Simple Trout Fishing

Here's a really simple way... to catch stream trout using your spinning rod.

If you have ever wanted to fish for trout in a stream but are frustrated by the thought of equipping, learning, and
mastering fly casting, here is an alternative. You can be on a stream, fishing and catching trout with a minimum of
expense and frustration.

All trout respond to salmon eggs used for bait.

This method of fishing salmon eggs is simple, deadly, and does not kill the trout. Almost all the trout hooked will
be caught in the mouth, just like fishing with the fly.

The few components can be purchased at any fishing supply stop, even at a fly fishing shop.

Your shopping list of items to start is very short. The heart of the method is to use a very small float as a strike
indicator to float the salmon eggs naturally in the current of the stream.


The small Styrofoam floats used as strike indicators for fly fishing nymphs are ideal. Purchase a few floats that are
1/4 inch to 3/8 inch in diameter. The purpose of the float is to indicate when a trout takes the salmon egg.

Beneath the float about 12 inches attach a very sharp hook. The first choice in hooks are the extremely sharp Gamatszu
hook in size eight. If these are not available, Owner hooks are just as good. A distant third choice is the Eagle Claw Laser sharp brand
of hooks.

You may need some very small split shot weights if the line on your spinning reel is larger than six pound test.

If you need to add weight to the rig to cast it, place one very small, 1/8 inch, split shot directly below the float.
This will provide a little casting weight without killing the natural action of the salmon egg.

Salmon eggs are the first choice for bait.

The bright red processed salmon eggs are found almost every where fishing supplies are sold in trout country. The Green
Label Patzutkes brand are a favorite. These are usually less than 1/4 inch in diameter. Place two or three of these
salmon eggs on the hook. It is not necessary to cover the entire length of the size 8 hook.

The casting style is a "flip" of the bait into the water.

Merely swing the bait with the bail open on your spinning reel or button held down on the spin cast reel. Control the
line with your hand that does not hole the rod. This is exactly the same technique that bass fishermen call
"flipping". The casting distance is only a few feet at best.

Flip the float into the head of an eddy or just behind a rock. Let the float be carried down stream until the
current straightens out your line and the salmon egg is forced to the top of the water.

The strike is very subtle.

When a trout takes a salmon egg, the float will quickly dip under the water. This "dip" will happen quickly and then
the float will surface and continue downstream as normal. Set the hook as soon as you see the "dip". A lot of the
time you will have a trout hooked in the lip or the corner of the mouth. The trout can be returned unharmed to the
water if you are practicing catch and release.

At first, you may set the hook and simply pull the float and hook away with nothing. This is very common until you
develop the "feel" for striking quickly. Set the hook at every indication of a "dip" and you will be surprised at how
many trout you will hook.

This method can be used with a fly.

If you are fishing in a restricted "fly and lure only" water, replace the salmon eggs with a size 14 or 16 dark
colored nymph fly. The same technique is used to present the fly but the strike of the trout will be even slighter
and quicker. You will have a lot more misses as the trout take and reject the fly very quickly.

The salmon egg makes them hold on a bit longer so that you have time to react.

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This method can produce a lot of trout for very little outlay of cash and time.

You will be amazed at the number of trout you can hook standing in one spot. If you fish quietly, a good feeding
run will produce several trout.

Practice conservation please. Don't use this method to kill a lot of trout. Take a few for dinner if you so desire
but only what you can consume.