How to Catch Trout

Trout is possibly the most quintessential gamefish that calls North America home. Found native in nearly every coastal waterway in the country and being introduced to many inland and landlocked bodies of water, there is always somebody fishing for trout. This is why we put together a comprehensive guide on how to catch trout.

Although widely distributed, tactics and techniques can differ depending on where you’re fishing. If the water has an abundant food supply, has cover from predators, is clean and cool, trout are likely around. Below, we'll cover a few different tactics to get your fishing journey started.

Rivers and Streams

On a river or stream, where water generally moves faster, trout become opportunistic. They will gather in one spot and wait for the food to drift by them. Drifting bait is a popular tactic used by fly fishers and anglers using live bait. You will often want to cast upstream into the current and let the water bring your bait or lure down to a structure that provides breaks in the current for the trout. Typical structures in moving water are:

Large trees or logs.
Rocks
Ledges or undercuts

Sometimes structure is not visible from the surface. Suppose you see an eddy (a section of current flowing in the opposite direction of the current). In that case, you can be sure that there is an obstruction underwater, interrupting the river’s main flow.

Lakes and Ponds

In a lake or pond, trout tend to become more predatory. Swimming along the edge of the cover, trout typically look for food. Still, they are careful to not become too exposed to predation. It is not uncommon to spot a trout casually swimming around shoreside vegetation or structure during the cooler months of the year. When the water warms up, you will want to look in deepwater areas that offer cooler water. Do not ignore structure in deep water, as trout still seek refuge from predators. Typical cover and structures in still water are:

Vegetation
Trees, stumps, root structures
Rocks
Sunken boats
Artificial reefs
Piers and docks

A quality lake map is one of the best ways to identify underwater structures and depths. If you have a boat, idle around spots of interest on your map until you find something that catches your eye. If you are Ice fishing, poking multiple holes and fishing various depths is a good start to finding trout.

Tackle

Tackle for trout fishing is straightforward. You probably already have most of what’s required. Any lightweight rod and reel will be sufficient with an 8-15lb monofilament line. Aside from that, you will want to have:

Small #6 or #4 hooks
Bobbers
Split shot weights
Spinners
Swivels (#7 or so)

If you are Fly-fishing and already have a rod/reel, you are probably set. If you’re buying your first fly-fishing rod and reel, we recommend the following:

A 5 or 6 weight, 9-foot rod.
Equivalent weighted Fly reel
Equivalent weighted WF (weight forward) fly line
Tapered leaders, 6ft 5x
Tippet, either x5 or x6

Bait

Bait for trout can be very diverse. Perhaps the most popular and abundant is worms. Most people will break the worms into smaller pieces, so a box of worms will last for a full day. Plastic worms can be a good alternative. Remember, trout don’t typically inspect their prey; they just grab it and go back into cover.

Fish eggs are another popular bait readily available depending on what area you’re in and time of year. We recommend getting pre-tied eggs. They’ll come in small spawn sacks. Beads and rubber balls are good alternatives if you cannot find quality fish eggs.

Imitation eggs, like Power Bait Trout Dough, are one of the most popular choices and can be molded into an egg shape.

Other baits for trout can include:

Spinners
Grubs
Mealworms
Crawfish
Leeches
Grasshoppers

We recommend you “match the hatch” and throw what is in season for fly fishing. You will see the nymphs or flies on the water surface. I’d make sure my fly box had a variety of a few flies:

Copper John
Prince Nymph
Coachman
Wooly Buggers
Bluewing Olive
Egg patterns
Caddis Emerger

Techniques

There are many, many ways to target trout. Techniques even vary depending on the water body you are fishing.

In lakes and ponds:

Carolina rig on the bottom.
Casting a spinner
Suspended under a bobber

You can adjust the water depth you are fishing by adjusting the bobber and the leader length on your Carolina rig.

In rivers and streams:

Drift a spinner (cast up current and let the spinner drift downstream, reeling in any slack until your spinner is downriver).
Drifting worms, eggs, or artificial baits through areas of interest. This applies to fly fishing as well.
Add small split shots to your bait to get closer to the bottom as you drift. Fishing different depths.

It is important to note that sometimes you can use the same techniques from lakes and ponds in a river or stream eddy.

Handling

Now that you’ve put everything together, found the fish, and caught your first one, how do you handle it? Simple, here is how we hold our trout:

A net reduces the stress on a fish tremendously.
Wet your hands before handling the fish
Use hemostats or pliers to quickly remove the hook
If you cannot remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as possible.
Revive the fish, ensuring it has enough energy to swim off.
If you’re going to harvest the fish, dispatch and clean the fish as quick and legally allowable, then ice immediately.

Common Trout in the United States

Rainbow Trout

Arguably the most common species of trout. This trout reproduces quickly in captivity, so it is also the main stocked trout across the United States. Although native to the western side of the country, you can find Rainbow trout in virtually every state across the country.

Brook Trout

Native to the eastern United States, Brook Trout have become popular and dominant in the Rocky Mountains. They are typically not overly large but provide a sporty fight on light tackle and are generally easy to catch. Although technically not a trout (they belong to the char family), they share similar habitat and ecology to Rainbow trout.

Brown Trout

A common trout across much of the US that most don’t know is actually non-native. This fish is native to Europe and was introduced in the 1880s. Brown Trout are considered nocturnal and harder to catch. They also often outcompete Brook Trout, where the 2 species overlap. These fish are found in most of the country and are usually stocked.

Cutthroat Trout

These trout are quickly rising in popularity as a sport fish. While native to western North America, it is popular to stock these fish in federal water projects. They can be identified by two distinct red slashes on the lower jaw.

Lake Trout

While not technically considered trout (they also belong to the char family). Native to the Eastern portion of North America, Lake trout is a popular fish in the great lakes. It is the largest “trout” and lives incomparably deep habitats. They have been introduced across the United States, and many places consider lake trout invasive.