Bottom tackle for trout: rigs for still water and currents

When to catch trout

The degree of fish activity depends on the temperature of the aquatic environment. Trout, unlike most representatives of reservoirs, it comes to life in chilled water. Therefore, you need to fish in the fall, when the reservoir begins to cool and the fish begin to eat before the winter lull.

Every fisherman's desired catch

From the first days of October until the first ice appeared, an intense trout bite was noted. In winter, hunting will not be promising, since the fish are in mating season and do not feed; they save energy by burying themselves in holes at the bottom. But, if you know where the flock is staying, you can try your luck from the ice. The predator also becomes active in early spring, when the ice melts until the water temperature exceeds 15 degrees.

In muddy water, spinning rods and float equipment are used mainly. In summer, trout hunting is carried out near cold springs and shaded shores of the reservoir. In this case, bites will be rare and increase only in case of cold weather.

In what places is it caught?

In their natural habitat, trout fishing is carried out on streams with a current, no more than one and a half meters deep, and lakes. Such reservoirs have a hard bottom with level differences, covered with stones or pebbles - ideal conditions for using bottom gear.

These representatives of salmon fish mainly live where rapids, ruts, fast streams and riffles border on standing water. In such places there is a lot of food for predators. They rarely swim into dense vegetation; they prefer open water areas, where it is easier to navigate in space.

Fishing for Trout in the river on a donk

There are many artificial paid ponds in which trout are bred. With standing water, no more than 3-3.5 meters deep. Bottom drops and snags serve as a refuge for fish and a place to hunt for food. Reeds along the perimeter create shading, and fish constantly cruise nearby in search of small animals.

Tackle for trout fishing with spinning rod

Spinning is a very popular trout fishing tackle and this is not surprising. Trout fishing with a spinning rod is not only very interesting, but also quite effective. With the right bait, trout bites follow one after another, and if you also correctly adjusted the tackle itself, then fishing will be very easy and relaxed.

Experienced fishermen and lovers of trout fishing have long ago selected suitable gear and probably have in their arsenal several very good fishing rods and accessories for them. But they did not come to this right away. Some learned from their mistakes, others selected their gear based on the recommendations of well-known people. But not everyone has the financial ability to make mistakes in choosing a fishing rod. Most fishermen want to get one rod and use it always, because the prices for fishing gear can now hit the pockets of any fishing enthusiast. Therefore, we will try to choose a good universal rod for trout fishing and equipment for it without the right to miss. So that this rod gives you fishing pleasure for several years.

Rod. A rod for trout fishing is selected depending on the fishing conditions. A long rod will allow you to cast light baits further, and a short rod will help you avoid the inconvenience of casting from under trees and bushes. Choose a spinning rod within 2-3 meters in length, depending on the fishing conditions.

If you do not have a permanent place for trout fishing and you do not know what awaits you on the shore - free space or thickets, then it is better to choose a universal rod with a length of 2.4 meters. With such a spinning rod it is quite easy to cast from under vegetation and the bait can be sent far.

The optimal spinning rod test for trout fishing is 0-7 or 2-8 grams. When fishing for trout, lightweight baits are used, ranging from 1 gram to 7 grams. Lures heavier than 7 grams are used extremely sparingly. It is better to choose a fast rod for trout, but you must quickly learn how to fish for trout with such a spinning rod. The fact is that a fast-action rod is very convenient and effective only until the fish bites. As soon as the bite occurs, the fish begins to resist - the fishing line is quite fine, and the fast-action rod does not absorb jerks well.

Fast action spinning for trout fishing allows you to better feel the tackle. A quiet action will significantly reduce sensitivity, but will allow you to cast the bait further, launching it as if from a slingshot. But still, I would advise taking a fast formation or something close to it.

A very important characteristic of a spinning rod when fishing for trout is its sensitivity. In order for the sensitivity of your rod to be at a high level, you need to buy a rod that is not cheap. You don’t have to buy expensive spinning rods, but something around the average price would be ideal. The fact is that inexpensive spinning rods are cheap because they are made of poor quality and from cheap materials. All this will affect the sensitivity of the wand. When you can’t feel the wiring, the bait and the bite, you lose all the thrill of trout fishing.

Read How to catch perch on a diverting leash and assemble the rig

Fishing line. Another very important component of the tackle, which has a direct impact on the sensitivity of the entire tackle, is the fishing line. The less the line stretches, the better it conveys the vibrations of the bait and the bite of the fish. With a high-quality spinning rod and fishing line, you will be able to even feel the rotation of the petal of the reversing spoon when retrieving. Fishing with such gear is a pleasure. Choose a high-quality fishing line that has minimal stretch. And the best way to transmit vibrations is braided fishing line, which has virtually no stretch at all.

The diameter of the fishing line for trout fishing with a spinning rod must be selected in the range of 0.16-0.18 mm. If you use braided fishing line, you can grab thinner. With a smaller diameter, braid has greater strength and this must be taken into account when choosing the diameter.

Coil. The main requirement for the reel is that it must handle all the jerks of the fish instead of the rod, since we ended up using a fast action rod. Therefore, the reel must be equipped with a good, reliable clutch. And before fishing, you must remember to set it up so that when the trout jerks, the line will easily come off the reel, but at the same time allows you to bring the trout closer to the landing net.

It is best to choose a reel with a large gear ratio so that you can easily accelerate the retrieve, jerk the bait, and quickly reel in trout that have relaxed before the next jerk. It is optimal to take a reel with a gear ratio of about 5:1.

Fishing equipment

The main thing in trout equipment is invisibility. Therefore, for fishing they use monofilament of minimal diameter, fluorocarbon leaders and tiny hooks. In reservoirs with heavy siltation, you can use more powerful gear.

If you plan to fish in strong currents, use braided line for the base line. Although it is visible in the water, but with a small thickness it has high strength and is not carried away by streams. A heavy weight is also installed.

Donkey fishing

Several options for equipment are worth considering in more detail. They can be used for trout hunting in different bodies of water.

Bottom equipment for standing water

The design of this trout rig includes a main line passing through a sliding weight (streamlined shape: bullets, drops, olives, cylinder), a small bead and attached to a swivel or carabiner. The bead is designed to break the knot with a load when casting. It is possible without it, since small weights are used (from 13 to 27 grams).

A leash about 30 cm long or shorter (but not less than 15 cm) is attached to the swivel (carbine). At its end there is one hook with an elongated shank (it’s better to put worms on these). If the forend is shortened, then it is more convenient to catch corn grains or caviar.

Bottom tackle

Current rigging

If, during a current, you use equipment with a sliding sinker in the form of a cylinder, then it will be picked up by the flow of water and dragged along the bottom. As a result, the tackle clings to vegetation, snags, stones and other obstacles, which will lead to its rupture.

To prevent such a situation, you need to take flattened sliding weights or make equipment like a pattern maker. Otherwise, the installation of the donkey is the same as for standing water.

Donka for the current scheme

Accessories for floating nozzles

In such rigs, the sinkers will be the same as in the previous ones, only the leader is long (30-90 cm). Floating paste for trout, sold in specialty stores, will not work, since the hook with it rises up along with the weights. Therefore, balls are molded from the pasty mass and placed on a hook (preferably a triple hook). Then the chances of catching fish increase.

Worms - after attaching the hook, you need to pump air into them using a syringe. Thanks to this, the bait is located in the water layers and does not sink to the bottom.

Rigging diagram with floating nozzles in the presence of current
If there is no current in the reservoir, then the leash is needed shorter - up to 40 cm.

Bottom tackle with floating baits in still water

Tackle with rubber shock absorber

One of the most convenient to use is a donka with an elastic band. This part is for shock absorption when plunging and pulling equipment. A “model” is used, which ensures that the donkey returns to its original position. The advantages of such a donkey compared to a standard donkey:

• only one cast is required and preferably from a boat - the weight is immediately correctly placed on the bottom and remains there;
• other casts can be made from the shore without effort - bait the bait, lower the tackle and wait for a bite;
• allows you to fish for large specimens due to the shock-absorbing rubber band, which absorbs the resistance of the fish;
• you can use different tactics for playing with bait;
• allows the use of many hooks with different baits.

Location of the rubber bottom rig in the water column
Bottom equipment with an elastic band consists of the following elements:

• main scaffolding;
• leashes;
• hooks;
• rubber;
• nylon cord with a sinker;
• bite alarm;
• rope and float;
• reel.

Fishing time

The behavior of trout largely depends on the time of year and the corresponding weather conditions: where the predator actively pecked in the spring, it will be quite difficult to catch it in the summer. For this reason, it is necessary to take into account the seasonal behavior of fish when going fishing, otherwise even promising places at the wrong time may not yield results.

in spring

In many regions, trout fishing begins in March, but at the beginning of the spring season, this fish is practically inactive, remaining close to its wintering grounds, where it is worth looking for it. You should choose postings that are as slow as possible, since the fish, sluggish after winter, will not chase quickly leaving prey.

By mid-spring, trout become more active, but at this time some reservoirs experience high water, when flood waters lift soil from the bottom and banks, due to which the fish’s visibility decreases, and along with it the bite. The best time for fishing in the spring is the period when various insects included in the trout’s diet appear in sufficient quantities, and the mud raised by floods settles to the bottom.

In summer

This fish does not like when the water temperature rises above +20 degrees, so in the summer it tries to stay in the coolest places - the river fish goes into the riverbed, and the lake fish sinks into deeper water layers. However, in the morning and evening, trout try to go to coastal areas in search of food, which anglers can take advantage of.

It is important to consider that in summer the fish are quite active, which is why they are in constant motion, and finding them can be difficult. In the hot season, it is unlikely that you will be able to choose one successful point and fish on it all the time - this is a period of active and dynamic fishing, when you have to walk several kilometers per trip.. You can use both float rods and spinning rods

Fly fishing flies will be somewhat less effective, but they can also be used quite effectively during dawn and dusk hours. An important point is the sniper accuracy of casting, since the reaction of trout to multiple casts near it is almost always the same - it becomes alert and goes to another point

Read Catching roach on a feeder

You can use both float rods and spinning rods. Fly fishing flies will be somewhat less effective, but they can also be used quite effectively during dawn and dusk hours. An important point is the sniper accuracy of the cast, since the reaction of the trout to multiple casts near it is almost always the same - it becomes alert and goes to another point.

in autumn

During the fall season, trout become most active, actively hunting and gaining weight before spawning. During this period of time, she moves very actively around the reservoir and behaves aggressively. For this reason, in the fall you can use almost any bait to catch it - from classic worms to wobblers and flies, since trout are no longer picky when feeding.

It is important to take into account the fact that in many reservoirs, fishing is limited or prohibited during spawning. Also, at the end of autumn, near spawning grounds, it is recommended to fish from the shore without going into the water, so as not to accidentally damage the eggs.

Fishing with paste

Baits for trout are pastes (dough). They are presented in the fishing store. The most popular ones are garlicky, cheesy, with the taste of caviar or sherbet. In terms of color, red, yellow, colored, and orange are preferable. The option with glitter works well. There are 2 types of trout pastes:

1. Sinking - quickly sink down. Designed for deep fishing or used for fast fishing.
2. Floating - it takes longer to sink to the bottom. Suitable for leisurely fishing and fishing for fish living in the middle water layers or near the surface.

Regardless of the choice, the following components are included in the paste: highly concentrated protein, natural additives or flavors.

Store-bought paste for trout fishing

Paste fishing technique

Roll the finished paste (trout dough) into a ball 10 mm in diameter. They string it on a hook, hiding the sting inside the mass so that the fish does not notice anything. Now compact the paste with your fingers so that it does not fall off when casting and under the influence of the current. Now you can throw the tackle into the water.

To attract fish faster, you can use special pasta molds. The predator reacts better to them.

Methods of using the running paste depend on the time of year. This is not suitable for winter - you need experience and dexterity. In addition, when frozen, the composition loses its properties. Therefore, when fishing for trout in the cold, it is better to use strong-smelling baits with the addition of glitter to attract attention. You can fish for pasta in winter if the weather is warm.

It is difficult to find the location of the trout, since it is constantly moving in search of food. If you managed to catch a predator in one hole, you should move to another.

Which flavor to choose pasta with?

The most favorite trout pastes among fishermen are those with the following additives:

• garlic;
• cheese;
• fish;
• caviar.

Active winter tackle for trout fishing

Tackle for winter trout fishing is divided into two categories. The so-called “asset” and “liability”. The active tackle is constantly in the fisherman’s hand, with it he goes around promising holes.

Passive gear is placed by the fisherman in promising places, and the bite on them occurs without the participation of the fisherman. The bite is reported by special indicators that can be seen from afar.

I recommend having a separate fishing rod for each type of tackle. Fishing rods for winter fishing are not expensive, and do not take up much space, and wasting time on re-equipment often carries the risk of missing a fish bite.

Spoons and rattlins

I spoke in detail about fishing with spoons in a separate article. With a trolling rod you can not only fish with lures, but also use some other lures. Rattlins, or as they are also called, “vibes” because of the peculiarities of their game (from the English Vibration - vibration).

Silicone (“rubber”)

Equip the second fishing rod for catching trout in winter with silicone baits, or as fishermen say, “with rubber.” The fishing rod has the same design, but is equipped with a guard to control the bait. Bites on silicone baits are often delicate, and playing with the bait requires less active play, which is why it is equipped with a guard. To deliver silicone bait to depth, “jig heads” of various modifications weighing 1–5 grams are used. For winter trout fishing, they must be equipped with a good, sharp and durable hook.

If thick fishing lines are acceptable for trolling - 0.25-0.3 mm, then for fishing with silicone a thinner line is needed, 0.23-0.25 mm. A small jig head on such a line looks more natural, this has a beneficial effect on the fishing result. The line supply on the reel for fishing in ponds is enough for 10–15 meters.

Lures

Spinner spoons for trout as an auxiliary element when fishing on the bottom
To catch a lot of trout, you need to choose bait. You can buy ready-made formulations or make your own. Maggots are considered the most effective. Also, trout likes to eat:

• fry;
• larvae;
• earthworms;
• insects;
• trout or other fish meat;
• flies;
• wobblers.

Artificial baits are also used - spinners, no more than 90 mm long and up to 1 mm thick. It is important that the bait is constantly moving.

Trout baits for bottom tackle

Which equipment to choose

Equipment for trout fishing with paste can be very diverse, thanks to which many anglers can abandon expensive spinning rods, preferring a float rod, feeder or bombard. Despite this, any tackle must meet certain criteria. You need to be able to choose the right fishing line, hooks, reel, adjust the leash, etc.

Float rod

This type of tackle belongs to budget type fishing rods; there are no special requirements for it. But in order for lake or brook trout fishing to be successful, it is recommended to adhere to the following criteria when equipping a float rod:

• length of the form - not less than 3 and not more than 4 meters;
• line diameter - 0.2 mm;
• thread length - 50−100 meters;
• a leash 0.18 mm thick, which is attached to the end of the fishing line, its length should be about 50-60 cm;
• hooks numbered 10-14, depending on how large a trophy you want to get.

A float and a reel of any type are suitable for equipment . But it is advisable to use a floating type of paste .

Bottom tackle

This rod is especially popular among fishermen, because it allows you to fish in areas of the reservoir remote from the shore. Another advantage of bottom tackle is the opportunity to catch large fish that prefer to lie at the bottom of a lake or river. Modern donks are equipped with a feeder rod, which simplifies the fishing process. Equipment for trout fishing on a feeder should be as follows:

1. rod length - from 2.5 to 3.3 meters;
2. inertia-free coil;
3. quick-release weight;
4. fishing line, the thickness of which varies between 0.15−0.25 mm;
5. a leash made of thread 0.2 mm thick and about a meter long;
6. hooks from No. 8 to No. 12, depending on the size of the intended prey.

This fishing method involves the use of sinking type paste. For successful fishing, it is better to use nylon lines.

Bombard with float and sinker

An unusual rig that is rarely used by fishermen, but can be indispensable when it comes to trout fishing. To create it, a sinker and a float are used. It is best to use a weight made of brass or lead, this will allow you to throw the tackle as far as possible. The bombard itself should be transparent or translucent so that the fish cannot notice it in the water column.

The fishing technique is as unusual as the equipment itself. After a long cast you need to make a slow retrieve. While retrieving the fishing line, you should take short pauses so as not to spook the wary trout.

A little play with bait will be a big plus while fishing and will help increase the number of successful bites. The best bait for bombarda is floating paste.

Peculiarities of trout fishing with donkey on paid platforms

Trout caught on a paid platform using a donka rig.
On paid reservoirs, you should first find places where the predator gathers and fish for them. The priority will be special spinners. The bait is served from a promising point, from 5-7 meters. To do this, you need to lay it on the bottom. After this, the petal is cocked and a quick sweep is made along a certain trajectory.

When biting there is a sudden blow and movement towards the cord. The fisherman immediately makes a hook and begins to fish for the trophy, which is actively resisting. It is important to keep the line taut, while still having time to reel in the line and keep the fish on the hook. Having pulled it to the shore, they scoop it up with a landing net.

Making donkey for trout

Trout fishing involves some special features in the equipment configuration. The main component is the leash. Length 1 meter. You can choose any fishing line (excluding braided line) with a diameter of 0.15 mm. The weight is suitable from 40 to 50 grams, in the form of a circle or oval. You can also use any hooks, just sharp ones.

For fishing on the river, you need a rod no more than 2.5 meters long (for example, an ultralight spinning rod with a ten-gram casting). Long casts are easier to make with a 2.6 to 3 meter rod. Such models have a test rating of up to 20 g. An inertia-free volumetric coil is required.

Trout rigs must be floating. If the mass of the bait is large, you need to use foam balls or special plasticine. The design of the spinning rod must have increased strength, since when catching trout there may be sharp hooks.

Tackle for trout fishing with spinning rod

The most popular fishing option is spinning. It does not require serious fishing experience, is easy to assemble and transport, and is quite effective.

The choice of spinning rod is very individual, since the weight, length, and functionality characteristics depend directly on the budget and build of the fisherman.

Rod

• The length of the rod depends on the terrain and type of fishing.
• If this is the shore of a lake, where there are no special thickets, then tackle 2.4-3 meters in length is suitable.
• Any vegetation will have a negative effect on a long spinning rod, so it is better to know the area in advance.
• If this is not possible, choose the optimal length - 2.1-2.4 meters, which can perform optimally in both types of terrain.
• When fishing from a boat, the rod should be no longer than 2 meters, and optimally 1.8 meters.

Spinning test

The bait must be in the weight category of 7 g. Therefore, the spinning test is in this range, but does not exceed 10 g. These types of rods are called ultralight, that is, as light as possible. The system uses different types: fast and slow. They have their advantages and disadvantages.

If the action is fast:

• Control of the wiring process.
• High sensitivity.
• Inability to cast bait far.
• You need to have skill when landing fish.

If the action is slow:

• The bait is cast further.
• Suppresses all jerks of fish when fishing.
• Low sensitivity.

Let's celebrate! And yet it is recommended to take a fast system. In order for the fishing process to begin, you need to find the fish, which requires high sensitivity and control over the rod. If you spin slowly, you risk missing your catch.

fishing line

The line should be as thin as possible (0.12-0.18 mm) when casting a miniature bait far. It is preferable to purchase not a monofilament fishing line, but a braided one for sensitive bites.