Here, you'll have the ability to learn about trout and how to be a better trout fisherman. It doesn't matter if you're a novice angler or if you've been fishing for over 20 years, there is information on this page that will be useful to you. You'll be able to start off by learning some basic information about trout, giving you some important insight into them. We will then provide you with a list of trout fishing tips, record trout catches, facts about trout, and additional resources. We hope the information on this page will help you become a great trout angler!
Table of Contents (clickable)
About Trout (Oncorhynchus, Salmo, and Salvelinus)
Trout is a term used for several types of fish that are a part of one of three genera: Oncorhynchus, Salmo, or Salvelinus. They live in freshwater, but some trout do spend time out in the ocean and return to freshwater to spawn, just like salmon, which trout are closely related to. Several common types of trout are brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, and steelhead. A trout's diet usually consists of other fish and aquatic invertebrates. When a trout reaches over 12 inches they'll usually only feed on smaller fish. Trout are a very popular game fish and many state wildlife agencies stock lakes, ponds, and streams with trout for anglers to catch.
You can locate trout in lakes and streams with cool water. The ideal temperature range is 50 to 60 degrees. Juvenile trout can also be known as fry, troutlet, and troutling. They tend to mature around 2 to 3 years of age. The lifespan of trout depends on the species. For example, a rainbow trout can live up to 7 years while lake trout can live for several decades. The color variation of trout varies greatly and is dependent on the type of trout you're looking to catch. Trout are not only popular with anglers, but they are also popular at the dinner table. Trout, along with its close relative salmon are a common staple in many American's diets.
Trout Fishing Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
You can find our best tips below. We hope the tips are as effective for you as they were for us!
- Know the Current - If you understand how a river or stream is shaped by moving water then you'll be able to find trout very easily. Deep pools created by the current can hold a big trout, but smaller trout can also be found in them. The large trout will most likely be in these pools during dawn and dusk.
- Choose Your Lures Wisely - It's really important to pick the right lures for trout. Using the wrong type could make you miss out on opportunities. For optimal performance, we recommend the Panther Martin Spinning Lures.
- Power Bait ONLY Works on Stocked Trout - If you're fishing for trout with powerbait then you better make sure that the trout in your body of water were stocked (farm raised) and not native. Native trout will not bite on powerbait. The only reason that stocked trout will is because they are fed pellets in the hatchery and will eat anything that resembles or smells like the pellets.
- The Best Live Bait - Night crawlers are an effective live bait for catching trout, along with minnows and crayfish. A neat trick is to take a look at what lives on the shore where you're fishing for trout and see what might be native to their lunch or dinner menu. Mayflies, when native to the area, can be great to use during the fall season.
- The Silver Spoon - Trout, especially lake trout love to bite on a small silver spoon. The best way to use this to your advantage is to buy a lure that mimics a spoon. Our top choice is the Kastaway Trophy Spoon.
- Trout Fishing Rods - See our guide for choosing the Best Trout Rods
- Trout Fishing Line - Check out our guide and selecting the Best Line For Trout Fishing
- Trout Hooks - Learn about Trout Hook Size & Selection
- Rigging - See our detailed guide on Rigs for Trout Fishing
More trout fishing tips:
Trout Fishing Records
Listed below are the world-record trout caught by fishermen just like you. This data comes directly from the IGFA (International Game Fish Association). These types of fishing records don't change often. To see if one of the below trout records was broken you should visit the IGFA website, we've provided a link to it in additional resources. Hopefully one day we'll see your name listed below for a record trout!
Llyod Bull caught a lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Great Bear Lake located in Canada on August 19th, 1995 that weighed 32.65 kg (72 lbs. 0 oz.)
Sean Konrad caught a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Lake Diefenbaker located in Canada on September 5th, 2009 that weighed 21.77 kg (48 lbs. 0 oz.
Chas Reed caught a golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) in Cooks Lake located in Wyoming, USA on August 5th, 1948 that weighed 4.98 kg (11 lbs. 0 oz.)
N. Higgins caught a bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in Lake Pend Oreille located in Idaho, USA on October 27th, 1949 that weighed 14.51 kg (32 lbs. 0 oz)
Dr. W. Cook caught a brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Nipigon River located in Canada on July 1st, 1916 that weighed 6.57 kg (14 lbs. 8 oz.)
John Skimmerhorn caught a cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) in Pyramid Lake located in Nevada, USA on December 1st, 1925 that weighed 18.59 kg (41 lbs. 0 oz.)
Additional Resources for Trout Fishing
Hopefully, the information provided on this page will make you more successful at catching trout. However, you may still want to expand your research and look into additional resources. That's why we've provided you with additional places below where you can learn more about trout fish. If you found our tips useful then please share our website with your fellow anglers, friends, family, and co-workers.
- Fishing Records - IGFA - Get real-time information on trout fishing records and records for all other types of game fish.
- Trout Legend - Forum - A great community of fishermen who love to catch trout. This is a great place to meet other fishermen interested in trout and other types of game fish.
- Trout - Wikipedia - Learn more about the different species of trout and get specific information about each species.