Ever wondered what advice a biologist would give you about how to find trout in the wild? This article covers that exact topic.
Table of Contents
About Trout
Trout are freshwater fish that belong to the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo, and Salvelinus, which are all members of the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Some non-salmonid fish, such as Cynoscion nebulosus, the spotted seatrout, or speckled trout, have the term trout in their name.
Salmon and char (or charr) are closely related to trout: salmon and char species are found in the same genus as trout (Oncorhynchus – Pacific salmon and trout, Salmo – Atlantic salmon and various trout, Salvelinus – char and trout).
Lake trout and most other trout spend their whole lives in freshwater lakes and rivers, although others, such as steelhead, a type of coastal rainbow trout, might spend two or three years at sea before returning to spawn in freshwater (a habit more typical of salmon). The char family includes Arctic char and brook trout. Trout are a significant food source for both humans and wildlife, including brown bears, eagles, and other birds of prey. Oily fish are what they’re called.
Trout Anatomy
Trout from various habitats can have significantly varied colorations and patterns. These colors and patterns are mostly used as camouflage and will change as the fish goes through different habitats. Trout in or recently returned from the sea can appear silvery, whereas the same fish living in a tiny stream or alpine lake may have more distinct patterns and brighter colors; in some species, this may indicate that they are ready to mate. Outside of spawning season, trout that are going to breed have exceptionally strong color and can appear to be a completely different species. It’s nearly impossible to attribute a certain color pattern to a single breed; yet, wild fish are thought to have more vibrant colors and patterns.
Trout have fins that are completely devoid of spines, and they all have a little adipose fin near the tail. On each side of the anus, the pelvic fins sit well back on the body. A condition known as physostome occurs when the swim bladder is attached to the esophagus, allowing for gulping or quick expulsion of air. Trout, unlike many other physostome fish, do not rely on their bladder for oxygen intake, instead relying only on their gills.
Many species, and many more populations, are physically distinct and isolated from one another. Most ichthyologists regard what seems to be a large number of species to be a much smaller number of unique species because many of these separate populations show no substantial genetic differences. This is exemplified by the trout found in the eastern United States. Although morphological traits and colorations distinguish the brook trout, aurora trout, and (extinct) silver trout, genetic investigation reveals that they are all members of the same species, Salvelinus fontinalis.
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and brook trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are both members of the char genus. Lake trout can be found in many of North America’s major lakes, and they live far longer than rainbow trout, which have an average lifespan of only 7 years. Lake trout have a long life span and can weigh up to 30 kilos (66 lb).
Trout Habitat
Although several species have anadromous strains, trout are often found in cool (50–60 °F or 10–16 °C) clean streams and lakes. Troutlet, troutling, and fry are all terms for young trout. They can be found in the wild throughout North America, northern Asia, and Europe. In the 19th century, amateur fishing enthusiasts imported many kinds of trout to Australia and New Zealand, effectively displacing and harming several upland native fish species. Brown trout from England and rainbow trout from California were among the introduced species. The rainbow trout were a steelhead variety thought to have originated in Sonoma Creek. New Zealand rainbow trout still exhibit the steelhead behaviour of running up rivers in the winter to breed.
The Himalayan Region of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan have the closest similarities to seema trout and other trout family members.
Trout diet
Trout eat flies, mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, mollusks, and dragonflies, as well as other fish and soft-bodied aquatic invertebrates. Various types of zooplankton make up a substantial percentage of the diet in lakes. Trout larger than 300 millimetres (12 inches) nearly entirely feed on fish when they are available. Adult trout will eat smaller fish up to a third of their size. Shrimp, mealworms, bloodworms, insects, small animal parts, and eel are all possible food sources for trout.
Land animals, water life, and flies are all favourites of stream trout. Macroinvertebrates, or animals without a backbone, such as snails, worms, and insects, make up the majority of their diet. They also eat flies, which is why most people who try to catch trout with lures imitate flies. Flies are one of the most popular meals for trout. [4] Trout eat a variety of land creatures, including grasshoppers. When small animals, like as mice, fall into their traps, they eat them. (However, only giant trout have mouths large enough to devour mice.) They also eat water animals such as minnows and crawfish. Trout eat a variety of foods and are subjected to a variety of predators.
Trout sense of Smell
- Trout have incredible senses of smell. Trying to grasp smell underwater is tough for us because we can’t do it. Trout, on the other hand, have a strong sense of smell underwater, so it’s worth an angler’s time to make sure they’re not introducing alien odours into a trout stream (which can warn a trout to a lurking danger such as a fisherman).
- When fly fishing for trout, try to stay away from any artificial scents that aren’t native to a trout stream. However, avoiding these odours is frequently easier said than done, as the causes of these odours can come from a variety of places. Fly line cleaners, fly floatants, epoxies, and glue can all leave a trout stream smelling strange. Other scents, such as aftershave, deodorant, and even your clothing, can alert a trout to the presence of an angler.
- Obviously, you won’t be able to eliminate all foreign odours from a trout stream. However, there are a few simple things a fisherman can do to lessen the chances of a trout becoming aware of his presence owing to smell. Use the newest fly line cleansers and floatants that are designed to “mask” the fly lines “the chemical odour Cleaners and floatants are often the same price as other “non-masking” products “chemicals, but they can help reduce the chances of a trout becoming aware of the angler owing to smell.
- Also, it never hurts to leave the cologne and other costly deodorants in the hotel room before tackling a hard trout stream. An angler needs every advantage they can get on a difficult trout stream, and avoiding unusual scents to finicky fish is one of them.
- Remember that trout have extremely keen senses of smell. It is only natural that they will use this sense to recognise flies that are presented to them in order to determine whether or not they are edible. A trout will move away from your fly and toward more “naturally” smelling food if it has a weird odour, which can be caused by chemical floatants or mistakenly smelling like Old Spice.
Trout Ability To See
- Trout place a high value on sight, which is unsurprising. After all, it’s their intuition that tells them whether or not to eat something that comes their way.
- Trout, in instance, have exceptional close-range vision but poor long-range vision. This close range vision by the trout is why so many imitation flies fail to pique a trout’s attention — the trout can immediately tell if the fly looks like something it is used to after a short period of time.
- The “trout’s window” allows a trout to perceive the world via its eyes. This window is a cone-shaped vision that grows in diameter as it rises from the eye. As a result, the deeper the trout dives, the more visibility it has.
- Because this is where they can see and inspect it, a trout will only eat something that goes across this cone of vision. Trout may be aware of something on the water that is outside of this cone of vision due to their other strong senses. If a trout sees the fly in its field of vision, it may contemplate eating it.
- This understanding leads to a single technique that all anglers should employ when targeting rising trout. When fly fishing for rising trout, it’s critical to drop the fly upstream rather than downstream of the rise. By presenting a fly upstream from the rise, the fly will drift down the river naturally rather than abruptly appearing in the trout’s cone of vision, which is likely to pique the wily trout’s interest.
- Trout are also capable of detecting colour, even tiny shades of hue. This is why fishing with the same fly in two different colours can yield wildly varied results; the trout may simply be consuming one colour bug while avoiding others.
- Finally, trout have the ability to see a fly’s profile. This is possibly the most significant of all the qualities of a fly. A fly that does not have the same profile as what they are used to consuming when seen from underwater is unlikely to be successful. As a result, it’s critical to make sure your flies float properly at all times, especially while dry fly fishing.
- Furthermore, even if your dry fly is an exact replica of the actual thing, if it floats awkwardly, it is unlikely to get strikes (or partially sinks). This is an excellent reason to avoid the genuine inexpensive flies you may see; the colours may appear to be correct, but the profile will almost certainly be incorrect when used on the water.
License requirements
To fish for trout in Oregon, all you need is a standard fishing licence. A juvenile angling licence is required for youth aged 12 to 17, and children under the age of 12 are allowed to fish for free.
Where and when to fish
Trout can be found in practically any water body that provides:
- cool, pure water
- food – such as aquatic insects, minnows, and crawfish
- protection from predators and cover
Lakes and ponds (still waters) and rivers and streams (moving waters) are two common types of trout habitat (moving waters). Whether you’re fishing in still waters or moving waters, fish location, behaviour, and fishing strategies will differ.
Finding trout in lakes and ponds
Trout are on the move in quiet waterways, “cruising” the water for food. At the same time, trout don’t want to venture too far from cover that provides predator protection.
- Near or above aquatic vegetation around logs, stumps, boulders, or other structure at stream inlets where streams pouring into the lake or pond are bringing cool, fresh water and likely an abundance of food are some possible spots to seek for trout in lakes and ponds.
- Deeper depths, especially during the hot summer months when trout seek both cooler water and safety from predators above.
- In lower elevation lakes, the optimum time to fish for trout is in the spring and fall, when the water is cooler and the trout are more active. This is also when the majority of lakes are stocked. Anglers can find trout in cooler, deeper waters during the summer months, or in high mountain lakes that are chilly all year. Trout fishing in lakes and ponds can be good well into the winter months in milder sections of the state, such as the Willamette Valley or near the coast, for fishermen courageous enough to face the cold and rainy weather.
Finding trout in rivers and streams
Trout in moving waterways tend to congregate in one location and wait for food to be brought to them by the water current. Aquatic insects floating in the river are a key food source for these fish. Trout in moving waterways are looking for a location to rest from the current in addition to looking for food and protection from predators. So, if you’re looking for trout in a river or stream, check behind rocks or other structures (Look for water where the surface is textured with bumps or riffles, which are often created as water flows over rocks and boulders on the river bed) near a bank that is steep or undercut in pools that are deeper and slower.
The optimum times to fish most rivers and streams are in the spring and fall, when the water temperatures are cooler. Because few rivers and streams are stocked, you’ll almost certainly be catching naturally reproducing or wild fish. Look for trout in quicker riffles where the water is re-oxygenated as it tumbles over rocks as the water warms. Some rivers, particularly in central Oregon, are open all year for trout. Winter fishing can be good for intrepid fishermen prepared to withstand the cold and snow, but look for trout in slow, calm waters where they aren’t fighting the stream.
Tackle for trout fishing
The list of essential trout fishing equipment and gear might be quite short. A rod and reel, as well as a limited assortment of lures, bait hooks, bobbers, and artificial bait, are all you need to go trout fishing almost everywhere. To begin, make a shopping list that includes the following items:
- A lightweight 6-foot spincasting or spinning rod with matching reel and 4-6 pound monofilament line
- A handful of 1/16 oz. spinners
- Package of size 8 bait hooks
- Couple of red/white bobbers
- Jar of PowerBait or PowerEggs
- A package of #5 lead split shot
- Worms
- Fly-fishing is another popular way to fish for trout. It requires more specialized equipment and tools, but a good starter outfit could include:
- Graphite 5-weight fly rod, 9 feet long
- Matching fly reel
- Weight forward, 5-weight fly line
- Tapered monofilament leaders, 4x 7.5 feet long
- Spools of 4x and 5x tippet
- Assorted streamside tools
- Flies
Fishing techniques for lakes and ponds
There are many (many) techniques to catch trout in lakes, but here are three of the most straightforward:
- Bait is suspended beneath a bobber. Begin with a worm or a small amount of PowerBait or a similar product on a bait hook. Add a bobber 12 to 3 feet above the hook and a tiny lead weight directly above the hook to assist the bait sink. Wait for the bobber to quiver, dive, or jerk as you cast out to a promising place. When fish are cruising near the surface or you want to keep your bait and hook suspended above a weed bed, this is a fantastic strategy.
- Bait fishing from the bottom. When trout are in deeper water, the bait must be lowered to the depths where the fish are. There is no bobber used in this approach to keep the bait suspended. Instead, the lead weight is linked to the baited hook and launched out about 12 feet above it. The lead weight will sink, but the bait will float up to 12 feet above the water’s surface and hover there.
- Getting a spinner, spoon, or fly out of the water. Spinners are designed to look like little minnows, leeches, and other trout food. Cast a spinner or spoon over water that looks like a trout habitat. Allow a minute for it to settle in before beginning to reel it in (retrieving). Change the amount of time you allow the spinner drop and the pace at which you retrieve it until you find the right combination.
Fishing techniques for rivers and streams
The current, not your retrieve, will determine how your lure moves in the water in flowing water. The following are some good trout fishing strategies for flowing waters:
- Using a spinner or a spoon to cast.
- As the current moves the spinner down river, keep as much fishing line off the water as possible to generate a natural “drift.” Begin a moderate retrieve once the spinner has swung toward the shore and is straight down river.
- Drifting a worm or artificial bait (like as PowerBait) to within a few inches of the bottom with enough split shot. Using a bobber might help you keep track of where the bait is drifting.
NOTE: Where a river slows and deepens into a pool with very little current, you can use many of the same trout fishing techniques you would use in a small pond or other still water.
Ice fishing
Under the ice, trout fishing is usually done in depths of 4 to 8 feet. Because trout are cold-water fish, they migrate from the deep to the shallows throughout the winter, displacing the little fish that live in the area during the summer. In the winter, trout regularly cruise in shallow depths in search of food, usually in groups, however larger fish may go alone and in deeper water, approximately 12 feet. The most common trout species caught through the ice are rainbow, brown, and Brook trout.
A final word about keeping fish
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks more than 7 million trout in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs around the state each year. Anglers can take these hatchery fish home and cook them on the grill, in the frying pan, or in the oven.
The majority of trout in rivers and streams, on the other hand, are wild fish that breed naturally. Some anglers opt to release these fish in the hopes of catching them again or allowing them to propagate. Catch-and-release fishing is required in a few rivers and lakes. If you plan to release the fish you capture, follow these guidelines to do so safely:
- Use barbless hooks.
- Land the fish quickly, before it tires too much.
- Wet your hands before handling the fish, and try not to remove it from the water.
- If you’re going to take a photo, have the camera set and the scene composed before lifting the fish out of the water and quickly take the picture.
- Use needle-nosed pliers or hemostats to remove the hook. If the hook is deeply imbedded, cut the leader near the hook, which will rust away after a few days.
- Revive the fish in the current before letting it go.
Sources/Refrences:
- “Cotrout – The Outdoor Resources”. Cotrout. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- Troutlet.com: How to Read a River when Trout Fishing
- Straw, Matt (December 5, 2012) “Ice Fishing Trout” In-Fisherman
- “IGFA World Records”. International Game Fish Association. Retrieved November 1,2015.
- https://myodfw.com/articles/how-fish-trout