Chasing the Rainbow (Trout)

By far one of the most sought-after fish in all of Pennsylvania, trout has become a staple in our fishery. With trout season just now kicking off, there is no better time than now to cover the basics of trout fishing, while learning about these fish along the way.

Trout season in Pennsylvania kicked off on April 1st, and with the anticipation of many anglers going out, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocked many streams, creeks, and lakes heavily with the three trout species: rainbow, brown, and brook. Those lucky enough to may even get a shot of catching the pot of gold, the palomino trout. Across the Keystone State, there are over 16,000 miles of wild trout streams, 5,000 miles of stocked trout streams, and over 125 stocked trout lakes. This provides Pennsylvania anglers with an ample amount of waterways to attempt to catch these colorful fish. Now not just any particular stretch of a creek or stream will hold trout. When scouting a potential spot there are a couple of guidelines to follow. Try to find spots along a creek where there is a structure, either a branch or a boulder in the water that may disrupt the flow of the water. Trout will oftentimes gather up near this structure as it provides easy cover for them when getting their food source: flies, worms, larvae, etc. If you cannot find these areas of structure, the most important thing to look for is deep, slow pools. This is where one is likely to find a plethora of trout cruising around.

With the spot found, all that’s left is to bring the right gear to have a good day of fishing. Through personal experience, a six-foot light action is sufficient for this type of fishing. Pair this rod with a spinning reel spooled with a four-pound test and you’ll be good to go in terms of your rod and reel. Now the right bait or lure is what may be the difference between catching no fish or loads of fish. Make sure to bring a wide array of baits and lures until you see what works best for you. The easiest rig to fish is a simple split shot sinker with a small Aberdeen hook about eight inches under it. With this rig, your bait options include dough bait or live bait such as worms, wax worms, and minnows. It is important to note that, as the season progresses, trout tend to lose interest in the dough bait and begin to look for more natural presentations. Long-time fisherman Chase Collier takes a totally different approach from the live bait technique. He instead opts to use a “Panther Martin black and gold spinner.” He goes as far as to say that this lure is a “[trout] slayer.” A spinner is a great lure to use when trout are active, and will most times result in hits from big brown trout, or aggressive rainbows. If a spinner isn’t your forte, there are other options to try to catch these fish. Hassan Abdi, a seasoned fisherman believes that those who do not catch fish consistently need to “observe those around them, and mimic what they do.” He believes that by doing this, you can increase your chances of catching fish. Now the most important thing to note when it comes to trout fishing is the decision to catch and release, or harvest fish. If harvesting, make sure to abide by local regulations, and only keep what you plan on eating. Those who are practicing catch and release need to be careful as well. Make sure to wet your hands before handling the fish, as trout have a protective coating to protect them from disease and parasites. By wetting your hands, you prevent yourself from unintentionally rubbing off that coating. Be sure to release the fish back into the water as fast as you can, and release these fish gently into the water. They are not hardy fish, so a rough release could be the difference between life and death for them. 

Take the tips listed above and you’ll be sure to have a fun time on the water. Ensure that you abide by your state’s laws and regulations, and most importantly make sure you have a valid fishing license with a trout stamp where applicable. 

Sources:

https://www.patroutintheclassroom.org/all-about-trout.html

https://www.mepps.com/mepps-tactics/article/fishing-trout/5

https://shopkarls.com/blog/trout-fishing-101