12 replies to this topic

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

I could use some help with lures/bait for Trout. I've never fished for them before and I was curious if any of the baits offered by "Micro Spoons & Jigs" would work for Trout. They'll definitely work on other species that I've fished for ie; bass, crappie and probably catfish but I'm at a loss for Trout.
Any input would be appreciated.
http://www.microspoons.com/

[rizzo]

Powerbait is the key here - have several different colors just in case they are hitting on one particular thing, which you have to discover through trail and error or asking someone who is pulling them in. Best options are pink, orange, and bright green. Marshmallows aren't half bad either, if they'll hit on them. Every now and then I will get an active one with a jig or a spoon, but mostly it's a cast and wait thing.

Here's a couple of ways I set up my trout rigs - if the bottom has thick cover then you may need to increase the distance from your weight to your bait. (MS Paint FTW!)



Remember that trout aren't really catch and release unless you use barbless hooks, and there's also a limit and a Trout stamp needed unless you have a combo license. And kids under 14 don't need a license if you have one.

Where are you headed?

[azpilgrims]

I will add to Rizzo's good information, Trout love Velveeta Cheese - make a small ball of it and put it on your treble hook and they go nuts over it. We have been at Lynx Lake & Fain Lake where people were not catching a thing and we took our limit in about an hour of fishing. Next tip is to float a night crawler from a lead line, make sure your weight is above the swivel, then make a 1 to 2 foot leader line with a standard trout hook, thread as much worm on there and then inflate with a worm inflater kit or a medical syringe. You can buy the inflater kits at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. These two have worked real well for many years, I also do the Power Bait and Spinners but have had the best luck with Velveeta & Worms.

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

Thanks guys. From the looks of it I'll just fish for Trout about the same way that I've always done for catfish, only with brighter colors and smaller bait/hooks. Those lures from Microspoons should be ideal. I'll also grab a selection of Powerbaits and be sure to take along a couple grilled cheese sandwiches, lol. Thanks for the heads up about the Trout stamp! We haven't decided where we're going yet, now that we're living in Cottonwood it isn't very far to any kind of outdoor activity.

[rizzo]

If you're in Cwood then you should look into the Verde down by Sycamore Canyon, and also between Cwood and CV. I know a lot of fishing holes in that area - I grew up there. And I think this weekend (tomorrow) they are having a big event at Dead Horse State Park, lots of fishing there. Free fishing day or something like that.

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

Yeah, I've been told that the big catfish are in the Verde over near Clarkdale. We followed Sycamore Canyon road all the way out to Parson's trail yesterday and found a lot of places to get down to the river along the way. That spot where Parson Springs dumps into the Verde looks very promising. So far I only know of one place to gain access the Verde between Cottonwood and Camp Verde. We're also going to check out the Verde over by Fossil Creek road too, we didn't do it when we went out to the Childs Power Plant earlier this year.

[IDMooseMan]

In addition to using marshmallows, I'll sometimes throw on a kernel or three of corn. Any brand of canned corn would work, with or without the marshmallows.

As far as PowerBait is concerned, I've used the colors Rizzo mentioned, plus white and the "rainbow" mixture, too. I prefer the floating formula with the sparkling flakes in it. The floating formula helps keep the bait off the bottom and the sparkles imitate a fish's scales as it swims.

[rizzo]

Oh man, how could I forget sparkling rainbow Powerbait?! Good call Craig - that's an effective color. And you know, I've fished with corn before but never had a lot of luck here in AZ. Every now and then it'll work for me, but not too often. I see a lot of other people trying it - maybe it's just me.

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

I got an assortment of baits from Microspoons in today and those 3D eyes are creepy spooky, they look so lifelike that I expect them to start squirming and flopping around any minute! From all of your tips and suggestions I think these things will fill the bill perfectly.

[IDMooseMan]

Glen, I sometimes use the mini-marshmallows with 1 - 3 kernels of corn. Seems to work fairly well when they aren't biting anything else.

Grady, good luck. Post up the pictures when you get back. I'd like to see the 3D eyes you're talking about and hear how it performed.

[Bounce]

Flagstaff stocked trout; Lake mary, ashurst, kaibab,........ I pass the line through a small sinker and then tie a swivel on the end of my line. to that I tie a 4.5 foot "leader" (same filament strength) 4lb with hooks on both ends but the hook lengths are different..so the powerbait will float at different heights. I then watch the point of entry of my line into the water after it settles to the bottom (lots of weeds up here)...and when it moves I reel in... these trout up here just circle around the lake and we'll get all poles and all hooks with " FISH ON!"


I forgot what the rig is called....but I continuously pull fish in when others next to me are getting zilch. I was taught this method by Ted.

[Bounce]

oh yeah, hooks are small trebbles. forming the bait onto the hooks.

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

Thanks for the tip, I'll give that technique a try.