What Do I Need for Trout Fishing?
So you’ve decided this is the year you going to get out there on the water and catch some trout. The first thing you’re probably wondering is what do I need for trout fishing? The good news is if you’re already an angler chances are you have most of what you’ll need with some slight adaptation. I’m going to cover what you need to trout fish with conventional fishing gear and not with fly fishing gear.
This article is about open water fishing. If you were looking for more information about ice fishing trout specifically check out my article on rainbow trout.
Rod, Reel and Fishing Line
When targeting trout I would suggest a light action fishing rod with appropriate reel. A lighter rod makes it much easier to cast lighter lures or baits and makes it much easier to spot bites on your line. Make sure your fishing line is at the appropriate pound test for your rod reel combination. A 4 to 6 lb fluorocarbon is probably a good choice. Fluorocarbon has the advantage over monofilament in being smaller diameter for the weight rating and less visible to the fish.
Exceeding the rod and/or reels rating will result in your line getting fouled up a lot. The only time you will need heavier gear fishing for trout is if you are targeting lake trout or big bruiser rainbows. This is beyond the scope of this introduction to trout fishing .
Fishing Tackle and Tackle Box
I am a big fan of the Plano tackle bags or other such tackle bags. Old school hard case type tackle boxes can be cumbersome.They have a shoulder strap which is very handy when you’re packing all your gear down to the shore. The clear see-through containers make it much easier to see your fishing tackle at a glance. There is also extra containers available so you can swap out depending on whether you’re bait fishing, lure fishing etc etc.
Your next consideration is the type of tackle you will be carrying. This will probably be dependent on your trout venue. Some bodies of water have restrictions against using bait. If the lake or stream you were fishing in allows bait fishing you will need the following.
Weights and Sinkers
Split shot is a versatile choice , it’s a good idea to have one of the multi weight packs offering you several sizes. This will enable you to match the sinker weight to the body of water being fished and your lure/bait selection. Many times you will be fishing and faster moving streams and rivers. A small split shot above your lure can help get it down to the water depth where the fish are.
“Dipsy” style sinkers are handy for bottom fishing and, keeping your bait where you want it in faster moving water. These are the teardrop shaped weights with a brass eyelet to attach your fishing line. I have used these in stocked trout ponds with a fine leader a few feet up the line with my hook and bait. Being anchored to the bottom of the pond makes it easy to get some tension on your line and easily see a bite when it happens.
Selecting a Hook for Trout Bait
Most of the time you will want to go with a smaller size hook for trout. Whether you are using salmon eggs or powerbait. I find with too large a hook you will have a harder time setting the hook well. It always pays to have a variety of sizes available in your tackle box.
For the most part you’re going to want snelled hooks. These are fish hooks that already have a leader with a large loop attached to it. So you can quickly attach this to a swivel or snap. Alternatively you can tie it directly onto your main fishing line.
If you use snelled hooks a lot I find having them on a proper snelled hook holder makes it easier to keep them from getting tangled. These an inexpensive addition to your tackle box. Price check on Amazon
Floats and Bobbers
No tackle box is complete without its share of strike indicators. These come in various shapes sizes colors. The type of bobber you select depends on the type of water you are fishing. Slender, extremely sensitive ones for less surface drag. More robust ones for faster moving water or windy days.
Artificial Lures for Catching Trout
Mepps and similar imitation small spinners can be deadly when fishing for trout. Some anglers swear by colour schemes that match the local forage, others more bizarre colours to catch the fish’s attention.
Rapalas and other swimbait/crank bait can be very effective for brown trout and other species. I know locally I have done well landing brown trout with standard Rapalas in silver/grey or yellow/green. Rapalas imitating rainbow or brown minnows also do well.
Soft Bait is also a good option to have in your tackle box. Whether it is a swimbait or more outlandish tube jig. Trout will hit well on white or brown tube jigs bounced across the bottom when retrieved.
Landing Net
When choosing a landing net I would go with a soft plastic type versus a nylon. Soft plastic fishing nets cause less damage to the scales and slime coating of the fish compared to their nylon counterparts. There are many models available the telescoping arms.
If you’re actually going to be wading out into a lake or stream to get to your fishing spot you may want to go with one of the short handle plastic landing nets.
Forceps, Knife or Scissors
A good pair of long nose forceps is very important for removing Hooks and lures from the trout. If you go with a longer set it’ll be easier for extracting baited hooks. As fish tend to swallow these as opposed to get lip hook with artificial bait.
No tackle box is complete without a trusty pair of scissors or knife. Nail clippers also work really well for cleaning up the loose ends from your knots.
Chest Waders
Many prime fishing spots can only be accessed from wading out into the lake or river or, by using a boat. Chest waders are an inexpensive way to increase your pool of potential fishing spots. One of my favorite fishing spots is accessed by wading out across a shallow tributary to a larger island. I wade another 30 feet off this second point and it’s pay dirt EVERY time. A boat in this particular spot is not an option as the water is extremely shallow and fast dropping into a nice pool where the trout always congregate.
When selecting a set of hip waders its a good idea to select a pair with a few storage pockets. Many models have at least one waterproof pocket, a great place to store your cell phone and other non water friendly items. Here is such a pair that combine value and quality from Amazon.
As a final thought on waders, always make sure to clean the mud off them after use. Waders can be a prime candidate for transporting invasive species like zebra mussels or the whirling disease causing parasite. You can learn more about whirling disease and its impact on salmonid fish species at this government of Alberta site.
Grab your Gear and Start Trout Fishing!
If you happen to be in the Southern Alberta area I have written a couple of articles on trout venues. The first one is on the Bow River Carseland, a great spot for catching brown trout and rainbows. The other is Dickson trout pond which is a stocked Pond ,the fish will be smaller but they can be kept there.