Trout Fishing Tips

A few days ago, I had the privilege of taking some folks trout fishing who were visiting from Nebraska . We fished at one of my favorite local lakes and although the weather was a beautiful sunny day, the water was still quite cold (39 degrees Fahrenheit) and there was snow on much of the shoreline. Needless to say, these conditions made for a slow fishing day.

But like me, these folks just enjoyed being out on a beautiful lake with good friends and family. We could have come home empty handed and everybody would have still been happy. It was just one of those great days to be on the lake!

Fishing was slow - and we tried different rigs, baits and locations on the lake until we figured out where the trout were feeding and what they wanted. As is often the case, location and time of day turned out to be key factors in catching trout this day.

There is one spot on this particular lake where I've historically had the best luck catching trout, so as usual, we headed there first. But after coming up dry there, we moved to a new location. I've often avoided this other location the lake because it's so rocky and I get tired of losing tackle in it. However, on this particular day, if we wanted to catch trout, this is where we needed to be.

Trout were actively feeding on submerged bugs on and around those rocks. And so tossing our lines there made our offerings more likely to be seen by trout. Trout strikes are often more subtle in winter and so we had to be careful to set the hook, keep our lines tight, and the tip of the rods up to increase our chances of landing fish.

It's a well known fact that many insects and bugs are nocturnal and start emerging around dusk. This is why trout fishing during dusk and night hours can be so productive. And so it was with us. As soon as dusk set in, fishing really started heating up. We were pulling trout one after the other within minutes of casting our lines. And I'm happy to report that we were able to take home a nice stringer full of rainbow trout along with some good fishing memories.

Understanding trout feeding habits and lies can help you catch more trout - even when fishing appears slow and challenging. Good anglers are constantly monitoring the fishing environment throughout the day so they can adjust their tactics as needed. Trout fishing in winter may be challenging in some areas, but it can still be productive if you understand a little bit about trout and their needs.

Labels: nocturnal bugs, winter trout fishing

Although Spring is quickly approaching, many of us are still enjoying the winter trout fishing season. Depending on where you live, you may be ice fishing or fishing in very cold water. Cold water means lethargic trout.

Some anglers are under the misconception that trout hibernate in winter when water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. But this isn't true. The truth is that trout are generally holding in water to conserve energy during the cold winter months. You can still catch them - you just need to get your offering to them.

While trout aren't actively feeding in winter months, they still need eat to survive. Their feeding turns more to "maintenance" rather than eating everything nearby that appeals to them.

In rivers and streams, trout will usually be found hugging the bottom, where the water is warmer. They like deep pools of water, where the water is calmer. In lakes, trout will usually be found in shallower water, often times near shore. Again, they're looking for warmer water that has a good balance of dissolved oxygen.

Artificial lures are very effective on winter trout. Spoons and spinners often produce great results. When fished properly, these lures emit a flash and vibration that can entice non-feeding trout into striking. Often times, this is a defensive strike (trout trying to protect their territory). The flash helps trout to see the lure at a distance and can help wake them out of lethargic stupor. The vibration emits a frequency that sounds similar to baitfish.

Given the choice between a spinner of a spoon, choose spinners when fishing in calmer water and spoons when fishing in fast currents. This is because spinners tend to rise in fast moving water (which may not be where fish are). Likewise, faster moving currents help spoons move more erratically (making them more effective).

Some spoons are designed for jigging, meaning they're fished vertically in an up and down motion. Jigging spoons are typically used by ice fishers. Jigs are another popular ice fishing lure. There many variations to choose from , some with bucktails and some plain.

One way to make your lures more effective in winter is to add a mealworm or a piece of minnow or nightcrawler. Doing so will help appeal to a trout's sense of smell in addition to sight.

Just be sure to check your local fishing regulations ahead of time as some places have rules restricting the use of live bait and artificial lures.

Labels: spinners, spoons, trout fishing, winter trout fishing

The much awaited winter trout fishing season has finally arrived for many Canadians. On February 1st, 2008 the Winter trout fishing season will open in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The following details were printed on the Western Star's web site.

This your chance to head to the ice and enjoy some ice fishing. Special trout management zones will be open for winter trout fishing until April 1st, 2008. These include the Middle Brook and Indian Bay River watersheds and Star Lake.

The season for both the Labrador Straits and southeastern Labrador will open March 1 and close Sept. 7. The season in western Labrador is scheduled to close Sept. 7, while the region taking in central and northern Labrador will remain open until Sept. 15.

The daily bag limit for inland and tidal waters of insular Newfoundland, and brook trout in Labrador, for all trout species combined, is 12 trout or five pounds (2.27 kilograms), plus one fish, whichever is reached first. The daily bag limit for Labrador lake trout and Arctic char is two fish per day.

In special trout management areas, the daily bag limit is six trout or two pounds (0.9 kilograms), plus one fish, whichever is reached first.

The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit with the exception of the special trout management areas, where the possession limit is the daily bag limit.

While fishing through the ice, anglers are permitted to use three separate lines which must be closely and constantly attended by the angler.

Keep in mind that trout (even Lake trout) are usually hanging in shallow water this time of year (8 - 15 feet) where there's plenty of food and oxygenated water. Using a jig tipped with a nightcrawler often produces great results when ice fishing for Lake trout. Spoons tipped with bait are also effective.

For more Lake trout ice fishing tips, click here.

Labels: Canada, newfoundland, winter trout fishing

When the weather gets cold, Lake Michigan brown trout fishing gets hot!

Lake Michigan brown trout tend to stay in the near shore harbor waters all winter long. The best spots to find them are places where warm water flows into cold water. Fishing near power plants which discharge warm water into Lake Michigan has been a successful winter trout fishing tactic for years.

Many anglers love to fish near the Oak Creek Power Plant and "The Boils," a series of underwater flows about a quarter mile offshore from the Milwaukee water treatment plant. There are also good spots near the mouth of the Milwaukee River where warm water flows into the lake from the Jones Island Treatment Plant.

In winter, warm water attracts gizzard shad and other baitfish which lure brown trout.

To catch these brown trout, try using a large jigging spoon on medium action spinning rod with 8-lb test line. There are several different jigging techniques (as described in the Trout Fishing Tips eBook), one of which involves flicking the wrist. This technique doesn't involve lifting the tip of the rod very much.

The trick to jigging is to make your lure look like a dying or injured baitfish. All trout like an easy meal and they are apt to strike a lure that looks like it will give them that. And they are most likely to strike when the lure is on the way down in the water.

You also want to find the depth where trout are most active. This can be tricky without a fish finder. But the best thing to do is start out fishing deep using this jigging technique. Then if nothing happens, reel some line in about 5 cranks and try again. Just keep repeating that process until you figure out where the fish are feeding at.

If you're having trouble, make sure you're not lifting the tip of the rod too much or letting the flutter down time take too long. Remember, you want your lure to look like an injured or dying fish. Be sure to keep trying this jigging technique at different depths too.

Labels: Brown trout, brown trout fishing, fishing lake michigan, jigging, lake michigan fishing, winter trout fishing

Speckled trout fishing in Florida continues to be good this winter. Deeper holes next to grass flats in the mouths of residential canals continues to offer good winter trout action.

The key to catching specks in the winter, according to Captain Dave Walker, is to slow things down. Shrimp-style artificial baits or live shrimp from bait shops have a proven record of success. Fishing on the bottom around docs or other structures can be rewarding.

Labels: Speckled trout, speckled trout fishing tips, speckled trout tips, winter trout fishing, winter trout fishing tips, winter trout tips

Winter trout fishing season begins on January 13, 2007 in Minnesota. Lakes were stocked with fingerling (2-3 inch) and yearling (6-8 inch) trout throughout the Spring and Fall. These stockings should provide some good action for anglers.


Unlike most states that only stock Rainbow trout, Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources stocks their lakes with different species of trout. Each lake is stocked with the trout species that works best for that lake.

Lucky, Kremer, Larson, and Bee Cee lakes are a few of the lakes where trout fishers can catch brown trout.

Many of Minnesota's cold waters also have Lake trout. These are trout are more challenging to catch, and are therefore highly sought after by many anglers. Catching 2-4 pound Lake trout is not that unusual. Bluewater, Trout, Canisteo Pit, and Caribou Lakes are stocked regularly with Lake trout.

In addition to Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Lake trout, some Minnesota waters also have Splake trout - which are a hybrid between Brook and Lake trout. Splake are regularly stocked at Kremmer, Larson, and Erskine Lakes.

For more information on winter trout fishing in Minnesota, click here.

For a list of trout species found in each Minnesota lake, click here.

Labels: winter trout fishing, winter trout fishing in Minnesota

January and February are historically the peak the Rainbow trout fishing months in Houston, Texas. These are the months in which the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department stock urban ponds with cold-water trout along the upper coast.

At least 16 urban areas in the greater Houston area are scheduled to be stocked with Rainbow trout during the winter. Be sure to check the stocking schedule as fishing is always most productive during the first two weeks after a stocking. After this, catching trout becomes more challenging due to decreases in numbers.

Most of the trout planted will be 8-10 inches in size. Using a spinning rod with 4-6lb test line is recommended. Fly rods should be 4-6 weight with 2-4 lb leader tippets. In the past, a No. 12 sparsely dressed bead-head nymph has out fished all other artificial flies.

Natural baits work well also on No. 10 or 12 size single hooks. Whole kernel corn has long been a favorite bait for trout anglers. Soaking the corn in vanilla extract or a manufactured trout scent can make it more attractive to trout.
Marshmallows, worms and PowerBait also work well in catching Rainbow trout.

For more fishing spots in Houston, click here.

Labels: houston trout fishing, Texas trout fishing, winter trout fishing

Winter fishing kicks off on January 1st, 2007 in selected rivers and lakes across Nova Scotia. Anglers who fished during the Spring and Summer of 2006 must carry their fishing licenses with them. These licenses are good til March 31, 2007. And if you don't have a license, you can purchase one.

While many of these lakes will be frozen, some may not be. So you may be able to enjoy both ice fishing and more traditional angling during this winter fishing season.

In Cape Breton, Bras d'Or Lake opens for Rainbow trout fishing on January 1st and will remain open through March 31st, 2007. The daily catch limit is two. However, five areas of the lake are closed to converse Brook trout and Atlantic Salmon.

Meadow Pond in Hant's County and Silver and Sunken Lakes in Kings County will be open January 1st through February 28th for Rainbow trout fishing.

Several other lakes will remain open throughout the winter for Rainbow trout fishing including:

• Cameron and Gillis Lakes in Antigonish County
• Goose Harbour Lake in Guysborough County
  
• Angevine Lake in Cumberland County
• Sucker Lake in Lunenburg County
  
• Albro Lake in Dartmouth
  
• Gairloch Lake in Pictou County
• Hidden Hills Lake in Queens County
  
• Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam in Cape Breton County
• Everitts Lake in Diggs County
  

Winter trout fishing will last from January 1st through March 31st at all of the lakes mentioned above. Daily bag limit is two.

For more information, click here to visit Nova Scotia's Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Labels: Cape Breton fishing, ice fishing, Nova Scotia fishing, Winter fishing, winter trout fishing

Tennessee's Wildlife Resources Agency stocked trout in Bartlett's City Park Lakes (Stoneridge and Yale Road) last Thursday. These lakes, in addition to others, are part of Tennessee's winter trout fishing program.

Like other states, Tennessee is trying to provide fishing activity for anglers all year long by stocking various lakes through the winter. These stockings provide a great opportunity for new anglers and kids as these trout are fairly easy to catch.

Local angers suggest using PowerBait, corn, and salmon eggs for bait. Worms may also work. Although lures and artificial flies may work, regular baits usually produce better results. Light fishing line is also suggested.

Labels: Tennessee, winter trout fishing

It's been a common theme this fall, but cooler weather makes for better trout fishing. Many states are preparing for the winter trout fishing season by stocking larger trout in their lakes.

Lakes Cuyamaca, Santee, Dixon, Jennings and Poway are stocking regularly now and some are even stocking fish in the 4 - 8 lb range. Limits on bait and lures are common at most lakes. So be sure to check the regs before fishing.

These lakes offer a great opportunity for youngsters who are new to trout fishing. Trout will be more active in these cooler conditions and are easier to catch.

Lake Cuyamaca even offers free fishing lessons every Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Labels: California Lakes, Lake Cuyamaca, Lake Jennings, Lake Poway, Lake Santee, San Diego Lakes, winter trout fishing

Beginning November 30th and continuing through March, Texas residents can start enjoying the winter trout fishing season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will begin stocking Rainbow trout across 100 sites in the state.

Catching trout in cooler weather is much easier than in warmer weather. So this is the perfect opportunity for beginner trout fishers to get out there and catch some trout. It's also a great opportunity for the kids to catch some!

Labels: Texas trout fishing, winter trout fishing