Trout fishing advice needed

Barrabas

Barrabas

Joined
Feb 8, 2005
Messages
1,135
Hi All,

Planning (Lord willing) on going Trout fishing here in WV (Cranberry) in the next month or so..have never been Trout fishing before, and don't want to drop cash on a fly rod as don't know when I'll have the opportunity to go again.

I'd really like to not drop a bunch of cash for a likely one time event..but can grab essentials..Is there a good rod/reel combo more universal for all standard stream/pond fishing?
Have some experience with Open face rods, but just recently..when I have fished up until now it's pretty much been for Catfish, Bass, Red Eye etc..mostly ponds, with a little wade fishing here and there.

I know nothing about Trout fishing, other than what I've heard (small hooks and some salmon eggs.).so ANY guidance you can give me would be a big help.

Thanks,

B
 
As far as rod & reels go, most any decent quality spinning/baitcast/closeface combo will be fine. If you have something light, say 4-6 pound test, sensitive tip, that would do great. (at least as I recall the size WV trout, it has been a long while.) If you have the chance to pick up some fine 1/8th to 1/64th hair jigs, you can use them in conjunction with salmon eggs and worms. Add a couple of inline spinners and some spoons and you'll be set.

If you want to give a go at fly-fishing without investing a lot of cash, try getting some flies (ask locally) and fishing them under a weighted float (bobber). The float carries the weightless fly, and although it works best with wet flies/streamers/nymphs, it does introduce you to some of the advantages of flies. There are times when flies will out-produce any other method around, especially in small streams, but often in bigger water or even still water.

Good luck!
 
Open faced ultralight rod and reel, 2-lb test line, 1/32-oz jigs. Works pretty well around here.
 
As has been said, light spin tackle has given many folks the experience of catching Trout. Panther Martens and small Mepps reek havoc on Trout.:thumbup:
 
mewolf1 said:
As has been said, light spin tackle has given many folks the experience of catching Trout. Panther Martens and small Mepps reek havoc on Trout.:thumbup:
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Agreed, I fish nearly everyday from spring thru fall, and I don't have the best of equipment, but I catch a lot of fish. Any ultra light setup that wont fall apart on you and Panther Martins and Small Mepps as mewolf1 said work great, and they don't require you to finesse them at all really.
 
....if you do happen to give fly fishing a try, and you get hooked:Dpost again. Fly fishing is something I never get tired of.:thumbup:
You do not have to spend alot of money to enjoy fly fishing!!
Barrabas said:
Thanks Guys..much appreciated.
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If the trout are planted or rainbows in a body of water (not stream), powerbait works great. Chartreus (i.e. fluorescent green) works really good, but, rainbow, pink, etc. all work decent. Go to local sporting goods and get yourself something like a Garcia rod/reel combo, use 4 lb. test or so (monofilament or fluorocarbon, not braided), some 1/4 oz. sinkers. If it looks like the fish are near the top of the water, use a bobber with a 3-5' leader. #10 or #12 hooks. If you need to go the bobber rout, use one of the clear football shaped ones and get some split shot weights on the leader because powerbait floats and it will just rise up to the top without some weight.
 
as mentioned ultra light spin, 4lb test and a light action 6 to 7ft rod. panther martin's, wordens roostertails(pink and green is my go to) are a couple good ones. Small 1 inch spoons like croc's (silver/ orange stripe)

Get them in 1/8 for casting distance/sink deeper and little 1/32 ones for shallow water/shorelines behind a casting bobber. I fish for brookies in a subalpine lake twice a year this way and its muddy and debris filled, when you get close reel fast and the bobber will keep you out of snags.

Bead head nymph and wetfly patterns are deadly behind a casting bobber drifting with current or slow retrieved as well. Creeks and lakeshores in summer with a dry hopper pattern(tom thumb etc)

The bobbers I like have a central hole with a surgical tubing center, put your line through and twist the top to kink the tubing, locks it in place without line damage and is slide adjustable.

A great deep water/shore fishing technique is to put a swivel with 4ft leader behind the bobber and don't twist/freeline. Tie a heavy lure, jig and bait, or sinker/hook and crank it out. Leave your bail open and freespool to bottom and you can reel through the water column or let sit.

I am amped for the trout/kokanee fishing this spring.......2 more months before Bridge lake ice's off up north/Cariboo where my acreage is.

Good luck and let us know what you buy and how you do, hope this helps.
 
as mentioned ultra light spin, 4lb test and a light action 6 to 7ft rod. panther martin's, wordens roostertails(pink and green is my go to) are a couple good ones. Small 1 inch spoons like croc's (silver/ orange stripe)

Get them in 1/8 for casting distance/sink deeper and little 1/32 ones for shallow water/shorelines behind a casting bobber. I fish for brookies in a subalpine lake twice a year this way and its muddy and debris filled, when you get close reel fast and the bobber will keep you out of snags.

Bead head nymph and wetfly patterns are deadly behind a casting bobber drifting with current or slow retrieved as well. Creeks and lakeshores in summer with a dry hopper pattern(tom thumb etc)

The bobbers I like have a central hole with a surgical tubing center, put your line through and twist the top to kink the tubing, locks it in place without line damage and is slide adjustable.

A great deep water/shore fishing technique is to put a swivel with 4ft leader behind the bobber and don't twist/freeline. Tie a heavy lure, jig and bait, or sinker/hook and crank it out. Leave your bail open and freespool to bottom and you can reel through the water column or let sit.

I am amped for the trout/kokanee fishing this spring.......2 more months before Bridge lake ice's off up north/Cariboo where my acreage is.

Good luck and let us know what you buy and how you do, hope this helps.
 
If you're going to use lures, I find the 3/16 or 1/4 oz. sized kastmaster in silver/blue or gold/red anodized work great. Try one, if that doesn't work, then try the other.
 
If you are not familiar with open go closed reel. Nothing ruins a trip more than tangles. A cheap diawa combo $30 would be perfect. as for bait best bet buy a mepps combo spinner set $20. both of this can be purchased at walmart. This advice is what i give to all my beginners when I guide. I havn't had a complaint yet.
 
I have always used light spinning reels and light and lively rods for trout. I have never had any luck at all with lures but I have caught a ton of trout with worms. They really like earthworms.
 
Barrabas said:
....Trout fishing here in WV (Cranberry)....don't know when I'll have the opportunity to go again.........not drop a bunch of cash for a likely one time event..but can grab essentials..Is there a good rod/reel combo more universal for all standard stream/pond fishing?.......
Click to expand...

Buy a combo you're comfortable with. At most stores you can buy a decent combo for a couple dollars more than the reel alone. A better idea would be to borrow a rod and reel from a close friend, most "fishing addicts" have a spare or two lying around. You will see guys on the stream fishing everything from expensive ultralight combos with 2# test to good ole boys with their Zebco 33s spooled with 8-10# line. I believe 4# is the best all around size. Anything lighter and you'll spend a lot of time tying on new lures and hooks because you can't pull loose from a snag. Anything heavier and the chance of the fish seeing the line will increase. I'm not that far from the Cranberry and the most productive lures seem to be made right there in WV http://www.joesflies.com/shop/home.php Several patterns are consistently productive with the Tiger Wolly Worm, Adams, and March Brown being very popular. If using a spinning rod I prefer the size 8 to the size 10. A small detail that makes a BIG difference is the size of the blade used. Look closely at the package when buying and be sure you get ones with the #2 blade. There can be several of the same lures on the shelf and not all will use that size spinner. The larger blade will consistently out-fish the smaller one. I add sinkers to the lure as needed and prefer size B or BB 12-15 inches ahead of the lure. If one isn't enough add more. I've found that even in deep flowing water a few smaller sinkers perform better than one large one. The lure should be cast across the current the retrieved at the slowest rate that will keep it off the bottom and the blade spinning. If the water is moving fast enough you can just keep the line tight and let the lure wash with the current. Salmon eggs are productive, I prefer the pink or white on a #8 or #10 hook. Thread the egg onto the hook so that none of the hook shows. For the last several years I have caught more trout on Mikes yellow Glo Bait than salmon eggs https://atlasmikes.com/index.php?page=product&id=158 Use the same hooks that you would for salmon eggs and a piece of bait about the same size. I put the sinker a little closer to the hook when fishing this because it floats so I can control the depth of my bait. The stuff can be messy so a rag comes in handy. Mepps spinners as mentioned also perform well along with Panther Martins. Jigs can be very productive but I wouldn't recommend them to a beginner because they take a little more expertise. You should be able to put together a decent little kit $25 or so. Good luck and post pics of your fish.
 
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