Choosing the Correct Fishing Rod For Spring Trout Fishing

Trout fishing in the spring of the year can be a challenge to say the least, especially where river fishing is concerned. In the spring rivers are running high and muddy from both spring rains and snow melt in the mountains. Water conditions that are higher than normal make trout fishing more difficult, and one thing that must be done is the use of a different fishing rod than is used during the rest of the trout season.

Many rookie trout fishermen make the mistake of using the same fishing rod in the spring that they use during normal water conditions and this is a big mistake. During the spring when rivers are high and/or muddy a longer fishing rod needs to be employed. A good “rule of thumb” is to use a fishing rod that is the same make and model that you normally use, just a longer version. Any quality manufacturer offers fishing rods of different lengths that are the exact same model and action.

When fishing for trout during normal water conditions a rod in the four to five and a half foot range is the norm. Well when fishing for trout during high water conditions a six to seven foot rod should be used instead. The reasons for this are two fold.

First, a longer rod provides you with more “feel” when the current is especially swift. In order to keep your trout bait or lure in the trout’s “strike zone” more weight will have to be added to your line (such as split shot sinkers in most cases) and a longer rod makes it much easier to “feel” your bait or lure with the added weight on your line. Being able to “feel” your bait or lure is of the utmost importance when fishing rivers in the spring.

Secondly a longer fishing rod provides you with more casting distance when using small trout fishing lures and rigs. Extra casting distance is an advantage when trout fishing in rivers that are running much higher than normal. After a long cast you can hold your rod tip much higher in the air with a longer fishing rod and thus “feel” your bait or lure as it flows with the heavy current. This is especially helpful to any trout angler who uses live bait when fishing in rivers during the spring of the year.

The bottom line is that choosing the correct fishing rod for trout fishing in the spring is fairly simple. A longer ultra light trout fishing rod in the same series that you normally use is the way to go. If you don’t know which brand of fishing rod is best for spring trout fishing some great examples would be the St Croix Triumph series and the Lamiglass G1214 seven foot rod. Either of these rods are excellent choices for trout fishing during the spring of the year.