Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the simplistic setting of nature may appreciate ways to fish without needing all the specialty gear sold in stores. If you fall into this group, consider trout tickling. In this type of sport fishing, you wiggle your fingers to rub the underbelly of a trout. This causes the fish to relax into a trance-like state.
Does it sound like a myth? Many people think so, but others have been successfully using the method for years. In fact, the technique has a literary history as far back as 230 A.D. when Aelian, wrote “De Natura Animalium.”
If you want to try trout tickling, you need to locate a spot where trout tend to rest. You can often see these areas by walking along the banks of a stream. Once you find a spot, you have two ways you can tickle trout. The first is to lay down on your belly on the bank of the stream close to the hiding area. The second is to kneel in the water near the trout.
Both methods require slow movements, or you’ll scare the fish away. From your fishing spot, you’ll then begin working your hands through the water. You’ll want to slide both hands slowly and move them closer together as you near the fish.
When you make contact with the trout, you need to stroke its underbelly. This may be harder than it seems—you often won’t be able to see the fish because it’s hiding. You might wind up tickling a rock. Work your way along the fish’s underbelly, tightening your grip as you go, until you can grab the fish around the gill and fin area.
Of course, catching the fish is only the first part. You still have to get to your feet. This is often when trout come out of the trance and make every effort to get away.