Trout stocking and bass fishing

[Tatulatard]

Let's say you discovered a 1000 acre lake that stocks trout on Monday and you recently got into the big swimbait game with line through trout, hudds and glides in the 8" range but have been fishing a shad based system.  Now is a chance to try a trout based lake.  The water temps are going to be upper 30s to low 40s.  Do you fish the day of the stocking or do you fish after?  Do you wait until much later when water temps are warmer?  

[PhishLI]

I'd try to fish it before they dump the trout in. It'll take them a while to digest a stocker or two in those temps, so the bite usually goes into the crapper for a while. Here it's almost impossible to catch a good sized fish for at least 3 weeks after a cold water stocking, especially if they plant a few thousand 7-9 inchers along with the 12-14s.

[GaryH]

Depends on what state you’re in. In Pa. Whether you’re trout fishing or not you can’t fish stocked trout waters till opening day of trout. Also if using trout for bait you must have a sales receipt from an authorized bait shop. 
 

[Tatulatard]

6 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I'd try to fish it before they dump the trout in. It'll take them a while to digest a stocker or two in those temps, so the bite usually goes into the crapper for a while. Here it's almost impossible to catch a good sized fish for at least 3 weeks after a cold water stocking, especially if they plant a few thousand 7-9 inchers along with the 12-14s.

It'll be 33 the weekend before and then 49 and 66 on Tuesday and Monday.  I suspect you're right about the bite being garbage but I'll make a two day vacation out of it and try to hit up other non trout stocked bodies of water in the area too.  I NEED to fish.

[PhishLI]

10 minutes ago, Tatulatard said:

It'll be 33 the weekend before and then 49 and 66 on Tuesday and Monday.  I suspect you're right about the bite being garbage but I'll make a two day vacation out of it and try to hit up other non trout stocked bodies of water in the area too.  I NEED to fish.

Do it to it. The trout stocked spots around here all grow big bass, so don't shy away. I know where they pump them in on my lakes, and where they always congregate in the short term, so if I'm fishing around the time of the stocking, I'll just work the opposite end.

 

My buddy got this juicy holdover the other day. MattLures got it right.

 

 

[Bird]

Just make sure you know the states regulations.

In VA a trout stamp is required until stocking has ceased.

In WV bass fishing is allowed without a stamp.

Water temps in the 30's will make for a slow bite.

[PhishLI]

1 minute ago, Bird said:

Just make sure you know the states regulations.

In VA a trout stamp is required until stocking has ceased.

In WV bass fishing is allowed without a stamp.

Water temps in the 30's will make for a slow bite.

Around here the trout googans are catching them minutes after they've squirted out of the tube. Four stockings a year with these knuckleheads running around.

[WRB]

Fish a trout swimbait 68 or 8” as often as you can and grind it out. Target compression zones like major points and humps.

Rain or shine, cold weather is good, go slow and deeper.

Tom

[PressuredFishing]

37 minutes ago, WRB said:

Fish a trout swimbait 68 or 8” as often as you can and grind it out.

Do you like to creep them on bottom or swim them more? Thanks for all you do

[WRB]

Swim them, use a jig for bottom contact.

Tom

[TheSwearingAngler]

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

Do it to it. The trout stocked spots around here all grow big bass, so don't shy away. I know where they pump them in on my lakes, and where they always congregate in the short term, so if I'm fishing around the time of the stocking, I'll just work the opposite end.

 

My buddy got this juicy holdover the other day. MattLures got it right.

 

 

You know what jerkbait your buddy caught that trout on?.. great looking fish, this will be my first year targeting trout as well as using the trout stock to help me target bass.

[Susky River Rat]

1 hour ago, GaryH said:

Depends on what state you’re in. In Pa. Whether you’re trout fishing or not you can’t fish stocked trout waters till opening day of trout. Also if using trout for bait you must have a sales receipt from an authorized bait shop. 
 

You can if it’s a trout approved water open to year round fishing. Just cannot kill or keep trout 

 Interestingly enough you cannot fish a creek or stream that is a trout water without a trout stamp but, a lake you can fish without one. Just cannot kill or keep.

[PhishLI]

17 minutes ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

You know what jerkbait your buddy caught that trout on?.

Mach Werkbait 90 in Ghost Gill.

 

[WRB]

48 minutes ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

You know what jerkbait your buddy caught that trout on?.. great looking fish, this will be my first year targeting trout as well as using the trout stock to help me target bass.

Female Brown trout, Browns Strike Bass lures. Rainbows better off using 1/4 oz trout spoons imo.

Tom

[TheSwearingAngler]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Female Brown trout, Browns Strike Bass lures. Rainbows better off using 1/4 oz trout spoons imo.

Tom

Thanks Tom, I’ll grab some spoons too then.

 

I bought some rainbow trout colored crank baits to try to find the big bass that eat them. I’m wondering how long after the hatch (stocking) they’ll remain effective. It’s going to be fun finding out.