Annonse
How to get a fish to bite
"There are plenty of opinions, lots of speculation, but very little actual research on sport fishing as a concept," says researcher.
Published
A wonderful day in the mountains. The fish bite eagerly. It almost makes you worry about emptying the small pond of trout.
Another equally beautiful day: You trek for hours through steep terrain to what seems like the perfect, secluded fishing spot - only to end up with nothing.
What determines whether trout will bite or not? Experienced anglers have their secrets and often good advice. But what answers can we find in research?
Little research on the topic
Vetle Skjold is a researcher at Nofima, where he studies what salmon and other salmon species eat. Outside of work, he’s an enthusiastic angler himself.
Annonse
"There are plenty of opinions, lots of speculation, but very little actual research on sport fishing as a concept," says Skjold.
Out of personal interest, he has tried to find research on the topic. But for now, we must rely on what we already know about trout feeding behaviour and habits.
That knowledge can at least give us some clues about when fishing conditions are good or bad, if nothing else.
Exposed to predators
Certain factors affect trout quite clearly. These are easy to predict, says Skjold.
Water temperature is one of them. When it's between 12 and 18 degrees, trout are at their hungriest. That doesn’t mean you can’t catch them in colder or warmer water, but those temperatures provide the best conditions.
"Another important factor is that trout are exposed to predators both in the air and on land," says Skjold.
They have adapted to this by being quite cautious.
"It's easy to spook the fish. If you make too much noise on your way down to the water, it might take off," he says.
Be extra careful
When the water is clear and still – and especially when the sun is shining – you need to be even more careful. Under those conditions, the fish can easily spot you.
You can still have good fishing days, but you’ll need to be nimble in your movements to avoid scaring the trout.
During the winter, trout are less active and conserve their energy, staying still and eating less.
But they will still feed if the opportunity presents itself – so long as it doesn't require too much effort. Research on trout at temperatures between two and six degrees has shown this, says Skjold. And many ice fishers have experienced the same.
Annonse
May face competition from nature
Spring is a prime time to go fishing, according to Skjold. The days get brighter, temperatures rise, and nature starts waking up. Insects begin hatching, and the fish that feed on them, like trout, get ready for a new season.
For anglers, the odds of getting a bite go up. Yet this brings us right back to the heart of the mystery. Sometimes the weather is perfect – not too hot, not too cold. A day just like one where you caught not one, but two or three big trout in the past. But now? Nothing. Not a nibble. What's going on?
If you try a new lake on a warm, pleasant day like that, things might be slightly different. The trout there might even be spoiled.
"It varies from lake to lake and from area to area," says Skjold.
Varies depending on what the fish have access to
He explains that trout are opportunistic feeders. Put simply, that means they eat a lot of different things. Skjold mentions other fish, bottom-dwelling creatures, and of course flies you’ve probably seen them snatching at the surface.
What trout can find to eat depends on the place. And that can make a difference when you try to tempt them with your bait.
"It can change depending on whether you're fishing in Hedmark or on the west coast. Trout are adaptable," says Skjold.
Sometimes they’re simply full. In certain lakes and during certain periods, food is plentiful.
You might encounter a full fish
"There are controlled studies on food intake showing that you can, in fact, fill up a fish. When that happens, it stops eating. In periods with good access to food, you might risk encountering a full fish," says Skjold.
Spring is generally a great fishing season, especially during the peak insect hatch. But sometimes there are so many insects that the trout are already content and well fed.
"At that point, they can be less willing to bite," confirms Skjold.
The hunt for big trout: A bit of a myth?
A good story often involves a big trout on the line.
Vetle Skjold strongly agrees that one large trout is worth more than several small ones. For most anglers, the trophy-sized trout is the ultimate dream.
It has a bit of a mythical reputation, but is it really true that it's harder to catch?
"Trout are territorial," says Skjold. "Large trout usually have prime spots."
Big trout defend the areas they live in. They chase off other fish, which means there tend to be fewer trout spread across the territory where the large ones stay.
"So the odds of catching a big one in a large area are lower. Smaller trout gather more closely together," explains Skjold.
He also believes that smaller trout are a bit bolder and more willing to take risks.
"They don't have big energy reserves and need to feed more often. As trout grow, their diet becomes more varied because they can eat a wider range of prey," he says.
Sunrise and sunset
Time of day can also matter.
Dawn and dusk are generally considered ideal, says Skjold.
Trout become more active as the sun rises and it starts to get lighter. But during sunrise and sunset, visibility isn’t perfect, meaning trout see less than they would midday. Predators see less too, so the fish may feel a little braver at these times, says Skjold.
When it's bright, calm, and clear, trout tend to stay deeper in the water. And when evening comes and it gets darker, they usually move farther out into the water.
The mystery is part of the charm
When fishing is exceptionally good, it’s easy to get a little superstitious, Skjold admits. You might feel like nature on your side. Or that it's mysteriously working against you.
"I’ve personally fished for trout using worms, watching the fish as I dropped the bait right in front of its face, yet it still refused to bite," he says.
In some rivers or lakes, conditions are simply so favourable that the fish can feed themselves well without our 'help.'
And it's still probably true that the old-timers have the best advice and the greatest fishing stories. That's part of the charm, Skjold thinks.
Yet even with the charm of the unknown, he hopes science will give answers to some of these mysteries in the future. He encourages anglers and others to support research however they can.
"Especially when it comes to understanding why trout will take the bait one day and ignore it the next. There might be some factors we just don't yet understand or haven't managed to account for," says Skjold.
———
Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik
Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no
Related content:
Subscribe to our newsletter
The latest news from Science Norway, sent twice a week and completely free.
