Species – Trout Time!

Dust off the light gear because if your local stream isn’t open for business, it will be soon! Each year, between June and September in Victoria, and between June and October in NSW, streams and rivers are closed to allow mature trout to spawn; preserving trout stocks for the future. Brown and rainbow trout are among the most prevalent species in the streams and both represent a great target for anglers. Both are great table fish but neither species is native to Australia with farming and stocking programs over a number of years responsible for establishing solid numbers of these fish in streams around Victoria, Southern NSW and Tasmania in particular. Trout require cool water to survive hence their existence in the southern part of the country. The main difference between the rainbow and brown trout is, as their names suggest is their colour. Both are great to target with light tackle and can be caught using fresh bait or a selection of lures and soft plastics. 

                            Brown Trout                                                                 Rainbow Trout  

THE OUTFIT

A light spin outfit is a great place to start when targeting trout on lures. A 6-7ft spin rod in the 1-5kg line class range coupled with a 1000-2500 size spin reel is perfect. Small baitcaster reels also represent a good option for lure anglers requiring precision casting. Like with any lure fishing, braid line is an advantage and when targeting trout, try to fish as light as possible. Anything from 2lb to 10lb braid can be effective depending on the situation but for better results, use a rod length of 4lb to 8lb fluorocarbon leader. Tie the leader direct to a snap swivel, lure or jig head depending on what type of technique you wish to use.

If you’re targeting trout using bait, a soft or nibble tip rod is a must. The tip of the rod must be flexible enough to detect any soft bites and alert the angler to the situation. Again, a 6-7ft spin rod will do the trick with a small 1000-2500 spin reel. When targeting trout using bait, use monofilament line with a breaking strain of anywhere between 2lb and 10lb depending on the size of fish you’re targeting. Mono line has the ability to stretch meaning a feeding fish is less likely to feel line tension and be spooked while feeding.

THE TECHNIQUE

Using Lures

Trout are responsive to a variety of lures including small surface and shallow diving hard bodies, spinner baits and soft plastics. When fishing a stream for trout, do not approach the edge of the water. Cast from a few feet back from the bank and always cast up stream so that your lure is travelling the same way as the current. It is important to retrieve your lure at a quicker rate than the current so that it can perform its desired action. If you’re using soft plastics, don’t allow the lure to sink right to the bottom as it is likely to pick up weed which will affect the action of the lure.

Using Bait

When using bait, use a running ball sinker above a sinker or stopper which is connected to the hook via a few feet of leader material. Any size 2-6 hook can be effective depending on the situation. Baits such as worms, grasshoppers, crickets, mudeyes and yabbies are most popular. Sinker size is important and varies depending on water depth and current.

GET OUT THERE!
         
Like most fish, trout love to hide amongst structure or in deep holes ambushing bait as it moves with the current. The low light periods of the morning and afternoon represent the best times to target these fish with trout typically going off the bite in the heat of the day. When fishing for trout, cover as much territory as you can as fish may be holding in all types of areas depending on the conditions. Remember, if you’re fishing the streams, don’t walk too close to the water’s edge as trout can see you much easier than you can see them. Anyway, enough reading, check your local trout season regulations, get in to your local BCF store, gear up and get out there and catch a trout or two!