat if you can. Elusive like the of fish are naturally called trout and described as Golden, the Cutthroat is found predominantly in only trout, but aren’t really trout at all. And for those of remote and pristine locations. They tend not to do you in the Midwest and East, this revelation may so well in the more competitive climates. This is hurt your pride a bit.

especially true in areas which contain predatory fish,

That’s the exact position the brook trout finds itself

like the Pike.

in. It’s not really a trout at all. Instead it belongs the

Because of this, you’ll discover the actual range of Char family. This family also include the Dolly Varden the cutthroat has been pushed back over the last (and get this!) the Lake Trout. Go figure.

several years. Oh sure, you’ll still find them in

I’m still including it in the trout family. After all, the

reasonably large numbers in many of Montana’s rivers, brook trout is to the Eastern United States what the but the best fishing experience, anglers agree, is to Cutthroat is to the west. You’ll find the brook not only be discovered deep in the backcountry in isolated in the Midwest and along the East Coast of the United mountain lakes and streams.

States, but all the way up into Canada as well.

10 The Secrets Professionals Refuse To Share

THE ESSENTIAL TROUT FISHING GUIDE

Brook trout love clear, cold waters. And as you

Scattered throughout this background, you can’t

might guess, they are small fish because of this. They help but notice highlights of red, orange and even also have shorter life spans than many of their distant cream spots. His fins are edged in white. And take a cousins, the rainbow and brown.

peek at the underbelly in the midst of spawning

season — he turns a magnificent orange-red color!

Now having said that the fish live in the East, I

must now tell you that the brook trout have also

Of course, it only makes sense that you can

been “transplanted” to the Rocky Mountain area as physically identify the fish you’re trying to catch. But, well. Not only that, but most of the very best brook let’s dig a little deeper into the psyche of the trout.

trout fishing is found in the west. Ironic, isn’t it?

Well, at least into his senses. It’s also vital if you’re to

be a successful trout angler, that you know a little

That’s because many of the coldest streams and about how their three main senses work as well. I’m rivers are no longer found in the East. Instead, you’ll talking smell, sight and hearing.