Finding Stream Trout in Rivers and Streams
There are many coldwater streams that hold very large numbers of
trout. Inexperienced trout fishermen are shocked to find out how many
trout are in such small areas because the fish hide so well in the
available cover.
Finding trout in rivers and streams isn’t that hard. In the spring and
late fall, trout are more active in the afternoon because that’s when the
water is warmest. During colder weather, a couple of degrees in water
temperature can make a huge difference so target trout in the
afternoon. Over the summer months, the water is warmer and trout are
more active in the morning and evening when the water is slightly
cooler.
Although trout do a great job of keeping themselves hidden, you can
see them feeding heavily during the evening. Insect activity peaks
during the evening, so it makes sense that trout feed heavily during
this time of the day. If you monitor the types of insects that are
hatching in your area, you will be able to catch lots of fish consistently.
Rain usually helps the fishing because many insects are washed into
the rivers or streams. Faster current stirs up the bottom, which helps
stir up insect larvae from the bottom.
There are many areas to target trout in streams and rivers.
Eddies form behind and in front of boulders. Most fishermen target
the areas below the boulders, however, many fish are caught above
the boulders. Points, bridges, islands, sharp bends and any other
obstructions will form eddies. If you went out and just fished eddies,
you could hit 10 to 12 spots on a good day and catch a lot of fish. Just
make sure to remember which eddies produce the best results. These
areas will continue to hold fish throughout the year.
Riffles are shallow areas with some current. The rocks form these
riffles and trout will feed in these areas early in the morning and late in
the evening. There are plenty of insects in these riffles, but trout won’t
likely be in these areas during the day because they would be too
visible to predators.
Runs are deep, narrow areas with moderately-fast moving water
between riffles and pools. Some of these areas will hold big trout,
however, not all of these areas will hold fish. The best runs have cover
for the fish to hide.
Pools are excellent spots for catching trout during the middle of the
day, especially during the summer. In mid-summer, deep pools will
hold large numbers of fish. These areas are very easy to find. They
have smooth, calm water next to areas of current. There will be some
type of turn in the river or some piece of land that jumps out into the
stream that will form a nice pool of water downstream of the
obstruction. The pools are larger areas of calm water, which are
different from eddies that form around small obstructions.
Pocket water is shallow water with lots of boulders throughout the
area. Deep pockets will form below the boulders and trout will be in
these pockets. It will look like it is too shallow for trout, but fish will be
here looking for easy meals that drift by in the current. The trout will jet
out to grab a meal then go back and rest in the slack water of the
pockets.
Undercuts form along outside bends from the current cutting into the
bank. These areas will have overhanging cover from the shoreline that
provides shade and protection from predators. These are excellent
mid-day fishing spots. Once the sun gets high enough, trout will seek
these shady areas until the sun begins to set.
Plunge pools are areas of deeper water at the base of a waterfall.
The force of the waterfall creates a deep hole at the base of the falls.
The deep hole creates an eddy that allows trout to stay out of the fast
current. This allows them to hang around these deeper, well-
oxygenated areas without getting too tired. In some areas, the current
is so strong that fish would struggle to stay in the area without the eddy
of calmer water.
There are many coldwater streams that hold very large numbers of
trout. Inexperienced trout fishermen are shocked to find out how many
trout are in such small areas because the fish hide so well in the
available cover.
Finding trout in rivers and streams isn’t that hard. In the spring and
late fall, trout are more active in the afternoon because that’s when the
water is warmest. During colder weather, a couple of degrees in water
temperature can make a huge difference so target trout in the
afternoon. Over the summer months, the water is warmer and trout are
more active in the morning and evening when the water is slightly
cooler.
Although trout do a great job of keeping themselves hidden, you can
see them feeding heavily during the evening. Insect activity peaks
during the evening, so it makes sense that trout feed heavily during
this time of the day. If you monitor the types of insects that are
hatching in your area, you will be able to catch lots of fish consistently.
Rain usually helps the fishing because many insects are washed into
the rivers or streams. Faster current stirs up the bottom, which helps
stir up insect larvae from the bottom.
There are many areas to target trout in streams and rivers.
Eddies form behind and in front of boulders. Most fishermen target
the areas below the boulders, however, many fish are caught above
the boulders. Points, bridges, islands, sharp bends and any other
obstructions will form eddies. If you went out and just fished eddies,
you could hit 10 to 12 spots on a good day and catch a lot of fish. Just
make sure to remember which eddies produce the best results. These
areas will continue to hold fish throughout the year.
Riffles are shallow areas with some current. The rocks form these
riffles and trout will feed in these areas early in the morning and late in
the evening. There are plenty of insects in these riffles, but trout won’t
likely be in these areas during the day because they would be too
visible to predators.
Runs are deep, narrow areas with moderately-fast moving water
between riffles and pools. Some of these areas will hold big trout,
however, not all of these areas will hold fish. The best runs have cover
for the fish to hide.
Pools are excellent spots for catching trout during the middle of the
day, especially during the summer. In mid-summer, deep pools will
hold large numbers of fish. These areas are very easy to find. They
have smooth, calm water next to areas of current. There will be some
type of turn in the river or some piece of land that jumps out into the
stream that will form a nice pool of water downstream of the
obstruction. The pools are larger areas of calm water, which are
different from eddies that form around small obstructions.
Pocket water is shallow water with lots of boulders throughout the
area. Deep pockets will form below the boulders and trout will be in
these pockets. It will look like it is too shallow for trout, but fish will be
here looking for easy meals that drift by in the current. The trout will jet
out to grab a meal then go back and rest in the slack water of the
pockets.
Undercuts form along outside bends from the current cutting into the
bank. These areas will have overhanging cover from the shoreline that
provides shade and protection from predators. These are excellent
mid-day fishing spots. Once the sun gets high enough, trout will seek
these shady areas until the sun begins to set.
Plunge pools are areas of deeper water at the base of a waterfall.
The force of the waterfall creates a deep hole at the base of the falls.
The deep hole creates an eddy that allows trout to stay out of the fast
current. This allows them to hang around these deeper, well-
oxygenated areas without getting too tired. In some areas, the current
is so strong that fish would struggle to stay in the area without the eddy
of calmer water.
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