Inside the Outdoors

Northcentral Pennsylvania is blessed with many miles of small mountain streams harboring populations of wild trout. June is the best time of year to pursue them.

Water levels are often still at decent flow levels and temperatures in these heavily forested streams are optimal for trout.

Not many anglers take advantage of our numerous wild trout streams, and perhaps that is not a bad thing. Many of these small wild trout fisheries cannot withstand heavy fishing pressure.

Wild trout fishing has two large challenges. Due to tree cover and trout holding in small pools, it requires unconventional, accurate casting. Additionally, the extra wariness of wild trout requires a stealthy approach.

Some fisherman like to use trees or other obstructions to block them from the sight of the trout. I like to fish upstream. Trout are usually facing into the current. By approaching a pool from downstream, you will be just out of their field of view.

Of course, due to logjams or other special features, some holes must be fished from the side or from the top.

Using live bait is certainly one of the most effective ways to take wild trout. You cannot go wrong with the good old earthworm. Just remember, smaller is better. Small worms or inch long pieces of nightcrawlers work best. I have also had very good success with slugs as bait, as well as small salamanders and crayfish.

It is best when fishing bait to use just enough weight to allow you to cast a sufficient distance, but not so much that you get hung up on the bottom. The lighter the line, the farther you will be able to cast. Four-pound test line works best.

Although I fish mostly for wild trout with bait, on my best outings I have used small spinners. For me, spinners do offer some advantages over bait.

First, I can fish holes much more efficiently and cover the water more quickly. In most pools, two or three casts will allow me to present the spinner to most of the holding spots. If nothing strikes or follows, it is time to move on.

I can also cast from a farther distance, allowing for less of a chance to spook the trout by approaching too close.

There are some disadvantages to fishing spinners. If you miss a trout, generally he will not strike again. And there are some holes that just cannot be fished well by spinners; there just is not room to reel in a spinner and have it spin. Also, I tend to experience more mortality fishing spinners than I do when fishing bait.

If you are really up for a challenge, try fly-fishing for trout on our small wooded trout streams. I have had success with both wet and dry flies. Roll casts are often necessary due to tree limbs. Sometimes it's best to fish from the top of the pool and let the current take your fly down into the pool. Often, sidearm casts are necessary.

Wild trout are opportunistic feeders, so using the right fly to match the hatch is not as important on our small mountain streams. General fly patterns such as adams or light cahill that match numerous different mayflies are the best choice.

Please remember that healthy wild trout fisheries require that ample numbers of breeding size fish be left in the stream. Although it won't hurt to keep a couple trout once in a while, generally catch and release should be practiced.

Prevent trout from swallowing the bait by setting the hook soon after you feel a bite. Handle each trout with care by keeping it in the water while unhooking it and wetting your hands before handling.

Although the trout may not be as large as hatchery trout, they are much more colorful and every bit as fun to catch. Additionally, there is something satisfying about catching stream-raised trout in a natural setting away from the crowds.