Trout Troubles...

[Dan052]

just last weekend I was the best man in my friend's wedding down @ Roaring River state park.

It had been years since I'd even attempted to fish for trout (I used to go with a friend who always knew what to use and where to go). The day after the wedding my girlfriend and I decided to buy trout permits...I have 2 ultra-lights that we both used. I went up to Bass pro shops and asked the gentleman behind the desk in the trout room for some good lures and advice to trout fishing...the basics if you will...

So we drove down and tied on our flies and bobbers...

I would like to think that I'm a fairly decent bass angler...but this trout fishing adventure humbled me.

We were down there for 5 hours and neither one of us even had a bite! We were seemingly doing exactly what everyone else around us was doing (who were catching fish), but for some reason, we had absolutely no luck. At first, I had no interest in trout fishing ever again because I was so frustrated...but I realize that is silly, so now i'm reaching out to you guys, who I knooooowwwwwww are experienced trout anglers.

I know these are broad questions, but;

What are some common beginner mistakes? What are some helpful tips for beginner level trout anglers?

[Al Agnew]

Kinda hard to know what you were doing wrong without a lot more info. It could have been where you were fishing (the kind of spots), your lures or flies, your presentation, your line...or any combination of those things.

I'm exclusively a fly fisherman for trout these days, and don't fish any of the trout parks ever...too many people and too artificial an experience for my tastes. But I used to fish them once in a while. If I was going to fish them with UL spinning tackle, my approach and lures would be like this...

Start out by being in a good spot, nice fairly deep pool, near the head of the pool where there is some current, when the horn blows to start the day. Start out with a small spinner like a Rooster Tail, in brown with gold or silver blades. You should catch at least a couple in the first few minutes...there are always some totally stupid trout that are ready to eat something but they soon get caught if very many people are fishing. Once the bite slows on the spinner, put on a small bobber, set about as high up the line as the water is deep, and put on a small egg pattern on the end with a small split shot a few inches up the line to get it down. Toss it out, let it drift in the current, and watch the bobber very closely. If the bobber does anything, twitches, hesitates, shivers, set the hook immediately. Make short casts and hold your rod tip high, keeping as much of your line off the water as possible. You want the bobber to drift naturally at the same speed as the current. Imagine the fly drifting at the same speed but along the bottom. This must be done where there is enough current to move your bobber, and the fly.

If the egg fly doesn't produce, tie on a more natural type of nymph just like the fly fishermen use. Lots of choices here, most of which will often work. Just pick out a few that look kinda buggy. Fish them the same way.

If that doesn't work, go to deeper, slower water, tie on a very small marabou jig in brown, greenish, or black. Cast it out, let it sink until you think it's close to the bottom, and then retrieve it slowly while bobbing your rod tip up and down in 6 to 12 inch movements. Do it slowly enough that the jig stays close to the bottom.

If that doesn't work...Velveeta cheese is always a good choice

[Njardar]

Trout are odd beasties, they often pass up a seemingly a delicious bug (lure) in favor of what is more plentiful and what they are feeding on at that moment. I hired a guide two weeks ago in Estes Park, CO who showed us how to match the hatch. He took out a small seine net and had us disturb the weeds and rocks to see what insects were there. We then matched our flies to these insects. Trout parks are a bit different, in Montauk the trout are farm raised and released during the night. These fish seem to lack the intelligence of wild trout in that they bite at anything that looks like their farm food. Powerbait balls work well, however you may need to try different colors to see what works. Also, learn where the trout like to feed. Unlike other species, trout like to stay put and have the food come to them. So your task is to get your bait/lure/fly to got to the trout... and it is not as easy as it looks. In a way it is a bit embarassing to be outsmarted by a fish, but I guess that is why I keep going back... for the occasional "I'm smarter than a trout."

- Charlie

[Bman]

Use light line! 1-2 lb test. Use or add fluorocarbon tippet to your line, 7X or 8X.

You can use 1-2 pound test mono in clear or green tint. If they are really picky try the tippets listed above. Add them on to your line using a triple surgeons knot.

If you are drifting flies, make sure you have a drag free drift!

[mhall02]

I think the main points have been hit:

1. Use light line 2-lb test is recommended

2. Start in the a.m. when the siren sounds, the fish are inexperienced and you should be able to catch a few.

3. With spinning gear, I recommend a 1/16 oz Roostertrail, black with silver spinner or white with silver spinner or a 1/32 oz black and yellow or white marabou jig.

My gut feel is you were fishing mid-day with the factory line on your ultra-light, which is usually 4-6 pound test. Too heavy for RR during the summer when the water is low and clear, gotta go to 2 lb. I've always had better luck in the fly zone at RR, just be sure you use the MDC defined fly and you should be good to go.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Dano52 said, "I went up to Bass pro shops and asked the gentleman behind the desk in the trout room for some good lures and advice to trout fishing...the basics if you will..."

There's your mistake. You should have gone to the local fly shop at RR.

Next time hit the local shop and let them look at your setup and sell you the latest "hot" fly.

Good luck next time.

SIO3

[Paul]

I fish both a spinning and fly rod. The most important thing is light Fluorocarbon line. If you are bouncing a jig you can get by with 4lb. line if it is Fluorocarbon. If you are drift a jig or fly like an egg pattern you will need to go to 6X Fluorocarbon. To keep from breaking off attach 6" of shock gum leader between the line on your reel and the leader. Your leader should be about 18 to 20 inches long. You must get a drag free drift. I like to use a weighted float on my spinning rod made by Betts. It is shaped like a torpedo and will float straight up and down. If it leans in any direction you are not getting a drag free drift. This float is very sensitive and you will see the strike very easily. On my reel I like Fireline from Berkley in 2lb. or 4lb. in clear color. It has a thin diameter so you can get a good cast with light lures, and does not twist up because it does not stretch. Therefore you will detect a lot more strikes. Keep your lures about 6" off the bottom. The jigs I like to use can be bought from www.flatheadjig.com. They have a unique shape and are on smaller hooks than most jigs. They also have plated jigs witch I have with great success with. Hope this helps.