Tips for Spotting Trout on Trout Streams
When the hatches are sparse, many trout locate on feeding stations that easily let them capture natural foods which drift by. Spotting these trout and then going one-on-one with them is one of my favorite forms of trout fishing.
Seldom will I be able to clearly spot a trout holding on a feeding station before me. Rather, what I am looking for is some physical features which appear out of place. These subtle signals attract my attention and then by carefully studying these areas I locate my trout.
The slight movement of the trout on his feeding station is an easy signal to see. This may be the trouts’ movement as he turns to take a natural nymph. Or simply, his subtle relocating on his feeding station.
The difference in the trouts’ shape as compared to the stream bottom is another signal. A long slim tapered trouts’ body lying over a stream body of small pebble stones helps me quickly locate my trout.
The difference in the contrast in the color of the trout and the stream bottom over which he is lying is an easy signal to see. The dark brown back of a brown trout holding over a green grassbed is an easy give away. The ivory edges of a brook trouts’ fins as he holds over a brown stream bottom quickly shows his location.
On sunny days the trouts’ shadow on the stream bottom is often much easier to see than the trout itself. Just be careful not to permit your shadow to fall across the trout and scare him.
This is very rewarding fishing. Use a cautious approach and select a few items that are helpful. Polarized sunglasses and a hat with a dark color on the underside of the bill helps greatly. Subdued colored clothing enables you to approach the pools closely.
The trout seen above was easy to spot by the difference in the color and shape of his body and the stream bottom. His mouth just “whited” a natural nymph as he took it.