Let’s face it, not every day of fishing is exciting. But, if you’re looking to create some excitement, chumming is a good way to do that. Chumming is an excellent way of getting a feeding frenzy going so that you’re able to catch as many fish as possible. It can be a good way to get the water active enough to want to fish, too.
When fishing for trout, chumming can be done to get the fish to feed more aggressively, especially since lake trout tend to be a little bit more timid than their relatives that live in rivers. Find out how to chum for trout here!
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What is Chumming?
Chumming is a technique used while fishing that involves adding bait to the water to stimulate fish. Most of the time, chumming is brought up when talking about saltwater fishing, but can be done when fishing for freshwater fish, as well.
When adding bait to the water, you’ll not only stimulate the fish you’re looking for, but all of the fish in the surrounding water, generally speaking. In a lake, this can become an issue if there are other predatory fish in the water that aren’t trout, since they tend to be a bit more reserved in these bodies of water. That being said, it’s almost always sure to cause some exciting fishing for the day.
Is Chumming Illegal?
Chumming is a controversial fishing technique for a number of reasons. It has earned a bad reputation through shark fishing, mostly because it can make the waters unsafe for swimmers and anglers alike. When chumming for sharks, it almost always incites a feeding frenzy making a dangerous species of fish far more aggressive than they usually are.
For this reason alone, chumming in some states with a coastline has been made illegal, such as Alabama, where chumming can’t be done at all. In Florida, chumming can’t be done when fishing from the shore, but can be done on boats offshore, with the distinction that one causes a threat to people’s safety, while the other is isolated.
Be Sure to Check Your Fishing Destination’s Laws
Because of its bad reputation, chumming may be illegal where you plan to fish for trout. Be sure that before you start chumming the water and attract any unwanted attention that you check the guidelines for the area you plan to fish in. The only thing worse than a day of fishing with no bites is a day of fishing cut short and some hefty fines.
The Best Chum For Trout
In most cases, the best chum for the fish you’re trying to reel in is the food they like to eat normally. This is no different for trout, and you’ll get plenty of good results by chumming with things that they like to eat. When chumming for trout, we like to use some of the following baits.
Processed Minnows
An important part of chumming is making sure that the bait you’re using is easily sniffed out by the fish. When chumming with minnows, it’s best to process them a bit by cutting them into chunks and letting them stew in their own juices. Be sure not to process all your minnows though, as you’ll want to keep some to fish with!
Crickets
Grasshoppers and crickets are part of a trout’s regular diet, and crickets are normally stocked at your local pet store. What’s more is that they’re cheap, normally costing less than nightcrawlers would. With crickets, rather than processing them, you’ll want to throw them on top of the water alive. The struggling they’ll do will attract plenty of fish, and trout will gobble them right up!
Tadpoles
Tadpoles are an excellent bait for chumming when you can get them. Trout love tadpoles because they’re highly nutritious and only come around once a year, so they’re a delicacy. Like the crickets, you won’t want to process tadpoles, rather you’ll want to release them in small batches in the water you’re looking to fish (normally deeper portions of it). You won’t find tadpoles in bait shops, so you’ll have to find these guys on your own. However, when using them to chum, you can use a tadpole lure to keep the fish’s interest.
An Unconventional Bait That Works Best
As the majority of trout in lakes are stocked fish, and not naturally occurring in the body of water, you can bet that they’ll have a soft spot for sweet corn. Farm raised trout are fed sweet corn while being raised, and sure enough they remember it, and tend to prefer it over other baits. Now, just as there are states that it is illegal to chum in entirely, there are states where chumming with corn specifically is illegal. This is due to misconceptions that corn can be harmful for a fish’s digestive tract, as well as the fact that it can be considered a pollutant to the environment. Just be sure to check your fishing spot’s laws and regulations.
How to Chum For Trout
When chumming for trout, it’s best to have a location for chumming picked out before beginning, one where you’re sure that the fish will be. You’ll want to try to locate downed trees, large boulders, or sunken logs. These are the spots that trout like the most in a large lake, as it provides cover as well as bait.
Once you’ve chosen your spot, you’ll want to be about fifteen to thirty feet from it. You don’t want to be too close to the spot that you’ll be chumming, and you’ll want to toss the chum into the water from a distance. Being a good distance away will help you to avoid scaring the fish.
Ideally, you’ll spread the chum evenly and slowly, not placing all of it in the water at once. This prevents overfeeding the fish and causing them to lose interest. This part of chumming may be the hardest to dial in, and no real measurement will ever be right twice, so using your best judgment and learning from the experience is the best way to approach it.
If you’ve successfully excited the fish, you’ll have a great day reeling them in. Typically, in a lake, an excited group of fish will actually attract other fish to the area, and before long the entire trout population will be in one spot, striking the chum and your line frequently.
Should I Use a Different Bait?
In short, no. The entire point of chumming is using a bait that gets the fish you’re after excited. When chumming for trout, you’ll want to use the same bait that you’re using as chum when possible. This ensures interest in the bait on your hook! If you can’t use the same bait for some reason, then you’ll want to use something as close as possible to the chum.
For example, if you process all of your minnows and forget to leave some to be hooked up for fishing, you’ll want to use a soft swimming bait. If you’re releasing tadpoles to attract the fish, you’ll want to use a small tadpole shaped jig to get the attention of the trout. Always try to use the same bait on your hook as what you’re using for chumming the water. It’ll allow for a much higher success rate!