Fishing for stockies in lakes advice

[RyanMac14]

So I havent been fishing for trout for about a decade and a half so I just want to make sure my gear is right for the job. I will be tossing an ultra light with a spinner with 4 pou d test so my questions are more for the powerbait setup. Pound test? Bobber or slip bobber? How deep should I be setting the bait under? Treble hook? Pink and yellow powerbait? Any and all advice on the setup is welcome. If you feel more comfortable giving advice through pm feel free. I will be giving hooks creek a go either today or early tomorrow.

[RyanMac14]

Well I decided to give it a go on my own to the expected nothin. I tried on the bottom first with the main line to the sinker to the swivel to a light line with a small treble. Didnt work at all because it seemed the sinker was sinking immediately into tons of grass and weeds. So much that I had trouble reeling it all in. So i switched to a bobber but that seemed not to work as the bait was essentially floating up next to my float. There were definitely fish in the area as one decided to jump literally on my float. Any advice would be greatly appreciated so I can go out early tomorrow. Thanks guys!

[jimcnj]

#16 treble on long ( fluorocarbon is you have it) leader like 12"-18" with a moistened ball of of Powerbait. Put a small weight north of the swivel.
PB will float above the detritus. Works for me sometimes.

[xDirty]

Originally Posted by RyanMac14

Well I decided to give it a go on my own to the expected nothin. I tried on the bottom first with the main line to the sinker to the swivel to a light line with a small treble. Didnt work at all because it seemed the sinker was sinking immediately into tons of grass and weeds. So much that I had trouble reeling it all in. So i switched to a bobber but that seemed not to work as the bait was essentially floating up next to my float. There were definitely fish in the area as one decided to jump literally on my float. Any advice would be greatly appreciated so I can go out early tomorrow. Thanks guys!

In-line spinners, the answer is always in-line spinners, doesn't matter what type freshwater fishing you do.

If you throw an in-line ANYWHERE where theres fresh water, if theres fish in there you will catch one.

Get a 1/8 mepps inline spinner, i think the size is number 2 but it should say on the package.

Throw is out let it fall depending on how deep you want it to go but dont let it touch the bottom, then reel it in. keep repeating

throw it in every direction and try different depths and if you want it to stay a little deeper reel in a little slower.

You might have to do this for as long as an hour before you see a hit but to me it almost always catches something, whether its a tiny bass or sunfish, you'll reel something in. It will give you more confidence and they are very effective against trout.

If the trout are biting and if you throw the spinner for an hour, you most likely will catch one.

dont forget sight casting, walk around looking for them, a lot of times you will see them, throw the spinner a little further away and reel it in right infront of their face!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO USE ? AN IN-LINE SPINNER!

[RyanMac14]

Thanks for the advice. I'm familiar with spinners and donny have much trouble. Just need some advice on bait fishing really. Gonna use some lighter split shot rather than the egg sinker i was using today. Will report back tomorrow. Any more advice is appreciated though

[Jigman13]

Don't use trebles unless u plan on keeping the fish. Ain't getting it out without doing major damage after a trout inhales your power cheese.

I'm a pink egg fan this time of yr when I actually use bait. I'm throwing plugs or twitching jigs 95% of the time, though.

[briansnat]

For power baits, eggs, worms, etc I simply use a split shot 2-3 feet from the hook. The size of the shot depends on the strength of the current.

[RyanMac14]

UPDATE: so I have gotten out 3 times since thanksgiving and have yet to land a trout. Havent had the best weather, but it hasnt slowed me. The amount of grass is outstanding and has to be effective my bottom fishing with powerbait. As far as my trout magnet, it has only been attracting large panfish. Hopefully I'll break through before winter.

[Chrisper4694]

If you have a boat, troll. It will only get better as the water gets near 40 degrees

[Rickhem]

You are actually at a very fun point in your quest. Learning a new technique, or fishing a new area, or for a new/different species has a learning curve, and its where you have to "solve the puzzle" so-to-speak if you want success with any regularity. As you progress, you can adapt prior success to apply to your current situation.
For Powerbait, here's my approach. Powerbait floats so you can use that to your advantage. I like a small circle hook as the terminal tackle. You'll be hard pressed finding very small circles locally, but they're available. Size 10 or smaller tied directly to a leader of 4 lb test, I use mono because it floats while fluro sinks. Ball up enough Powerbait to float the hook and leader. Then use a splitshot on your line 18 to 30 inches from the hook. That distance will change depending upon where you fish, and what the bottom is like. You want your Powerbait ball floating up above the bottom clearly visible to the trout. If there are weeds, rocks, whatever, you need a length of line between weight and hook to be above them. Odds are, from what you've said already, you'll be dead-sticking the bait rod, while throwing spinners or whatever with another rod. (That's the reason for the circle hooks) Cast out and go on fishing the other rod. The Powerbait slowly dissolves, putting scent in the water. When a trout takes it, it'll swim away with it, and probably hook itself if using a circle. Set your drag light when dead-sticking so a larger fish can pull drag and not take your rod for a swim. When you see your tip bouncing and a fish is on, just pick it up, tighten the drag if necessary, and play your fish in.
Good Luck!