Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 20
Bass Tactics for Trout
by Braden Eisenhower
photos by the author
Trout anglers often find tranquility in many of
Pennsylvania's flowing streams, where only the quarry rivals
the beauty of the backdrop. It is strange that this scenery
haunts most bass anglers.
To some, trout fishing is a foreign world of undersized
tackle, narrow waters, short casts, and discerning fish.
The behavior and whereabouts of warmwater gamefish-
how these fish cohabitate or establish predator-prey
relationships-that establish fishing techniques holds little
value when trout are the target.
I was this struggling angler, dismissive of trout but for
my own inadequacies. What propelled me forward was
removing trout from the equation and treating a trout
stream like a Smallmouth Bass river.
Location and strategy
All moving waters contain universal elements: riffles,
pools, runs, and cover. Furthermore, fish of all species
relate to these areas in similar fashion. This understanding
immediately established basic, yet predictable, fish-holding
20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2021
spots. For instance, active fish will position at the head of
the pool while less active fish assemble at its rear.
The trout's anatomy permits it to hold where a
Smallmouth Bass cannot hold. An example is a strong
current, but I would maintain that a trout can live most
anywhere it chooses.
While trout have more places to hide, most anglers
concentrate their efforts in obvious areas. Offbeat spots
receive less pressure and may hold willing biters. If one
considers all the places a trout may lie to feed or survive,
one can add overlooked areas to their typical routine.
On small streams, fish-attracting elements are
compressed. This allows anglers to explore each element
to determine where fish may be holding. From there,
they can try to duplicate their success in similar areas. In
essence, this is the practice of pattern fishing, a popular
bass fishing concept.
The proximity of spots also allows the angler to cover
lots of water. This is the fast approach of bass anglers. On
a Smallmouth Bass river, there is often large expanses
between each element. But, it is easy to wade or shore
fish several hundred yards of a trout stream, where these
universal elements repeat themselves several times over.
Tactics
Popular trout fishing styles and conservation efforts
have bestowed an undeserved fragility upon the trout.
www.fishandboat.com
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 12
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - 14
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2021 - Cover4
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