flyrod required to fish for trout?

[senkoskipper]

or can i just use my bass gear and use something really small? Also where the in the world in MN do you fish for trout? Im new and i thought i'd give it a try.

[Maashkinoozhe]

Senko -

Fly rods are not required (though you should try it sometime - it's a blast). What is required is a trout stamp which is $12 in addition to the regular license. You buy them at the same place you buy your license. For trout, you can use from ultralight to medium rods, small spinners, or you can even drift a worm or small piece of nightcrawler. If you're going for salmon or steelhead, then you want to ramp it up to what you would use for pike. Again, in general, spinners work well. Waders are handy to improve your ability to get to the places on streams where the fish are holding. Be careful not to spook the fish! They typically face upstream and can see a person moving around on the bank.

Here's a link to the DNR's trout streams in MN:

www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/index.html

and here's a link to trout lakes:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_lakes/list.html

and some of the DNR's primer to spinning for trout:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/crystalsprings_hatchery/basic_tactics.html

Good luck!!

Dave D.

[Quickstrike]

use this site's search feature and you will find more than enough info.

[TRZ]

By no means do you need a flyrod, I'm an avid trout fisherman and i don't own one. Live bait or small spinners will sometimes outproduce anything a fly rod can do. But of course sometimes dry flyies are better. I plan on having a nice limit on saturday using my spinning rod.

[Jim W]

senko,

Also, if you have time come on down to the 6th Annual Trout Day April 29th where you will get more than enough info on how to start for both fly and spin fishing for Trout in SE MN Minnesota.

You'll have more fun targeting trout if you have the appropriate fly or spin fishing gear. SE MN is full of wonderful streams and rivers to explore for a large variety of fresh water species, including trout.

It takes a little getting use to, but can and will more than likely become addicting.

Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W

[toughguy]

I have been trout fishing for years too without a fly rod. I'm not coordinated enough to fly fish, plus I like to sit back and enjoy the scenery instead of the constant casting involved with fly fishing. The method I found that works best for me is to use 3 lb mono, a small hook, a spitshot about 16 inches from the hook and an angle worm. Just plop it into a deeper pool, lean your pole against a branch to keep it upright, find a chair and a beer, and wait for the tip of your rod to wiggle. This has worked great for me at the stream I go to each year. If you find the right spot you will catch plenty of 'em. Finding the right spot is the key.

[WxGuy]

Good advice, everyone.

As you can see there are lots of ways to go about catching fish, it's all about what you feel comfortable doing.

If you'd like to accelerate your learning curve, you should really check out Trout Day on the 29th. I'll be there to annoy Jim and maybe help out some people with the fly rod...although I'm no expert, so hopefully I don't drive anyone away from the sport in frustration.

[senkoskipper]

Hey thanks for the info guys. i think im gonna give it a shot next weekend

[youngie22]

One key for trout w/o a fly rod is RAPALA!!! Big browns love big raps... Today was a good easter morning... 25 1/4" Brown on the first cast of the first pool.

[Fish_Hunter]

That's one nice trout youngie22!! I was out for a good 4-5 hour trip yesterday morning and between my fishing buddy and I think we wrangled close to 30 trout!! Excellent day!! Most were between 12"-14" with an occasional 16" or better and the last fish caught by my buddy was 19" or better!! We did great until that sun came over the valley then they just turned right off. Not bad for opener day though!! Every single trout was a brownie and boy were they aggressive, they just pounded the spinners. Sorry no pics... I hope others had as good of a day as we did!!

P.S. They all went back in for another day!!