Catching Trout From Shore

A favorite activity of many anglers is fishing for trout from the shore of a lake, especially in the spring of the year when rivers can become much too high to fish effectively. Many of these same anglers don't realize some simple techniques that will enable them to catch more trout while fishing from shore. Many times the simplest things are the most effective, and in this case that rule most certainly holds true.

The first thing that needs to be discussed is your gear. You're not using fishing line that's larger than 6 lb. test are you? I certainly hope not. My rule is that for trout, line should be no larger than 6 lb. test. I personally use 4 lb. test, but that's just my preference. The bottom line is that six pound test should be the maximum. Trout have very keen senses, including vision. As your line gets heavier, it becomes much more visible to the trout.

Next is your fishing rod. With what was just said about fishing line, obviously light action rods are the heaviest that should be used for trout fishing. I prefer ultra light, but again, that's a judgment call. The important thing to know is that longer rods are usually a better choice for fishing from the shore. I personally use a six foot six inch ultra light rood for all of my trout fishing from shore, as opposed to a 5 foot ultralight rod for my river fishing. In most situations a longer rod is better for fishing from shore.

Now for the bait. There are many types of bait that can be used while fishing for trout from shore. Some of these would include: worms, marshmallows, salmon eggs, dough baits, cheese, and corn. When fishing for trout from shore, my personal favorite is Powerbait. You see Powerbait floats, so when rigged properly, your offering will be floating off the bottom above any underwater debris. This is a huge advantage to you the angler, plus the fact that I've always said that they must feed trout Powerbait in hatcheries, because stocked trout love the stuff. Seeing as how this is true, Powerbait rigged on a set of pre-tied gang hooks is a deadly combination for catching trout from shore.

Now for rigging up. The first things that you need are some egg sinkers. The size will depend on the conditions. The rule is that you want just enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom, but not too much. In normal wind conditions, start with a 3/8 ounce egg sinker and slip it onto the end of your line. Now tie a small barrel swivel into your line. This barrel swivel acts as a stopper for the egg sinker. If the sinker slips over the swivel, simply attach a small split shot to act as a stopper. Now tie a set of # gang hooks(#8 or #10) onto the other end of the barrel swivel. Now add two balls of Powerbait to each hook. Enough to completely cover the hooks.

You're now rigged up. Cast this rig out into the lake and let it sink. Once it's on bottom, slowly reel in the slack line until it's tight. Now simply wait for the rod tip to start bouncing. If nothing happens within 45 minutes or so, reel in and check your Powerbait. If all is well with your bait, now would be the time to change colors if you so desire, or stay the course. As you begin to get bites, you'll notice why the use of gang hooks is emphasized. Since there are two hooks, you'll hook more fish, it's as simple as that.