Need Advice On Trout Fishing

[Daddyodo]

I am going to try trout fishing for the first time this year and could use some advice. I will be using spinning gear and some mepps spinners. What else would you guys recommend? Will be fishing small streams in and around Howard county md.

[fishingkidPA]

get some roostertails, some rapala jointed j11's. even though they are big you catch trout on them, good size ones even small ones too. We caught alot of 11-13" er's on them too. Also even though you might not be much of a live bait fisherman, im not myself but when the lures arent working i usually get a small strike indicator (Fly fishing "bobbers", i use thingamabobbers) and put a small split shot on and a 10 size hook, put some red worms or maggots on those and drift them in some pocket water and sloft drifts. have fun put up some pics of how you do!

[Greed]

I know some people look down on bait fishing but a half inch of crawler on a #6 baitholder hook, with a #4 split shot, 14" above the hook is lethal. Fish it as you would a nymph or jig and let it drift the in the deep pools and eddies and you'll catch fish after fish for hours.

[BrianSnat]

Try small Panther Martin, Rooster Tail and Mepps spinners size 0 or 1, 1" or 1 1/2" Rapalas, Yo-Zuri Snap Beans and I've also done well with 1/8 oz Rat-L-Traps.

Also consider mealworms and garden worms fished with a small split shot about 18 inches up the line on #8 or 10 hooks. Salmon eggs, Berkley Power Eggs or Power Trout worms or Power Trout Dough also work well fished with a small split shot.

[agssebvtsece]

IMO leave the crankbaits at home. As mentioned the Mepps and panther martin's are great lure's. I just stumbled upon "Joe's Flies" which is a fly attached to an inline spinner, so far that works great. I personally have a "tried and true" list that include a Mepps Aglia (silver), Panther Martin rainbow trout color with a rooster tail, williams wobbler (gold/silver), phoebe (gold), fish creek spinner (gold with orange beads), a mepps lone wolf (pretty sure that the name of it), and trout magnets in pink and orange.

[RoLo]

When I lived in the Northeast my favorite spinner was a Panther Martin, but fly-fishing was my preference,

particularly with streamers (e.g. muddler minnow) and wet flies (e.g. light cahill).

As a beginner though, you should also consider natural bait (no stigma attached).

As an example, salmon eggs work well for rainbows, worms for brookies & minnows for brownies.

Roger

[BrianSnat]

When I lived in the Northeast my favorite spinner was a Panther Martin, but fly-fishing was my preference,

particularly with streamers (e.g. muddler minnow) and wet flies (e.g. light cahill).

As a beginner though, you should also consider natural bait (no stigma attached).

As an example, salmon eggs work well for rainbows, worms for brookies & minnows for brownies.

Roger

Natural baits (and the scented Berkely trout baits) do work well on smaller streams. But only use them if you are keeping your catch because the fish are more likely to be gut hooked with them.

Keeping trout is a touchy topic among trout fishermen. If you are working a stream that supports a year round, naturally reproducing trout population you might get some nasty looks if you keep your catch. If that doesn't bother you then go ahead and keep some. If it's a put and take stream where the hatchery trout will die out over the summer if they aren't caught, then take all the law allows you to without an iota of guilt.

[RoLo]

If you are working a stream that supports a year round, naturally reproducing trout population you might get some nasty looks if you keep your catch. If that doesn't bother you then go ahead and keep some. If it's a put and take stream where the hatchery trout will die out over the summer if they aren't caught, then take all the law allows you to without an iota of guilt.

Point well made, and good advice.

[CoBass]

I have been using lures from a local company here in Co. called Dynamic Lures. They are deadly for rainbows and browns. If you want to check them out google Dynamic lures and check out the HD trout line. Glimmer trout and natural trout have been very productive here...CoBass.

[tomustang]

IMO leave the crankbaits at home.

Don't forget the crankbaits, smaller preferably. I've caught more trout on cranks than anything else

[Vance Jones]

i've personally caught more trout by standing at the head of a rapid, baiting the hook with no weight and letting the water take it down

stream thru the rapids. caught some really nice german browns up in northern california over by grass valley

and just slay the stocked rainbows doing that in west virginia and in tennessee

[boystcroix]

Try drifting waxworms, use just enough splitshot to keep the bait ticking off the bottom as it drifts

[Wisconsin Heat.]

just make sure you cover some water, best advice i can give you.

[BIGfryFish]

In-line spinners, little cleo spoons, phobes, micro rat-L-traps, crawlers, all work well. Try to use baits no bigger than your little finger in streams / brooks.

You can cast upstream and allow your bait to flow down to the trout. Also cast into whirlpools created by rocks.

When you fish in lakes, ponds or rivers, you can use larger baits.

[slonezp]

I know some people look down on bait fishing but a half inch of crawler on a #6 baitholder hook, with a #4 split shot, 14" above the hook is lethal. Fish it as you would a nymph or jig and let it drift the in the deep pools and eddies and you'll catch fish after fish for hours.

In addition use a syringe to inject the worm with air or use a floating jig head to keep it above the bottom.

[roadwarrior]

Another vote for the Panther Martin: Gold blade, black with chartreuse spots.

[webertime]

Spinners, Rooster Tails (any willow blade Spinner) Panther Martins and Mepps XD's. I love Rooster Tails bc the blade allows them to run deeper, ie you have more control in current, which helps a lot.

Yo-Zuri Pin's Minnows are killer as are Phoebe Spoons.

I find fatter bodied lures/blades catch too much current and get pushed by the fish or don't get deep enough.

Always cast upstream and reel it in just faster than the current, allow it to swing by you and reel it back up to you. Trout are pretty pragmatic animals. They are almost always facing into the current waiting for food to get washed to them. They stay in the "slower" water in a river, behind stones and washed in wood, undercut banks and at the bottom of pools. The larger trout tend to be closer to the head of pools. They are the dominant fish so they get first dibs on the goodies getting washed down stream. Keep the stockies and put back the natives, keep the pure/smart bloodlines in your rivers.