| What's more fun than catching a trophy fish? Not | | | | worm in a completely natural manner. So he |
| much, then you add the fact that trophy trout | | | | taught me how to tie and use gang hooks, which |
| can be caught in rivers that no one would expect | | | | I do to this day. Start using gang hooks and you |
| them to come out of, and catching them | | | | will start catching more trout, trophy and |
| becomes that much more exciting. My mentor | | | | otherwise it's as simple as that. |
| taught me some of his techniques more than 15 | | | | My mentor would also say that trophy trout didn't |
| years ago, and they work great for catching | | | | move much, once they found a good place in the |
| trophy trout. This man (my mentor) had more | | | | river to feed. He explained that trophy trout were |
| trophy trout mounted than any human being that | | | | very intelligent. In order to become trophies, they |
| I've ever seen. And almost all of his trophies | | | | had been alive for quite a while and had more |
| (over 22 inches) were caught in rivers that no | | | | than likely been caught many times before. He |
| one could believe fish that size came out of. | | | | said that they became "smarter" by being caught |
| These were rivers that got a lot of fishing | | | | and released, which I tend to agree is true. This is |
| pressure and trout fourteen inches and under | | | | one of the reasons gang hooks are so important. |
| were considered "normal". But my mentor caught | | | | So he would tell me that once they found a |
| trophy trout out of these rivers and did so | | | | suitable feeding area, they would stick around it. |
| consistently. | | | | So if you find a good area, don't be afraid to fish |
| He always used small gear to catch these trophy | | | | it consistently and hard. Trophies aren't easily |
| trout. Ultra light rods and reels spooled with 4 lb. | | | | fooled; you have to work at it, he would say. And |
| test monofilament line. If you've never used ultra | | | | that's just what he did. Once he located a good |
| light gear, you'd be amazed at the size of fish | | | | area, he would fish it until he caught a nice trout. |
| that can be caught using this type of gear. My | | | | My mentor also placed a lot of importance on |
| mentor got me hooked on ultra light gear, and it's | | | | checking your knots and line consistently. You see, |
| all I use for catching trout and trophy trout. Using | | | | you never know when a trophy trout's going to |
| this lighter gear makes you a better angler, | | | | strike, and you always need to be ready. Trophy |
| because you learn things such as playing your | | | | trout put a lot of pressure on ultalight line and |
| catch. I've noticed that many Bass anglers don't | | | | gear, and frays and miss-tied knots can easily |
| follow this line of logic and enjoy 'winching' their | | | | lead to lost hook ups and lost fish. So pay |
| catch in with heavy gear. The point is that my | | | | attention to the condition of your line and knots, |
| mentor used nothing but ultra light gear to catch | | | | you'll be glad you did. |
| all of his trophy trout. | | | | Begin following the tips and advice in this article |
| Another thing he taught me about trophy trout is | | | | and you'll be well on your way to catching trophy |
| that they insist on live bait looking "natural". For | | | | trout. Catching trophy trout is rivers where people |
| example a worm should look like a worm. If you | | | | don't expect then is a ton of fun. The bottom line |
| throw a worm into the water, what does it look | | | | is to keep after it and gain experience on every |
| like? That's what it should look like when you're | | | | fishing trip. Practice is the key to catching trophy |
| using it to catch a fish then, he would say. So he | | | | trout. The more time that you spend standing in |
| came up with gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply | | | | the water fishing, the more you'll learn and the |
| two small hooks tied in tandem, and present a | | | | better angler you will become. |