Trout fishing basics by Robbie Alexander

There is a growing growing number of anglers enjoying trout fishing, and like any new type of fishing, there are always questions to be asked.

Here I will run through some of the basic techniques to help get anglers started in small streams, larger rivers and lakes. Hopefully I can give you all a few pointers and steer you in the right direction to help catch your first fish or increase your catch rates.

SMALL STREAMS

Trout fishing in small streams is one of my all time favourite forms of fishing and I just cannot get enough of it. Due to the small quiet environment and usually clear water, it is fishing and hunting combining to provide a great sport.

Rule number one with any type of trout fishing in streams is to always fish your way upstream. Trout will almost always face upstream, watching as the current delivers any kind of food source. Whether it be dead insects, mayflies, nymphs, scrubworms and so on, the current will always wash the food downstream, and the trout know to face upstream in anticipation.

Trout can be a very spooky fish, and if they see you they will often move to the cover of an undercut bank, deep hole or snag and stop feeding until they feel safe again. By walking upstream you are sneaking up behind the trout, making it harder for them to see you. Remember though, that unlike humans, trout do have eyes in the top of their heads! We have our eyes at the front and look forward, whereas the trout have eyes that face further up, so that they can sense danger above them and also watch for food. So the trout may see you coming sooner than you realise. The best way to overcome this is to fish from further back.

So, walking upstream, casting ahead of you and retrieving your bait or lure downstream towards yourself is the best way to go, and where possible, try and make your casts long and accurate. The further back you can cast from the less likely you will be to spook the fish.

Keep an eye on the bank for human footprints. If there are fresh footprints along the bank, in the mud or sand, then it may be likely that somebody else has recently fished that same stretch of water, which can result in very poor fishing. As mentioned earlier, when trout get spooked they will hide and not come out until they feel safe. In angler's language, we call this 'second hand water'. If the fishing is slow, and there are fresh footprints, it's always a good idea to try somewhere else. Trout in these small waterways are very unforgiving.

Depending on the availability of food, trout will often feed freely all day in small streams. During the brightest times of the day, concentrate your casts on the shady areas, under shrubs and undercut banks.

LURES

Small bladed spinners are an excellent starting point, particularly in the spring months when there is plenty of water in the streams and little slime. Small Celtas are excellent. My favourite bladed spinner is the small number 1 Super Vibrax by Blue Fox, I love these lures and have for a very long time. Small minnow type lures also work very well as