How to fish for trout in streams: techniques, equipment and secrets

Trout fishing in streams is among the longest-standing disciplines in fishing history. It is not simply an activity aimed at catching prey, but involves a whole series of sensorial rituals: immersing oneself in the purest nature, coming into contact with a stream of water in the most remote corners and, above all, it represents a great challenge sporty .

This is fishing in often difficult environments, where you can come into contact with prey such as: brown trout, marble trout or seedling rainbow trout.

These fish live in a context where the fight for survival is a daily problem, both due to the scarcity of food and the possible attacks of predators such as humans or other animals. Therefore fishing for trout in streams becomes a real challenge and makes fishing a real adventure.

What is trout fishing in streams

Trout fishing in streams usually refers to the so-called " touch fishing ": an all-Italian technique, practiced since the post-war period, aimed at catching trout with natural bait.

An alternative technique that targets stream trout fishing is spinning, but we will focus on this in another post.

Returning to touch fishing, to practice it best you usually need to have a teleadjustable rod from 7 to 10 metres.

There are also longer or shorter lengths, but with a telescopic rod between 7 and 10 metres, equipped with telescopic bushings, you can fish more or less well in many circumstances.

The bushings are Teflon bands , mounted at the level of the rings and in the stock, which allow the barrel to be opened even to lengths shorter than those permitted at maximum extension. Therefore, a 10 meter rod can also be used at 8.50, 7, 6, 5 metres .

The advantage of tools of this type consists in giving the fishing activity maximum precision in probing the holes , coming into contact with the trout precisely in the points where they hide.

In addition to the rod, you need to purchase a small reel and a covered spool . The latter will have the task of providing a reserve of wire during the fight and of offering possible support in recovery. Finally, you will need: a fluorescent or clearly colored monofilament reel , some trout leads (pendulum, buckshot, spiral), some stream trout rings and various trout leaders.

Rigs for trout fishing

Trying to simplify: in stream trout fishing, the fishing action takes place uphill towards the mountain , exploring the waterway inch by inch, looking for fish hidden in the ravines. In general , mealworms or earthworms, 0.16/0.20 thick, armed with 6/10 hooks, are baited on terminals (20/40 cm long).

Along the main line, a line marker is also used , i.e. a small float, capable of signaling to the fisherman the actual depth of the watercourse on which he is fishing.

Depending on the morphology of the stream, the depth or the technique for targeting the trout, it is necessary to create a specific line . This can be chosen from four variants : crown, buckshot, spiral or pendulum.

• The crown line is nothing more than a part of the fishing line on which to place several lead pellets. It is used to make the "pass" in running water or in holes.

• Buckshot is a lead pellet that usually weighs between 6 and 15 grams, stopped by a swivel. It should be used to fish in close contact with the bottom, to reach even the deepest holes.
• The spiral is a malleable ballast made up of a rubber cylinder on which lead is wound. It is fished by shaving the bottom, with the spiral moving on it. This movement gave rise to the name " rodolon ", a term often used to indicate this fishery in Northern Italy.

Trout fishing in the river

In streams of considerable flow or in the river you fish with the pendulum technique . This lead has the shape of a small pendulum and is usually plasticized, with variations in weight between 6 and 20 grams . It is used when the mass of water in the stream or river requires holding fishing, counteracting the current using a good-sized lead, which gives stability to the line itself.

In these cases it may be necessary to fish with slightly shorter and stiffer rods, such as a very stiff 6 meter or 7 meter rod.

You should not fish perpendicular to the hole, but cast and wait with the rod in action and the lead at an angle of 45° from the angler . Thanks to this angle, the terminal (a piece from 70 to 150 cm) will be able to float freely, generating an irresistible attraction due to the earthworms, or mealworms, which will move at the mercy of the current.

Secrets for trout fishing in streams

The list of secrets for trout fishing in streams is not very long. However, there are some key points that the novice trout fisher should know.

The main one, first of all, concerns the best times to go fishing . On this point there are two schools of thought: some fishermen indicate sunrise and sunset as the best hours for fishing, others assert excellent performance in the central hours of the day .

The secret is to notice the amount of sunshine present on the stream : with very broken banks and little light on the water, the hot hours are preferable to the cold ones; with banks without shrubs and flats with the stream flowing in the centre, you should prefer to go fishing at dawn or dusk, avoiding moments of high sun.

Another secret concerns dealing with the seasons as best as possible. In winter , with frozen springs and fairly cold water temperatures, trout eat only during the hottest hours .

In spring , when the snow melts and the water level tends to rise, the stream takes on a whitish color which causes the trout to become apathetic . We must make the most of this opportunity to deceive the cunning prey, intent on emerging from their burrows in search of food.

In summer , with drought and high temperatures, trout suffer from a lack of water, which is why they will be very suspicious and wary . During this period it will be necessary to tackle the waterways at dawn and dusk, going up towards the mountain, fishing with mealworms, earthworms or other possible insects found along the stream. However, there are no secrets for autumn because the trout fishing season in the stream ends at the end of September and starts again in February.

Now you have many ideas for starting or deepening trout fishing. Take advantage of the opening, bring out your equipment and start a new season in style !