Wild trout or trout that have been in flowing water for a long time are smart and can be real hard to catch….but they taste good and fight well…all this makes them a popular sporting fish.

Years ago I would fish the upper Yarra river, Goulburn river and some of the Victorian high country streams for trout. Anything over 700gms was considered a good fish and the occasional  kilo or more fish was considered a trophy…it was a real hoot to catch them on lures or the carefully placed bait!

Trout can be a little hard to find but  the things that will always put you on to these fish are location, bait presentation and local conditions. Get these right and you can be onto a ‘blood pumping’ session.

Like all fish- trout need shelter, food and comfort.

The comfort part comes from water temperature, quality and oxygen level. They like it cold, clean and with plenty of dissolved oxygen. Fast moving shallow water falling over stones and rocks makes the sound we all like to hear…and this “gurgling water” is where trout like to hang out.

The shelter part comes from deeper water or the cover of rocks, trees and plants….anywhere they can hide but can easily dart out and take an insect, small fish or other bits of food in the water.

When it comes to cover you’d be surprised where they hide.  I have caught trout in water less than a metre deep by casting small lures next to rocks and submerged logs. It’s amazing how a very small rock can provide enough cover to hide quite a big trout!

The food part comes from the amount of fish and insect life in the water and surrounding land. Waters with plenty of small fish, tadpoles and insect lava will hold good numbers of fish. If the surrounding banks have plenty of overhanging grasses and plants then they will hold insects and life too….all this falls in the water and makes a meal for a hungry trout….and this is something to look out for!

Whatever seems to be the most abundant food is what trout seem to focus on. “Match the hatch” is an old fishing saying. It just means that your lure or bait will do better if it’s the same as the food that the trout are already feasting on…

…so checking out what’s in the shallows, the surrounding water weed and bank side grass will give you a good indication of what to use. I fished with a friend on the Upper Yarra where he floated a single grasshopper down stream and out-fished us all…. on a day when the grasshoppers were everywhere. Our lures and worms were no match for “the hatch”!

Look for changes of speed in the current. Trout usually “hold” in the slower water, facing into the flow, conserving energy until they need to act. The only time I have known them to hold in a strong current is when there is a good source of food there. Then they’ll feed hard and only leave when they are full.

Lure fishing for trout is great sport. Hook into a large fish and they’ll take you everywhere before you get them in. Rainbows like to leave the water and there’s nothing like seeing your catch clear the water trying to shake the hook!

Light gear is the way to go. 2kg rod and reels with line to match has plenty of backbone for most fish.

Small lures work best. Bladed lures, with plenty of flash have been popular with trout anglers for decades. There are huge numbers to choose from and keeping a range of colours lets you mix up your lures until you find something that the trout want. While these are popular, my favorite weapon is the minnow type plastic lures ….mainly ‘cos they look real. If you fish crystal clear water the fish have plenty of chance to check out what’s on the end of your line…

If it don’t look real…they’ll leave it alone!

I usually take a selection of soft plastics. I like minnow, grub and shad styles but particularly the paddle tail types because they look like bait fish and their swim action is convincing.

You’ll do well with lures that have natural looking eyes and fishy colours with a few bright ones as a backup. I also like the lures that have the “holographic” body. These  have transparent plastic stomachs that look like the tiny clear bodied fish fry you find in the shallows….these have always worked for me. 

When casting make sure you mix up your action. Lifting and dropping the lure, 3 to 4 second pauses on the bottom, slow steady retrieves and a series of light jerks all work. You just need to experiment and find out what action the fish want.

If you don’t get bites – change lures!

If the fish follow but don’t bite –  change lures!

Always have some commercial  scents and colours to dip your lures in…and if you don’t get bites after all this…..move on to the next spot!

When it comes to bait, there’s plenty to choose from. Worms, mudeye (dragonfly lava), small yabbies, maggots….and the local insect life, like crickets and grasshoppers.

If you’re fishing very clear water then bait presentation is real important…..if it doesn’t look right they won’t touch it. It’s worth using fluorocarbon leaders in clear water. Fluorocarbon is almost invisible in water and when conditions are crystal clear it makes a difference. Using small hooks and good lively bait adds to your chances of a hook up. The more lively the bait the better…movement is irresistible to hungry fish.!

….and finally a word about “STEALTH.”

Most fish are nervous creatures….and wild trout are really nervous...

Some anglers will tell you a trout can hear your garage door opening before you leave on your fishing trip….this could be an exaggeration, but one thing’s for sure, trout are nervy. The best way to approach your fishing spot is to follow a few simple guidelines:

• Stay low to avoid being seen too easily.
• Don’t walk right up to the river bank, just get close enough to look around at the water to check out any cruising fish.
• Don’t stomp around. All fish can feel the vibrations on the bank…or in the water.
• Be alert, sometimes there are fish right in front of you.
• When lure fishing cast well upstream of the fish you see -don’t land a lure or bait right on its head.

OK you’re set! 

Get out there and target those trout. There’s nothing better than checking out the water, approaching “in stealth mode”, casting to a likely spot…..and hooking a trout.  Catching a fish this way is a real Buzz!