Trout Fishing During the Spawn

Aside from watching the exciting activity of the trout in waters during spawning season, some people may want to utilize the large quantity of trout in the water by fishing. Fishing during spawning season is very effective because there are so many fish in the water and the fish need more food to maintain their energy level for the spawn.

There are many different methods of fishing that are useful during spawning season. Perhaps the most productive technique during spawning season is fishing with fish eggs. Trout and salmon eggs are used as bait on the end of a fishing line to mimic a natural grouping of fish eggs. The trout are so enticed by fish eggs during spawning season that they'll often ignore all other types of baits and lures and bite exclusively at egg sacks. Egg sacks are composed of cured trout or salmon eggs and are bundled together with netting in groups of 10 to 15 eggs [source: Lake Michigan Angler].

Fly fishing is another popular method of fishing used during spawning season. This method is practiced in rivers and employs an artificial lure to get the fish to bite. The artificial lure in fly fishing resembles an insect or other prey, often a fly, which is where the method gets its name.

During the spawn, the most efficient fishing practices are performed from the shore or in the river or lake itself. You will probably want to stray from using a large boat, especially one with a motor. Additionally, you will want to be on the lookout for some of the trout's other predators during the spawning season, which include low-flying bird of prey, other large fish and water-dwelling animals like the otter.

Now that you've got the know-how, you can visit some spawning trout for an educational lesson -- or just some good fishing.

Trout Tunes and Plate Your Catch

Who knew trout fishing could inspire two musicians to three Grammy nominations? That's right -- family music duo Trout Fishing in America has been crafting kid-friendly acoustic hits for nearly 30 years. Bass player (the guitar -- not the fish) Keith Grimwood and guitar player Ezra Idlet met as band mates in Houston earlier in their careers [source: Trout Fishing in America].

If you're not fishing in a catch and release area and decide to keep what you catch, trout are a popular fish to put on a plate. Rainbow trout and brown trout are the most widely consumed species, but just about all trout species are edible and delectable.

Sources

GoFishBC.com. "Trout Life Cycle."http://www.gofishbc.com/lifecycle.htm
Grames, Pat. Acacia Artisans.http://www.acaciart.com/stories/archive14.html (Accessed 11/19/08)
Kraft, C.E., D.M. Carlson, and M. Carlson. Inland Fishes of New York.http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/salmonidae/brook_trout.html (Accessed 11/19/08)
Lake Michigan Angler. "Salmon and Trout Eggs Sacks for Bait."http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/tips/salmon_eggs/salmon_trout_eggs.htm (Accessed 11/19/08)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "Brook Trout."http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snapshots/fish/brooktrout.html (Accessed 11/19/08)
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. "Spawning Trout, Male & Female."http://www.fish.state.pa.us/images/pages/qa/fish/trout_spawn.htm (Accessed 11/19/08)
Rengstorff, Santiago. "The Biology of Rainbow Trout."http://www.acaciart.com/stories/archive14.html (Accessed 11/19/08)
Rook, Earl J.S. Rook.org.http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/fish/salvelinusnam.html (Accessed 11/19/08)
Trout Fishing in America.http://www.troutmusic.com/bio.htm (Accessed 11/19/08)
USDA Forest Service. "Coldwater Fish Species."http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fishing/regional/fishresources/coldwater.html (Accessed 11/19/08)

How the Trout Spawn Works