North American Outdoorsman
    What's Hot

    Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

    September 26, 2023

    Some ‘Roosies’ for the Ladies

    August 23, 2023

    Year-Round Maine Outdoorswoman: Jesika Lucarelli, Great Mountain Guide Service

    August 23, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    North American OutdoorsmanNorth American Outdoorsman
    • Current Issue
    • Publications
      • North American Outdoorsman
      • North American Deer Hunter
      • North American Bowhunter
      • Crossbow Magazine
    • Authors
    • Partners
    • Newsletter
    Facebook Instagram YouTube
    SUBSCRIBE
    • Hunting
      1. Whitetail
      2. Bowhunting
      3. Big Game
      4. Stories
      5. How to Hunt
      6. Podcasts
      7. View All

      15 Best Late-Season Deer Food Plots

      February 13, 2023

      Offseason Wintertime Whitetail Prep

      December 30, 2022

      Process your own deer

      October 21, 2022

      Spot-and-Stalk Whitetail Hunt with my Dad

      October 14, 2022

      2023 SHOT Show Hunting Gear

      January 17, 2023

      Process your own deer

      October 21, 2022

      Hunting Woodland Caribou: A Newfound Passion

      August 7, 2022

      Bow Birds

      April 1, 2022

      Getting High on Alberta Bighorn Sheep

      August 23, 2023

      Playing the Wind: The Adventures of Abby and Shaundi         

      August 23, 2023

      The Complete Hunter

      August 23, 2023

      Aim Big, Hit Small

      June 21, 2023

      Playing the Wind: The Adventures of Abby and Shaundi         

      August 23, 2023

      Mom’s First Moose: A Family Hunting Adventure

      August 23, 2023

      Where Memories Are Made

      June 3, 2023

      A Boy’s First Goose

      May 12, 2023

      Find a Mentor and Dive Right In

      August 23, 2023

      Traveling With Your Gun Dog

      August 20, 2023

      21 Rookie Coyote Hunting Mistakes to Avoid

      April 9, 2023

      Where to Shoot a Black Bear

      April 8, 2023

      Campfire Stories Podcast | Ep 188 with Montey DeBoer of Hornady

      July 10, 2023

      Some ‘Roosies’ for the Ladies

      August 23, 2023

      Year-Round Maine Outdoorswoman: Jesika Lucarelli, Great Mountain Guide Service

      August 23, 2023

      Getting High on Alberta Bighorn Sheep

      August 23, 2023

      Playing the Wind: The Adventures of Abby and Shaundi         

      August 23, 2023
    • Fishing
      1. All Fishing
      2. Fly Fishing
      3. How to Fish
      4. View All

      Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

      September 26, 2023

      Fishing for Dinosaurs: Our Chase for White Sturgeon

      August 13, 2023

      How to Find Summer Steelhead

      June 22, 2023

      Targeting Walleye Throughout the Open-Water Season

      June 20, 2023

      Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

      September 26, 2023

      How to Pick a Fly Box

      March 3, 2023

      Essential Equipment for Fly Fisherman

      December 20, 2022

      Fly Fishing: Backing, Leaders And Tippets – All You Need to Know

      August 9, 2022

      Lake Texoma: Queen of Inland Striper Fisheries

      March 6, 2023

      How to Pick a Fly Box

      March 3, 2023

      How to Make Winter Walleye Bite

      February 15, 2023

      Hooked! My Love of Ice Fishing for Lake Trout

      February 2, 2023

      Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

      September 26, 2023

      Fishing for Dinosaurs: Our Chase for White Sturgeon

      August 13, 2023

      How to Find Summer Steelhead

      June 22, 2023

      Targeting Walleye Throughout the Open-Water Season

      June 20, 2023
    • Gear
      1. Gear Reviews
      2. New Outdoor Gear
      3. View All

      Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

      September 26, 2023

      The Best Hunting Boots for Men and Women

      August 22, 2023

      Our Rundown of The Best Guns For Women

      August 13, 2023

      Sightmark Wraith Mini 2 Thermal Riflescope

      July 14, 2023

      The Best Hunting Boots for Men and Women

      August 22, 2023

      Garmin’s New Lineup of Outdoor Navigation Devices

      March 15, 2023

      2023 SHOT Show Hunting Gear

      January 17, 2023

      TRUE KNIVES SWIFT EDGE HUNT PROCESSING KIT

      December 27, 2022

      Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

      September 26, 2023

      The Best Hunting Boots for Men and Women

      August 22, 2023

      Our Rundown of The Best Guns For Women

      August 13, 2023

      Armed and Responsible: Gun Myths Regarding Women

      August 13, 2023
    • Field to Table
      1. #eatwhatyoukill
      2. Recipes
      3. View All

      Venison Tacos on a Pellet Grill

      February 21, 2023

      Goose Recipes: Bacon Benedict with Duck Fat Hollandaise

      February 3, 2023

      Fish Stock – Jeff Benda

      May 26, 2022

      Salisbury Steak – Ky Loop

      May 24, 2022

      Snow Goose Ravioli

      August 13, 2023

      Snow Goose Lasagna

      June 18, 2023

      Goose Recipe: Szechuan Style

      April 16, 2023

      Wild Game Jambalaya Recipe

      April 6, 2023

      Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

      September 26, 2023

      Some ‘Roosies’ for the Ladies

      August 23, 2023

      Year-Round Maine Outdoorswoman: Jesika Lucarelli, Great Mountain Guide Service

      August 23, 2023

      Getting High on Alberta Bighorn Sheep

      August 23, 2023
    • News
      1. Conservation
      2. Editorial
      3. Press Releases
      4. View All

      The NWTF & USDA Sign $50M Agreement to Fight Wildfire Crisis

      October 28, 2022

      Help the Yelp

      March 25, 2022

      Conservation Hunts For Spring Snow Geese

      February 6, 2022

      Tools and Equipment For Whitetail Habitat Management

      February 3, 2022

      Hooyman Joins Best Outdoor Discounts

      December 6, 2022

      Newly Approved IGFA World Records

      April 19, 2022

      USCCA Congratulates Georgia Governor for Signing Constitutional Carry Bill

      April 15, 2022

      The RCMP’s Secret Long-Gun Registry

      January 31, 2022

      2023 SHOT Show Hunting Gear

      January 17, 2023

      Hooyman Joins Best Outdoor Discounts

      December 6, 2022

      Exclusive Women’s Issue

      October 4, 2022

      Kimber Releases New 1911 RAPIDE, R7 Mako, and Limited-Edition Micro 9

      August 19, 2022

      Armed and Responsible: Sweetheart Grips, Significant Others and Self-Defense

      February 19, 2023

      2023 SHOT Show Hunting Gear

      January 17, 2023

      Hooyman Joins Best Outdoor Discounts

      December 6, 2022

      The NWTF & USDA Sign $50M Agreement to Fight Wildfire Crisis

      October 28, 2022
    • Book a Trip
      • Hunting Trips
      • Fishing Trips
    • Login
    North American Outdoorsman
    Home » All Articles » Spot-And-Stalk Tactics For Hunting Tricky Trout
    How to Fish

    Spot-And-Stalk Tactics For Hunting Tricky Trout

    Gord NuttallBy Gord NuttallAugust 5, 20229 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram Tumblr Email
    trout
    Brown trout spawn in the fall, giving anglers the chance to hunt for the large males like this one.
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    There’s a rise at the corner! There’s another one, and another! The hunt was on!

    Progressing slowly with utmost stealth, I finally made it within range of my prey. I focused, took a deep breath, and made my cast. Almost immediately, an explosive splash replaced the fly that I was so intently observing. A gentle lift on my fishing rod and the fish was hooked—as was I.

    Spot-and-stalk (a hunting technique) fishing is so addicting! After veteran fly fishing guide Bruce Tilbrook introduced me to the technique a few years ago, I was bound and determined to get out every summer to fish for these tricky trout.

    author
    The author grew up fishing from canoes and boats mostly in lakes. He had no idea stalking trout would be so fun and precise.

    During my youth, hunting was always a fall activity. It never occurred to me that fishing for brown trout could be like hunting game, with only one chance to hook them. For most of my youth, I usually fished in lakes from a boat, as opposed to slowly making my way upriver in a predator-like manner.

    Be that as it may, I did not know what I was missing. Spot-and-stalk fishing for elusive trout is hands-down the most exciting fishing going. That’s because it combines the visual aspects of first, spotting fish, and then proceeding to hunt them down. It takes the blindness out of fishing. Using dry flies with this technique, the visual appeal now doubles because you have a floating fly to watch as it drifts downstream into the fish’s feeding line.

    The basic sequence of spot-and-stalk fishing consists of the following steps: first you spot a feeding fish, then, stalk within casting distance, and cast and present an irresistible meal in order to hook and land the fish on the first try. Repeat those steps until you run out of fish, energy, river or daylight.

    brown-trout
    Brown trout are not in a hurry, nor should you be, in order to present the best possible meal for them. This makes the tactic ideal to teach kids.

    Spotting

    Spotting begins before you even wet a line. The angler should watch from a distance, preferably high on the riverbank. Anglers can watch for feeding fish for a period of at least ten minutes. Feeding fish can easily be spotted because of the rings of water they produce after eating an insect meal near or at the water’s surface. This evidence of a hungry fish is known as a rise, and it may also include a splash.

    Once you’ve spotted a fish, do whatever it takes to avoid being seen by the fish. Always stay downstream of the fish because they face upstream looking for food. Then, work your way slowly upstream towards the fish. If a fish spots you, it will stop feeding and seek cover. You will then either have to move on or wait until the fish feels safe enough to begin feeding again. When a never- ending food supply is available (like a hatch), feeding constantly occurs. Since fish are opportunistic (and also lazy), sticking with a nervous fish during a hectic hatch is usually worth the wait. On the contrary, in situations where fewer flies are available to eat, a fish will not return to feeding as quickly. The best bet, in this case, is to move on to another opportunity.

    stalking
    Always stalk the fish from behind as they are facing upstream, watching for food to float by.

    If the rise includes a bubble, it means the fish’s mouth broke the surface to eat an insect on the water surface. A bubble-free rise will be caused by the fish’s tail breaking the surface of the water on the way back down after inhaling an emerging fly (an insect heading to the surface from the river bottom). Either way, the fish will be positioned roughly one meter upstream of the rise.

    In addition to locating the fish, determining what insects the fish is currently eating is equally important. The first clue to this is the rise type just mentioned above. The remaining missing information can be collected by inspecting live specimens from the stream surface or underneath rocks (depending on the type of rise). You’ll want to tie a fly onto your leader that matches the color and the size of the specimens, because fish key off those two properties first. It does not have to be an exact replica, but the closer the imitation resembles the specimens, the better chance you’ll have to catch the fish. At this point, you know where the fish is feeding and you also know what it’s swallowing. Now, it’s time to slip into casting range.

    trout
    Although possible, it’s unlikely to spot the actual trout, but you’ll see the rings produced when one is feeding on the surface.

    Stalking

    Before embarking on your stalk, make some specific observations of these elements: water depth, current strength and path, casting room, bank overgrowth and places to enter the stream safely.

    First, you must choose a spot to cast from, and then get there without disturbing the fish. Even though fish cannot hear, they sense vibrations caused by footsteps. That’s why stalking fish must be done slowly, carefully, and with light feet. It is still important to remain invisible by constantly using the surrounding natural elements to conceal yourself and blend in. In the case where you approach from along the top of the river bank, avoid skylining yourself by crouching down and using the vegetation as cover.

    Another technique is to wade into the stream. From there, you can either cling to the river bank or keep your body close to the water surface as you navigate upstream. It is virtually impossible for fish to see anything distant and near the surface, because of their shallow viewing angle, but be cautious of deeper holding pools. The deeper the fish, the larger the viewing range it will have.

    Fish have no reason to stop feeding on an insect hatch unless they feel threatened or full. Fish are patient, so keeping out of sight and slowly closing the distance means you’ll only have the presentation of the fly that remain to use to fool the fish.

    I can report that the excitement and anticipation builds with each step you take toward your prey. Adrenaline builds as you approach the striking distance. While you may not need a large number of casts, placement and delicateness are of extreme importance in terms of presentation.

    casting casting
    Presentation of the fly is everything. You must not let brown trout see you or your line.

    Casting

    Plan to target your cast about two meters upstream of the rise. Gently land the fly on the water and let it drift towards the fish just like natural insects do. The fish will usually decide quickly and without hesitation to inhale it. If your fly is rejected by the fish and active feeding continues on biologicals, try switching the fly or use a smaller diameter leader. As long as the fish remains active (rising and feeding), you still have a chance to make the catch. But, if the fish’s activity ceases, you may have spooked it.

    Another great attraction in hunting elusive fish like these tricky trout is that casting for long distances is not required. Catching fish within three meters is entirely possible. Nevertheless, bad casts are still bad casts, whether they are long or short. They will frequently spook the fish.

    A good technique to calm your nerves and ensure you have the correct amount of line required is to false cast to another location in the stream away from the fish’s line of sight. This will help you increase your confidence, help you relax and calm your nerves, and ensure that you have ample back-casting room.

    fishing
    Brown trout live in habitats that makes it impossible to cast a dry fly into. The angler must accept that and move on in some cases.

    Expectations

    Water ring sizes do not have a direct correlation to the size of the fish and so can be deceiving. It’s unlikely for small fish to displace a large volume of water during a rise, however. While it’s impossible to accurately determine the size of the fish you are stalking, size doesn’t matter. Bigger fish are always welcome in the nets of anglers, but stalking small feisty fish is just as much fun as catching the larger trophies.

    It is not uncommon to stumble upon a stretch of water with half a dozen different size fish stacked up, all less than a meter apart, each feeding separately. Stalking and landing them all is the ultimate challenge and accomplishment. When you find a cluster of fish gorging on a hatch, usually the larger one is at the front of the school furthest upstream from you. Avoid casting to it first, as this will cause the other fish to scatter and spook the area. Your plan should be to catch each one in sequence and quickly release them with minimal disturbance.

    bruce
    Bruce Tilbrook introduced the author to this method to hunt and catch tricky brown trout, hooking him into a lifelong friendship.

    A typical ideal summer spot-and-stalk day will include overcast skies, transparent water clarity, an insect hatch of some sort and hopefully many rising fish. The best times to fish are usually afternoon to evening, but fish are opportunistic and will feed when food floats by them.

    Stalking and convincing a wild fish that your artificial fly is yummy enough to eat is absolutely thrilling. When you are waiting and watching for that known fish to strike your fly, your body fills up with anticipation and adrenaline. When the moment of truth arrives and you finally hook that fish you’ve been stalking, your accomplishment will leave a rewarding feeling of complete satisfaction. Your anticipation will be replaced with an ear-to-ear grin and a calming heart rate as you proceed to land and treasure your fish.

    The challenge and climax of the chase is what hunting tricky trout is all about. I cannot think of another hunt-like activity I’d rather do in the summer than fishing with my eyes and flies.

    brown-trout
    Although all ages and sizes of brown trout are tricky, the bigger ones are even more so.

    August 2022 trout fishing
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleAl’s Goldfish Fish Wrap Writer Special Edition Saltwater Goldfish
    Next Article Franchi Adds Left-Hand 20-Gauge to Affinity 3 Shotgun Line
    Avatar photo
    Gord Nuttall

    Gord Nuttall is an enthusiastic outdoorsmen and award-winning freelance writer that spends countless hours enjoying and promoting recreational activities outdoors. Led by his father, he wet many lines trolling for lake trout along the rugged shorelines of Lake Superior and developed a passion and love for the rugged outdoors early in his life. During the spring and summer months, he explores the diverse Alberta landscape with his wife, Heather and their two children, Noah and Makynna. As a family, they enjoy camping, SUPing, kayaking, fishing and lake life every summer. Spending nights sleeping under the stars in the backcountry fishing remote lakes or unpressured streams are his favorite getaways. Gord loves to bowhunt and has committed himself to harvesting multiple species in North America and documenting the adventures of my quest in a book.

    Related Posts

    Lake Texoma: Queen of Inland Striper Fisheries

    March 6, 2023

    How to Pick a Fly Box

    March 3, 2023

    How to Make Winter Walleye Bite

    February 15, 2023

    Hooked! My Love of Ice Fishing for Lake Trout

    February 2, 2023

    Using a Vexilar Flasher Ice Fishing

    December 7, 2022

    Kimber Releases New 1911 RAPIDE, R7 Mako, and Limited-Edition Micro 9

    August 19, 2022
    Don't Miss
    Fishing

    Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests

    September 26, 2023By Zach Raynsford13 Mins Read

    Owning a fly vest is a personal choice. You don’t really have to have one to fly-fish. You can still go fly-fishing with a rod, reel, line and a few flies and in truth that is all you really need. As we mature into the sport though we tend to collect “stuff”. This “stuff” consists of everything from lengths of once-used monofilament leader and torn up old flies on still-good hooks, to extra spools of specialty fly lines that we only actually use once a decade but still insist on carrying with us at all times. Packing all this paraphernalia around in the pockets of our fishing jacket just doesn’t work after a while and that’s when we finally decide that we should invest in a fly vest; after all, what good is all this great stuff if we can’t find what we need when we need it?

    Some ‘Roosies’ for the Ladies

    August 23, 2023

    Year-Round Maine Outdoorswoman: Jesika Lucarelli, Great Mountain Guide Service

    August 23, 2023

    Getting High on Alberta Bighorn Sheep

    August 23, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Be the first to know about new issues, premium industry gear discounts, access to exclusive content, & more!

    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    about
    NAO is the window into the outside environment for readers pursuing their passions in hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing/kayaking, rock climbing, and all pursuits in the outdoors on the North American continent. We will present stories, tips and techniques to be a better outdoorsman, and be completely at home in the outdoor environment for a day, week, or a lifetime.
    Recent Articles
    • Our Picks: Best Fly Fishing Vests
    • Some ‘Roosies’ for the Ladies
    • Year-Round Maine Outdoorswoman: Jesika Lucarelli, Great Mountain Guide Service
    • Getting High on Alberta Bighorn Sheep
    • Playing the Wind: The Adventures of Abby and Shaundi         
    Quick Links
    • Current Issue
    • Authors
    • Partners
    • Advertise With Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    Useful Tools
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Save On Gear
    • Hunting Resources
    • Where to Hunt
    • Where to Shoot
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    © 2023 Outdoor Specialty Media. Designed by Crossroads Marketing.
    • North American Outdoorsman
    • North American Deer Hunter
    • North American Bowhunter
    • Crossbow Magazine

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.