I fish moving waters for trout about 95% of the time, primarily because there are more opportunities to fish rivers and streams for trout than there are lakes in my neck of the woods.
As was stated earlier, the nice thing about moving waters, fish have to make a fairly quick decision, eat or not eat when they see your offering. I fish mostly impressionistic flies that look a little bit like alot of different things. The trout get a quick glimpse, and if it looks somewhat familiar, or otherwise good to eat, they give it a go.
I also enjoy wading in moving waters, it something about feeling the water around you. That may change as I continue to age, but as of now, it’s what I enjoy. One thing that has reinforced my preference for moving water is I’ve been fishing with a fixed length line (i.e. Tenkara) for the past couple of seasons. With care, moving water allows one to get fairly close to the fish, at least well within casting range.
Trout fishing, A couple of questions for all…
First, how many of you fish for trout on a regular basis?
If you do so, do you do most of your trout fishing in moving or in still waters?
If we break it down to moving or still water trout fishing, which do you percieve to be the easiest?
And, finally, which do you prefer to do? (and, if you’d like to add it to your response, why?)
Thanks in advance for all who choose to play along.
Most of my fishing is for trout, steelhead, smallmouth bass, and salmon. Most of it is stream and river fishing. I perceive moving water to be easier, just because i’m more familiar with it. I prefer it to still water because I like to walk/hike and because I love to swing flies.
As far as what I prefer to do if you are referring to trout then small streams. If you are referring to all types of fishing I would have a hard time deciding. Warm water fishing can be a blast.
C. I think fishing moving water is easiest. It usually simple to find the trout in moving water, getting them to take what you present is the tricky part. Whereas in still water I don’t have landmarks as I do on streams to guide me.
A) While I do more warm-water fishing than trout fishing, I do a fair amount of both.
B) I do more fishing in moving waters, but, again, I do a fair amount of both.
C) Stillwater fishing is far easier, IMO. (Not necessarily more productive, just easier.)
D) I prefer stream fishing, generally, but there are exceptions. To me, stream fishing is more technical, and presents more of a challenge. That’s why I prefer it.
I certainly envy those of you who live in trout country because I truly love cold water trout fishing on streams. However, living in Florida I do most of my daily fishing on a lake in back of my home for blue gill and bass. Occassionally, I’ll fish saltwater for seatrout and snook. I try to take several cold water trout fishing trips each year to Arkansas, Idaho and Michigan. Stream fishing is by far my favorite because of the beauty and solitude of it all. I think stream fishing requires considerably more skill and lake fishing and, as someone else said, Lake fishing is kinda boring, especially if you aren’t catching much. I once fished a private lake in Colorado where I had a 15 to 20 inch trout on every 15 minutes or so. Now, that was not boring.