Will trout bite in the rain?
The answer is yes! Natural forage like insects, small worms, and larvae will wash into creeks, rivers, and lakes, triggering trout to feed. The conditions related to rain such as cloud cover and lowering pressure are perfect for triggering large insect hatches which send trout into a frenzy. These conditions are also good for throwing bright lures that stand out well in lower light. Oxygenation also increases in rain as rain drops saturate more oxygen into the water causing trout to react with energy. Knowing how to read the weather, location, and lures is key to success. Here are some quick tips for trout fishing in the rain.
Use Weather Apps
If you’re a serious angler, you should use a weather app. This will allow you to select the best time to fish. Some advanced apps like Windy App can point you to areas of a lake that receive the most wind. You can also use these features to learn about barometric pressure (weight of air). Barometric pressure influences fish behavior greatly as it signals weather changes. These changes in pressure can trigger trout to feed. You can use a weather app to determine when cloud cover will occur and when to fish. Try fishing a few hours before clouds roll in as the pressure drop will affect the fish. This is a good rule of thumb.
Trout Fishing In The Rain: Target Low-Light
Trout become ultra-sensitive to their surroundings when the sun emerges and water is slick. They often refuse any lure / fly even as they sit completely in the middle of a stream. As dusk arrives, they become more aggressive and more likely to chase. This is true for areas affected by wildfire smoke when the skies are hazed and orange. Algae blooms also cause green cloudiness in the water and influence trout to kill. Use cloud cover to your advantage and target the darkest areas and times of day. Consider the amount of light you have during the day and evening. Factor in the cloud cover as it will diminish what light you have. Don’t hesitate to fish the blackness of night. This can often be a good time to fish as trout, like all predators, can hone in on distressed prey at night.
Match the Hatch
This goes without saying. But it’s worth repeating. Learn what the trout are feeding on and match it. This could be a grub, a nymph, a small fish etc. Rain will wash food into the water, especially in areas with steep terrain. If trout are top water, consider a fly or cricket presentation. When fishing spinning gear, you can use an insect presentation with a split shot to cast it out. The lure’s lightweight will fall slowly, simulating the slow fall of a morsel washed into their territory. Use a slip or bubble bobber to fish a wet fly in currents.
Trout Fishing In The Rain: Use Flash
Rooster Tails, Mepps, and Blue Fox Vibrax are good spinning lures for low-light conditions. Find areas that act as feeding stations like river tail-outs, main points, and drop-offs, and slow reel a spinner with a silver or gold blade. Use a black spinner with a silver blade if water clarity is low from mud. Trout will become increasingly aggressive in these conditions and chase what flashes quickly across their snout. The same spinners above can also be used to catch trout in streams. The lack of visibility also means you’ll be out of a trout’s line of sight. White-colored lures also pop out in murky water and low-light scenarios. Lures like The Original Floating Minnow or the Countdown Minnow in brown trout and rainbow patterns work well. Use pink and red also as these colors are natural attractants.
Check Out These Killer Trout Fishing Products
Awesome Spinner LuresÂ
- Bluefox Vibrax Bullet Spinner –Buy From FishUSA
- Mepps Agila Spinner – Buy From FishUSA
- Wardens Rooster Tail  – Buy From FishUSA
Trout Minnow LuresÂ
Those are beautiful fish. I’m anxious to learn more about trout fishing when we move to Arkansas by the White River. Have a great week!
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