Always do Your Research: Things to Know Before You Get in the Water

Before you go matching the hatch or stripping the line you need to know what you are getting yourself into. We all have to start somewhere, so let’s start at the beginning.

Before you begin:

To catch the fish, you must become the fish. You must understand what the fish likes in order to have a success. Trout like cooler water, which affects the best time to fish and the best spots to fish. When trout are feeding in the morning or late afternoon they can often be found in shallow areas riffling.Trout love to stay in cool areas that are covered. Fast-moving water is not an ideal spot for trout. If you find a pool that has a significantly slower current than the surrounding water you will typically find fish.

Fish type: You must first know what you are looking for, in Colorado the common type of trout you will find are Rainbow, Brown, Brook, and Cutthroat. Cutthroats have two red swaths on their lower jaw, spotting on their backs and sides, they also can have a red or orange belly. Brown trout are larger than Cutthroats and have very little dark spots. Rainbow trout are typically the largest, they can grow between 12-26 inches. The Brookies are olive green with blue halos, these fish prefer gravel bottoms and pristine water.

Lingo: Before you hit the water, you need to learn the language. It is very important to learn the lingo because you will be surrounded by the thousands of other trout fisherman this time of year in Colorado. Fly fishing is not as easy as putting a worm on a hook, it takes time and patience to master the art of fishing the drift or fishing the tailwater.

The best equipment for you: There are three different types of rods, fast action, moderate action, and slow/classic action. Each rod varies in power, flexibility, speed, and difficulty of use. For beginners, it is recommended to start with a moderate action rod. This rod is less powerful than the fast action rod and more flexible, making it easier to use for a beginner because the cast cannot be thrown out as far.

If you have any further questions on how to trout fish or where to, please contact us. We have a team of experienced outdoor enthusiasts that would love to help!