John Kranick - The Essential Trout Fishing Guide

subtle shades of color.

For the angler, this information can help you in

several ways. First, contrary to what you may have

This probably answers your question of why two been told, trout cannot hear human voices outside of the same flies in two different colors can produce of the water. So don’t worry about having a loud such a diverse reaction in the trout community. Your conversation about the next site you’re choosing to problem may be as simple as the trout are eating fish. They won’t eavesdrop and swim along to tell one color insect but not the other colors.

their brothers

Oh, yes! There’s one last ability the trout possesses

when it comes to sight. He can actually detect the GOOD VIBRATIONS:profile of the fly. In fact, this is probably the most THE TROUT KNOW

important factor in fishing. A fly whose profile is

different from what he’s used to seeing in the wild

But, this leads us directly to the second point.

simply won’t get eaten. That means your flies — when Trout are very aware of the vibrations and sounds dry fly fishing — always float properly. Yeah! They occurring in the river itself. Amazingly so, it seems!

can tell.

Do you want to give the trout a heads up that you’re

on the river? Just bang your oars against your boat.

No wonder these guys are so hard to catch. But It’s a dead giveaway.

wait. We haven’t even covered the trout’s ability to

hear yet. And yes, they do have an acute sense of

Similarly, you want to be “very, very quiet” — in

hearing. And yes, it’s well worth you learning about. the words of the great cartoon hero Elmer Fudd —when you’re wading. If you splash around too much T

or the rocks beneath your feet get moved around

WO SOUND RECEPTORS

some, it can spell disaster for trout fishing. And this

In order to fully understand this, you’ll have to is doubly important to remember in the waters with bear with me for a bit about the anatomy of a trout. the slower currents.

This fish possesses two sound receptors. The first of

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THE ESSENTIAL TROUT FISHING GUIDE

In the faster water, many of these sounds tend to IN THE BEGINNING . . .

get drowned out and muffled by the current and any

rapids.

Ask any seven anglers and I’m sure you’d receive

seven different answers on how to initiate yourself

Trout are also able — because of the way in which into trout fishing. In my opinion, you need to make they hear – to hear something drop into the water. A your entrance as easy as possible. Keep it simple is trout can actually hear when a bug or grasshopper my motto. After all, you don’t want to get so bogged falls into the river. This can have dire implications down that you don’t enjoy the experience.

when you’re casting.

After you’re fishing for a while then you can get

You really don’t want either your fly or your line more involved in the machinations of the process.

making a large splash as it hits the water. A fly which For now, just get your feet wet (literally if you’d like!) is gently dropped into the water is much more and enjoy the moment.

effective at attracting trout than one that plunges in

with a force.

For friends of mine who are new to trout fishing,

I recommend they start their first trip with light

And as for the line, that’s where your casting ability spinning tackle. And I recommend that to you as as well as your choice of line plays a vital role. (We’ll well.

talk about different types of fly lines in Chapter 3

which is specifically devoted to fly fishing.)

As you gain confidence, experience, and expertise,

you can then take the step up to the fly rod. All in

How To Fish Trout

good time.

Huh? Whadda ya mean? You bait the rod, cast,

Before you make your first cast, check out your

and whammo, you’ve got a fish…I mean a trout…on sources. You want to obtain a map of the area you’re the other end. Right?

planning to fish. It’s vital that you verify that, in fact,

there really are trout in the waters you’re planning

Nothing could be further from the truth. As you to fish. You can usually get these maps from the read through the other chapters of this book, you’ll Department of Natural Resources in the state in which see I make near constant comments on how to you’re planning to fish. If this department doesn’t properly “fish” trout. So, I’m just going to review it have one, the staff you contact will undoubtedly know here briefly.

where you can get one.

But by now, you probably have a hint that what

Be sure you have all the right equipment. Let’s

works for your other fish just doesn’t work for trout. look at the line. For cloudy or muddy waters For cloudy or muddy waters, you’ll

To paraphrase that famous icon of cartoons, Yogi want a monofilament line no heavier than a six-Bear, trout are “smarter than your average fish”. pound test. If you’re fishing in clear waters, a four-Indeed, they are.

pound test is plenty. (I discuss the proper types of

The first time you fish for these shrewd fish you’ll line in the fly fishing chapter as well).

discover exactly that. You need to put more thought,

Fill your reel spool with backing

Fill your reel spool with backing — this should

more effort, and more time into catching trout than be heavy line. Place about 30 yards of lighter line at the other types of fish.

the end. You may discover that you just might take

several hundred yards of a lighter variety of line to

14 The Secrets Professionals Refuse To Share

THE ESSENTIAL TROUT FISHING GUIDE

actually fill that spool. Most of this yard, by the way split shot for those occasions in which you need to get is wasted.

the bait into swift water. And then top all of this off

with a canvas creel and a small knife.

Even before you leave your home, take the time

to clean your reel. There are plenty of reasons why

Right about now, you’re looking like a trout

you don’t clean it while you’re by the water. And the fisherman. But you’re not quite done yet. What have first one is that the trout may be able to smell your you forgotten? Well, for starters, the bait. (Oh, yeah!) cleaner and swim madly in the other direction.

Don’t even hesitate to replace it

Don’t even hesitate to replace it once it becomes THE NIGHTCRAWLER

worn or gets too short for fishing purposes. Don’t

Yep. It really is difficult to get any better than the

even think about this in terms of being wasteful. It’s nightcrawler for bait fishing trout. It works on several wasteful if you’re using it and you’re not catching levels. It does, after all, has just the right heft for the any fish.

long cast. They are easy to obtain at that. It doesn’t

Choose a hook size between #10 and #14. get much better than that.

You don’t want to use long shank sunfish hooks, as

Some anglers like to recommend worms. But

some of my friends have tried and you don’t want worms don’t work as well. They are too small and your hook to look too conspicuous to the trout.

plain difficult to cast.