Anyone who enjoys trout fishing knows that one of the keys to success is their bait. In this article I'm going to discuss trout fishing bait, and some tips that can help any trout angler catch more trout. A man I've always considered to be a 'trout fishing master' taught these tips to me more than 25 years ago. This man was able to catch trophy trout out of rivers and streams that other anglers didn't believe trout of that size lived in. The bottom line is that these tips are effective, and will help any angler catch more trout. The first thing to keep in mind is that when we refer to trout fishing bait, we're referring mainly to one of two things. Either live bait or synthetic bait. Live bait is my personal favorite, with synthetic bait coming in a distant second place. The point is that they can both be quite effective, when fished in the proper manners. When we refer to live bait we mainly mean live worms, grubs, minnows, and/or insects. Synthetic bait would include any trout bait in a jar or any sort of 'extruded' material. When fishing with live bait it's important to keep in mind any scents that might be on your hands. You see, these scents will transfer to your bait, and if the trout detect an unnatural odor they are much less apt to bite. An unnatural scent could include leftover gasoline residue from filling up or the smell of smoke from a cigarette. The point is that any unnatural odors that might be on your hands should be removed before baiting up. A good practice is to grab a handful of grass or dirt and rub it into your hands before baiting up. This will help eliminate any unnatural odors that might be present. The next thing to keep in mind is how your trout fishing bait is carried. You need to have an efficient and effective way in which to carry your bait while fishing. This is where a bait bag comes into play. A bait bag is simply a small pouch that hangs from your fishing vest and holds your live bait (especially live worms) while you fish. This way your bait is always literally at your fingertips waiting to be used. With a bait bag, baiting up and re-baiting takes seconds, rather than minutes! How about when you fish? What I mean by this is, no matter what type of bait you choose to use, being on the water when the trout are the most active is extremely important. This is determined by understanding the weather and moon, and the roles these two forces of Mother Nature play in the activity level of trout. Learn about the weather & moon and you'll always be on the water when the trout are the most active. Lastly, when trout fishing with bait (either live or synthetic) gang hooks should be employed. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem that enable you to present live bait in a natural and effective manner, and twice as much synthetic bait. For the trout angler who uses trout fishing bait, gang hooks are a "must have" item. Begin employing one or all of these tips sooner, rather than later and you will begin enjoying much more trout fishing success.

Clearwater River

The flows are still well below normal but climbing, which could effect the fishing. The higher flows in the lower river have essentially shut down the steelhead fishing below Ledore, and will continue to slow fishing further downstream. With continuing cool weather the upper river will be the best area to fish, but in spite of better catch rates in the upper stretches into the North and South Forks or the river, the fishing hasn’t been what it was a week or two ago. Anglers have been doing the best up stream of Orofino into the North Fork, and from Kooskia on up the South Fork of the Clearwater. Even though a few more fish are being caught in the South Fork there are a lot more anglers so the catch rates really aren’t any better there than elsewhere along the Clearwater!

The flows are still well below normal, and the fishing continues to be fairly slow. Perhaps once the valley gets some rain the fish will come up, but then again maybe not!

Lower Salmon River

The flows here have been up then down and are now headed back up, sort of like the fishing! The fishing this past week has actually been better below the confluence of the Little Salmon to Whitebird Creek, and the catch rates have went down in the upper Salmon River until you get past the Middle Fork. If you go, try drifting bait like roe or shrimp or backtrolling metallic colored plugs.

The flows continue to fluctuate so the fishing is only so-so. You catch one now and then, and then you move up the bank and maybe catch another one, maybe! If you go, try using small pieces of shrimp tipped on a small black and white or orange jig with a short leader under a bobber, or by boat try backtrolling plugs trailed with a corky and a sand shrimp.

Clearwater River

The flows have steadily climbed to near normal and they're still increasing, which has improved fishing, but if the higher flows continue it could slow fishing back down. With a projected warming trend on the way the river could “blow out,” so keep a close eye on the flows and the water clarity, it will make all the difference whether the fishing will continue to improve or head south! Anglers are catching fair numbers of fish between Lewiston and Orofino; up stream of Orofino near Kooskia, and on up into the South Fork of the Clearwater. The downside to having so much snow in the mountains is it may come down the too fast, wiping out a good steelhead run! So now may be the best time to go steelhead fishing rather than wait for the usual spring run in March and April!

There are still not many fish being caught on the Little Salmon!

Lower Salmon River

The river flows are just now climbing past normal and it’s still fairly clear, but keep a close watch on the flows, which could continue to increase with warmer weather. There is the potential for the river to blow out, but if it doesn't the fishing should continue to improve. In fact the past week or so the fishing has steadily gotten better and anglers were starting to catch more fish up and down the river. If you go, try drifting bait like roe or shrimp.

The flow variations have been a little more sporadic lately but there has been a few more fish caught, especially below the dam! If you go, try using small pieces of shrimp tipped on a small black and white or orange jig under a bobber, or by boat try backtrolling plugs trailed with a corky and a sand shrimp.

Clearwater River

Cold temperatures don't necessarily mean the fishing has cooled off but it's not red hot either! Steelhead fishing between the mouth upstream to Orofino has remained fair in spite of our latest cold snap, but you have to change you fishing tactics to catch fish. When it's cold like this the most successful anglers are using some type of bait, like sand shrimp, small red cured shrimp, or roe to catch fish. Fly fishermen aren't catching many fish at all and likely won't until spring.

Just as I suspected, more water flows brought in more fish and anglers have been catching a few more fish! The steelhead fishing along the Little Salmon may not be too great, but it's better than it has been all season so hopefully there will be a few more fish caught here before winter really sets in! Most fishermen here are drift bait, either row or shrimp.

Lower Salmon River

The flows have dropped back down to just above normal. Anglers are still catching a few fish up the river, but there have been a lot more fishermen than fish to count! Drifting bait has been the most successful, but some anglers are tossing spinners, and pulling plugs to catch fish.

Cold weather continues to keep the crowds down and even though the river is still fairly clear of ice the fishing has been slow. The best fishing has been between the North Fork and Middle Fork, but it's probably not worth the gas to check it out! Most anglers here have been drift fishing with Corkies and a piece of worm and shrimp, or bobber fishing with a small jig and a piece of shrimp. Fly fishing for steelhead is pretty much done until spring. If you go, please watch out for scattered rocks and a lot of deer along this narrow river road, especially at night!

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