As trout anglers we're always looking for effective strategies to help us be more successful, right? Well we most certainly should be. As a matter of fact there is no better "strategy" than spending time on the water practicing our craft. Our loved ones might not like to hear this, but the truth is that whatever strategy we choose to employ, spending time practicing it is of the utmost importance.

In this article, trout fishing - effective strategies for any angler, I'm going to provide you with some simple tips and techniques that will make you a much better trout fisherman. But, just like I said in the opening paragraph, if you don't spend time on the water fishing, it's all for not. Remember what Steven Wright said of us anglers, "There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot." Practice will help you avoid the latter part of that quote.

The first "strategy" I want to discuss is you, the angler. When trout fishing, it's important that you pay attention to yourself. When I say yourself, I'm referring specifically to your shadow and your hands. Trout are a very "spooky" fish, and in many cases we are wading when fishing for them. This means that we need to pay attention to where our shadow is being cast. If you cast your shadow on the area of the river that you're fishing you will spook the trout, and thus get many fewer bites. This is especially true with larger, more experienced trout.

The next thing to pay attention to in regards to "yourself" are your hands, or more specifically any scents that may be on your hands. Any unnatural odors on your hands will be transferred to your bait or lure. This will cost you bites as well. Trout have a very sensitive sense of smell, and if they detect unnatural scents, they are much less apt to bite. The way to solve this problem is to take a handful of grass or dirt before baiting up and rub it into your hands. This will eliminate any unnatural scents that might be present.

The next strategy is to always make sure that you're on the water when the trout are the most active. How do you know when the trout are the most active? You can determine when the trout will be the most active by paying attention to the weather and/or moon. This is a very effective trout fishing strategy. The weather and moon have an incredible impact on the behavior of not only trout, but all fish. Learn this simple information and start using it to your advantage.

When it comes to trout fishing strategies, one of the best is the use of gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enable you to present bait (especially worms) in a completely natural manner. Natural presentation can make all the difference, especially in the case of larger, more experienced trout. Start using gang hooks and you will start catching more trout, it's as simple as that.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country... Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp