Hi, I've been up to a local lake several times trying to catch trout, and need some advice. What are the best baits/lures to use for trout? How about bass? Any tips welcomed, I'm new to fishing (just used worms in the river while growing up, always caught catfish!)

 

you may want to post what lake you are fishing and what type of trout, lake trout, rainbow, brown.
then someone may post that is familiar with the lake and what lures or bait works good for your area.
bass like large mouth can often be caught on jigs with a plastic trailer like a crawfish, crank baits, spinner baits, suspending jerk baits, plastic worms, and there is alot more lures that can be used on bass, but choosing the right color and the time of year when certain lures are more effective is something someone more familiar with your local area or lake would answer better.

 

I have good luck trolling a Ford Fender with 18" of trailing line, a medium size bait hook adorned with a large nightcrawler. If I am anchored in 80 to 100 ft of water I use large shiner minnows about 24" below a couple of split shot. Don't think it matters much what lake you are at, trout are trout! Hope this helps somewhat.

 

I figured it out years back, it doesnt matter what you use. The reason is your not going to catch anything anyways. Well thats how it played out for me. I have caught trout before and Ill tell you what I did. If you are fishind straight down like I did, about 30 feet then you should have some luck. Use a crappie rig with 2 minnows, most guys say shinners but I like fat heads. The reason is there not as shiney but wiggle for hours instead of dying right off. good luck

 

well if you bring enough beer, you can always catch a buzz even if you dont catch any fish.
I usually troll when fishing for trout using spoons or rainbow colored crank baits, rooster tails, if fishing stopped or from the bank there is always power bait or minnows, have caught brown trout on nightcrawlers, not any rainbows though.

 

If it's just a fishing lake or simular where they stock it with Trout in the spring I have had a lot of luck with corn. A few on a small hook resemble fish eggs and they jump right on.

For bass it usually depends on the area your fishing. For beginers though you can just use a quality rubber night crawler and a bait keeper hook. Cast it out around fallen trees or a dock and reel it in slowly about 4' then stop a second or two then reel it in some more. Another good one is a rubber frog if there is a lot of plant life in the water.

 

Above where I said we used a crappir rig, we did that at midnight with a lantern and also chumed corn. The reason I didnt say this is because someone told me it was illegal because trout cant digest the corn and die. I didnt want to get anyone in trouble. They do sell fish eggs at the bait store, never used them but Im told they work for trout.

 

They do die. That hot skillet does that.

 

All depends on where and what kind ot trout-

For native brook trout (8" - 12") in a tight small stream use worms or nymphs. In a more open areas, dry flies or a very small spinner.

For browns in a stream, I had best luck with worms on a short flyrod - best was 6 or 7# so far. I never could find enough room to cast a fly.

For rainbows in a stocked lake, anything works depending on the day. From corn or worms to flies or small spinners and spoons. In big lakes, get all kinds of gear like sonar, radar, down riggers, planers, a big motor and a case of beer and sit back and let the fish catch themselves.

For lake trout, my best luck was 6# mono line and a 5" flutter spoon (aluminum) trolled very slow in 20' of water - about 42# (38# actual after two days).

Check with a local tackle or bait shop. They won't steer you wrong since you won't come back it the advice was not good.

After you have mastered the above try cut-throat trout in the Rockies or golden trout in the Sierras.

After that, there is aways someting else to find. - The beauty of fishing!

Dick

 

And all this time we thought you only knew concrete.

 

I've lived in colorado for 10yrs. Had more than my fill of catching trout. They don't taste good. They don't fight good. They roll over and die as soon as they realize they are hooked. They are full of little tiny bones. Can't fillet them. The meat is mushy and greasy.

Give me a crappie, largmouth bass, white bass, channel cat, perch, or a walleye anyday.

Trout suck. Don't waste your time.

 

Wow Chris, Lake Trout are the only thing I fish. Here in MI they put up a good a fight, I usually have two or three a night come shooting straight up out of the water even jumping the boat on occasion. You have to be quick with the net or you will loose them. The meat is awesome, just be sure to get them out of the water as soon as they die.

I have had most of my luck with trout in spring and early summer, I usually fish 15 to 25 feet straight down, with slip bobber, with either corn or wax worms. Of course we go at night with lights on our boats, and we usually sit from dusk until 2 am.

 

If you realy want to catch trout or any other fish all you do is soak some worms or nightcrawlers in 100 proof booze, then put them on your hook or line and toss them in the water, they will tackle any fish around and all you have to do is reel it in.

All kidding aside if you want to catch trout use the smallest hook ykou can I use mustad #20. Put your bait on and hide the hook. I use 1 lb or two lb test leader depending on where I am fishing. I use 1/8 oq egg sinker above swivel where I tie on the leader. Move the bait every few minutes. If you get a bite & do not hook the fish reel in the line check hook & re do so hook does not show. Also make sure no part of leader end is showing cut it close to hook. Good fishcatching.

Fishcatcher

 

I use 14 hooks with a golden or red grub. I also use 2 lb test on an ultra light. Haven't broken a line (except when tree fishing!) and the fight is awesome. You kinda have to baby them in , no muscling 2 lb test.

I fish small streams in NE PA.....I release what I catch - carefully avoiding any direct contact with them so hopefully they live to fight another day....

 

Im glad you know to be easy on the trout, Ive seen alot of fishing shows where they pick the trout out of the water and stand there for 10 min blabbing about how they have nice colors and talking about the fish then they let it go and say we will catch him again someday. Im sure the fish lived for maybe 20 min after that.

 

Pretty simple method I was taught as a kid,basically get yourself a fresh "road kill" or trap a rabbit,gut it & wrap it in chickenwire,hang it a tree that overhangs the river / stream ,preferbly a deeper section where there is some shelter or cover for the Trout.
Give it a few days and there will be a food source the Trout will be waiting for maggots to drop in the water,no need to mention bait used as Im pretty sure you can figure out what works best here.

 

Michael yeah I've seen them handle and make a big deal about releasing them

Guess it looks good for the camera. Since I use smaller hooks, I rarely have to touch them. Usually don't take them out of the water, get the hook out with those things they use to remove stiches! Let them recover (facing upstream) until they swim out alone.

Part of the thrill of trout fishing is seeing them flick their "tails" and dart out of the net.....

I've got to stop working so much and get fishing....opening day was a few weeks ago, I wait until the crowds are gone, cause another great thing about fishing small streams is just enjoying the outdoors and the quiet!

Good fishing!

Kathy

 

I read that 3 seconds is all a trout should be out of the water for. Other fish can go londer but something about a trouts lungs cant take air. Leaving them in the water is probably the best thing to do. I also use those sergical tools to remove hooks. I have only trout fished a few times and I think I only cought one trout in a lake near here that the state used to stock with them. There isnt alot of good stream around here so someday I would like to drive around the state trout fishing.

 

well if you ever get tp PA I can tell you where there are some great streams - I dont lake fish anymore get to sunburned

 

I probably couldnt afford a fishing license there, here in michigan I pay $30 now and teh govner is doing anything she can to double the price. So I will probably be soon paying $60 to catch a fish, ashame isnt it. I couldnt imagine what a out of state license cost.

 

Replicating the native baitfish in these trout lakes are a good idea. We have a deep lake near me and herring are the ticket 10:1 over regular minnows.

I like to use 8 or 10# Berkely XL and depending on the depth your fishing, an 1/8 - 3/8 oz. egg weight above a swivel, followed by another 20 - 30" of mono and a #6 or #4 bait holder to put the herring(thru the lips). At our lake, fishing in 15 - 30 foot depths gets you rainbows, kamloops, and browns...while fishing in the 70 - 130 foot depths means lakers.

As said above, they really aren't fighters, I'll take a small jaw or hybrid fight anyday in freshwater.

Good luck!

 

ChrisHarris, I'm with you on trout. I lived in Colorado twenty seven years and don't care if I EVER see another one. Too many bones. If I had to live off the things, I'd starve to death sifting out bones. It didn't take long there for them to lose their charm and for me to go back to pan fish. Better meat, fewer bones, and much more hardy if I didn't want to keep them.