Trout Fishing

Trout is a general name given to numerous species of freshwater fish all belonging to the salmon family. In general, trout are characterized as having spineless fins, and as possessing a small, fatty fin along their backs near the tail. Most trout feed on invertebrates that share the same habitats, such as the stonefly, mayfly, caddis fly, or Diptera. But in some cases the larger trout species feed on smaller baitfish.

As a rule, trout can normally be found in streams and lakes, preferring cooler water. There are some exceptions to this, such as the steelhead and the rainbow trout. These species are anadromous, spending much of their adult life in the ocean, but returning to freshwater environments to spawn

Although trout are known as somewhat bony, they are considered to be an excellent food fish. It is recognized that fly fishing methods were originally developed with trout as a main focus. The popularity in trout fishing has allowed many new methods to surface. Trolling is one such method, a system in which a line set with numerous hooks is dragged through the water from a boat. Once the fish is caught, a gaff is used to bring the catch on board. This method gives the angler the advantage of mobility, and in turn makes accessible a number of different locations the trout may be in.

Rising popularity of trout fishing has given way to the trout farm. These farms raise trout in tanks or enclosures, and then later release the juvenile fish back into natural waters. Critics of the fish farm raise objections to the high levels of parasites and disease they claim are a result of farming. Further opposition is made to the release of disease-ridden species into wild fish stocks, thereby making uncultivated populations more vulnerable.