Any discussion of trout fishing must include location, location, and location.
It is almost impossible to catch a fish where no fish live.
I say almost because I have seen my brother-in-law actually catch a fish where no fish could have lived.
And the sucker weighed five pounds to boot! But I digress.
As many bends, curves, horse shoe turns, hairpin curves and meandering rivers and streams as there are; will dictate just as many places where trout will hide while waiting to strike potential food.
Just a quick word about the feeding habits of trout; they are the ultimate opportunists.
Rivers and streams are some of the best locations to fish because the water is constantly moving which means the food sources are constantly being renewed.
In fact one can think of a river, creek or stream as a buffet where the trout can line up and wait for their meal to pass them by.
River or stream fishing for rainbow trout can be done in many parts of the United States.
In fact it may provide the best trout fishing in the entire country including Alaska.
As a rule, trout prefer clean clear water, such as that flowing out of various rivers in the northern parts of North America.
The notion that trout cannot be found in the West, Southwest or Southern parts of the country is simply not true.
One only has to find a river, creek, or stream where the water runs deep and swift to find temperatures that will suit the clever trout.
Any discussion of fishing must include location, location and location.
It is almost impossible to catch a fish where no fish live.
I say almost because I have seen my brother in law actually catch a fish where no fish could have lived.
And the sucker weighed five pounds to boot! But I digress.
While trout are not lazy they are stealthy.
Any bend where water slows down, any pool where smaller fish, crustaceans or bugs will congregate to rest; any rapids where white water turns into smooth flowing waters, especially where the depth of the body of water deepens can and often does hide a barracuda of a fresh water fish, the trout.
Overhanging trees or bushes that cast shade on the waters provide a great hiding place for trout waiting to gobble up a transient meal.
One of the most effective ways of catching rainbow trout while wade fishing is to use live worms.
Rainbows find worms difficult to resist in most situations.
I know, I know.
No self respecting purist of a fisherman is going to use let alone admit using worms to fish.
Any why? Worms, grasshoppers, crickets and a whole host of other insects were being used for bait long before anyone ever tied a safety pin onto a line and tossed it out in the water trying to attract dinner.
While I love fishing with lures and occasionally even flies I must admit here and now I am a proud worm fisherman.
Why proud? Because they catch fish you sillies.
So what are these techniques to catch rainbows in rivers? The biggest thing to learn is to present your offering in the most natural way possible.
Fly fishermen know all about presenting their offering in a natural manner, and so did my mentor.
He used gang hooks.
Gang hooks enable the angler to present a worm in a completely natural manner.
A live worm rigged on a set of pre-tied gang hooks doesn't look any different that a live worm with no hooks in it at all! This is an incredible advantage when fishing for a fish that is as intelligent as a large trout.
So, when fishing for rainbow trout in rivers, gang hooks are a definite alternative.
There are special techniques for using lures on bodies of moving waters.
Most of them are the same as using flies so one can be applied to the other interchangeably.
Casting across the current and allowing the bait to move downstream while retrieving it is a very effective method.
Using lighter lures so as to stay up off the bottom is good as it present the bait in a more natural manner and will eliminate the aggravation of tying on a new lure once you have lost the old one because it got swept into the rocks or roots of a tree..
The added side benefit of not losing expensive lures is a plus.
Stick baits can be used but must be kept in constant motion to attract the fish.
Always remember to try to move the presentation through areas where the fish are likely to be waiting for food to pass by.
As with any other method utilized to pursue the wily trout whether it be trout fishing bait, trout fishing flies or trout fishing lures, success is directly proportional to the amount of time invested.
So get out there often and with the idea you are going to have fun.
The fish will come.
They will come!