Why can’t I catch a freakin fish!!!?

[Kenneth Chang]

I’ve been to my local pond several times to catch some stocked trout. Every single time I go I can’t catch anything at all. I honestly don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’m using rooster tails, panther martins, mepps aglias, and kastmaster and not even a single bite. I’m using a medium speed to reel them in. I use powerbait in the garlic, corn, and salmon egg scent on a Carolina rig with a 2 ft leader with a size 8 hook. I use 6 pound monofilament. Can someone pls tell me something to help me I really need help.

[MN Fisher]

If they're recently released, they're use to their food just floating around in pellet form. Might want to try bobber fishing for them.

 

It takes a while for their natural hunting instincts to return after they've spent time being 'coddled' in the stock-ponds. Could be a week - could be longer.

 

I'd also suggest slow-rolling Mepps Comets - those always worked better for me than the others.

[Russ E]

Are you sure there are any fish left in the pond?

A couple local lakes here get trout stocked every spring.

a couple weeks after stocking there are usually not many left.

people catch them right when they are dumped out of the truck.

I don't fish for them, but i have caught them on every bass lure imaginable. sometimes i have to move to a different area on the lake to get away from them.

 

[WRB]

You have 6 lb test mono and size 8 hook, both aren't good for Power trout bait.

You need a simple lake rig; egg sliding sinker, swivel and between 3' to 4' of 3 lb mono leader with size 16 or 14 gold treble hook. The power boat ball should be big enough to cover the hook.

Tom

[Carolina Rig]

Always go smaller if you’re having trouble with trout.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Carolina Rig said:

Always go smaller if you’re having trouble with trout.

I should have mentioned that - a Size 0 or maybe a 1 for that Comet.

[Kenneth Chang]

2 hours ago, Russ E said:

Are you sure there are any fish left in the pond?

A couple local lakes here get trout stocked every spring.

a couple weeks after stocking there are usually not many left.

people catch them right when they are dumped out of the truck.

I don't fish for them, but i have caught them on every bass lure imaginable. sometimes i have to move to a different area on the lake to get away from them.

 

The pond was stocked the day before I went.

[Russ E]

2 minutes ago, Kenneth Chang said:

The pond was stocked the day before I went.

around here stockers are usually pretty easy to catch. I see a lot of people using these on a drop shot for trout. 

they seem to catch their limit fairly quick.

[Bluebasser86]

If you're using powerbait, I have WAY more luck with GULP eggs than I do the powerbait paste. 2 eggs on a #14 or #16 salmon egg hook and about a 24" leader of 4# mono to a light egg sinker and you're good to go. A lot of our trout cruise the shorelines too, so if you're casting to the middle of the lake you might be casting past them. 

[The Bassman]

20 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

 

 

It takes a while for their natural hunting instincts to return after they've spent time being 'coddled' in the stock-ponds. Could be a week - could be longer.

 

 

Funny, when I was a kid we used to fish pay lakes for channel cats. If you knew when the stock truck was coming you could limit out in a few minutes. Also, you see a lot of trout "ponds" at outdoor shows. They're not particularly shy to bite. Stocked fish get caught real fast.

[MN Fisher]

30 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Stocked fish get caught real fast.

Different experiences. I knew when the stock-trucks would make their delivery, and tried with everything I could think of to catch the 'new' residents. Never happened...took a week or two before they'd bite on either artificial lures or live/preserved bait.

 

Different raising techniques in different parts of the country maybe?

[Russ E]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Different raising techniques in different parts of the country maybe?

that could be possible.

I always wondered if they don't feed them for a day or two.

right after they stock trout at the local lake, people line up on the banks.

it doesn't take long for most of them to get a 5 fish limit.

[TnRiver46]

51 minutes ago, Russ E said:

that could be possible.

I always wondered if they don't feed them for a day or two.

right after they stock trout at the local lake, people line up on the banks.

it doesn't take long for most of them to get a 5 fish limit.

Same here. Fish fresh off the truck is taking candy from a baby. Most guys are headed home with limit at 7:30 am

[Gundog]

Have you tried....wait for it.....

 

My friend recommends it highly....

[everythingthatswims]

Sometimes, trout will bite right off the truck. Other times, they need a few days to adjust before they feed. I think this depends on the difference between the water at their hatchery in comparison to whatever they get dumped into.

 

You are using the right stuff. If recently stocked trout won't hit powerbait on a Carolina rig, they probably aren't feeding very much.

 

I would downsize a little bit, 4lb test and a smaller hook, #10 or #12 if you are using a single hook, #14 or #16 if you are using a treble. Experiment with you leader lengths on the Carolina rig, I have used anywhere from 1' to 6' leaders and it can definitely make a difference. They would rather swim up to eat something than swim down.

 

Make sure you use a small piece of powerbait, as small of a piece as you can get to float your hook.

 

Also, fish on a point if this pond has one, stocked trout in small lakes tend to swim laps, so if there is a point, they usually will swim around it instead of over top of it, so there is a much better chance to catch them on the end of the point since it concentrates them, even though they're freely swimming.

 

If you don't have a point, don't be afraid to make a shorter cast if a long one into deep water isn't producing. People usually wing a Carolina rig out as far as they can, and often there are fish in between them and where they cast to.

[JustJames]

That are situation of ppl here in SoCal, a day after trout stocked and they are gone lol.

I was lucky once, was at the pond the day they stocked and caught my limit with in hour.

I normally use powerbait worm in pink and orange. The white mice tail combination might also be good. Too bad they don’t stock trout the lake I fish now.