5 Summer Trout Fishing Tips for Beginners
By Debbie Hanson
Jul 21, 2021
List of summer trout fishing tips for beginners, including places to fish, what to look for, lures to use for summer trout fishing.
Trout can be a bit more finicky during the warm summer months, although figuring out where and how to catch them is part of the fun. Consider these five summer trout fishing tips for beginners if you’re just learning how to fish for trout.
1. Fish early or late
If you want to know when to fish for trout, go early in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler. Trout will always be more sluggish when summer water temperatures rise to peak levels around the middle of the day. When practicing catch and release, plan your summer trout fishing trips during the cooler hours of the day when fish are less likely to get stressed.
2. Go after it rains
One of the most important factors for successful summer fishing is rainfall. After a heavy rainfall is one of the best times to fish for trout because it raises water levels, darkens water color, and encourages big trout to feed.
3. Focus on deep holes
When planning a summer trout fishing trip, keep in mind that trout will head into deep holes in rivers and streams that are at the foot of rapids. They'll often lay behind an obstruction (such as a tree limb or rock) that's breaking the current. Look for these types of areas and work your lures or baits over these deep pockets.
4. Look for springs in lakes or ponds
Another one of the best summer trout fishing tips is to locate a spot near an underground spring. Springs bring cooler water and higher level of oxygen into mountain lakes and natural ponds, which means trout are usually found near these cool water upwellings.
5. Troll spoons or cast in-line spinners
Spoons and in-line spinners are two types of effective lures to use during the summer months. Smaller, lighter 1/4 to 1/8-ounce lures are best when it comes to enticing finicky trout into biting. If using natural baits, the best bait for trout is usually a third to a half of an earthworm. Most trout won’t want to expend the energy to consume large baits or lures this time of year.
Now that you know when and where to fish for trout during the summer, learn more about the trout fishing basics and get a few extra trout fishing tips. Find out how to catch trout year-around by using the right gear and techniques.
