I was taught how to fish for trout more than twenty years ago by my best friends’ father, who was the best trout fisherman I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, and at that time this man introduced me to some trout fishing gear that has served me well for many years. These 3 pieces of trout fishing gear would be beneficial to any trout angler.
Before I get into the list of gear, I want to discuss how said gear is carried. For seasoned trout fishermen this might sound incredibly obvious, but in my experience it still needs to be mentioned. The most effective and efficient way to carry your gear while trout fishing is fishing vest. Some fishermen think fishing vests are reserved for our “flea flicking” friends, but nothing could be further from the truth. A fishing vest is what should be used to carry your trout fishing gear. When it comes to fishing for trout traditional tackle boxes are about as useful as a liberal viewpoint on the Fox News Channel.
My point is that your trout fishing gear should be carried in (and on) a fishing vest. So, what the heck are these 3 pieces of fishing gear?
Sharp & Effective Trout Hooks – First of all, your hooks need to be sharp. If you’ve gotten snagged or caught a few fish, sharpen or change you hooks. Dull hooks are a major reason why we miss fish. Effective trout hooks are any hook that presents bait in a natural manner. Think about it your bait should look like it dies in nature, and the easiest and most effective trout hooks are called gang hooks. Gang hooks enable you to present your trout bait in an effective and natural manner. A Bait Carrier – To be and efficient and effective trout fisherman your bait need to be at your fingertips, rather than somewhere out of reach. A ton of valuable fishing time is wasted searching for your bait and baiting up, which is where an effective bait carrier comes into play. One you use one for the first time you’ll wonder how you ever fished without one and it may become your most important piece of trout fishing gear. A bait carrier is a “must have” item for all river and stream fishermen. Ultra Light Rods/Reels – For almost all trout fishing ultra light rods and reels should be employed. Many trout anglers make the mistake of using rods and reels that are much too heavy for their quarry. When fishing for trout, ultra light rods and reels should be a big part of your trout fishing gear. As a matter of fact, having a couple of rods and reels that are dedicated exclusively to trout fishing is a great idea.
The trout fishing gear just listed should be a part of every angler’s trout fishing repertoire. If you don’t have any of these items, add them to your inventory sooner rather than later. Being outfitted with the right gear is very important to trout fishing success.