As The Weather Cools Off The Trout Fishing Is Heating Up. Who Doesnt Love Fall Trout Fishing?

So I headed down to the same are of the Swan River that I fished last week, but this time rather than walking along the bank down to the really big "hole" I decided to wade straight across the river. You see, I know that there is a nice hole on that side of the river as well, which I figured needed a little attention too. And being on my little "mini jig kick" (which I referred to in my last post) you can imagine what my bait of choice was going to be on this particular day.  In case you were wondering, the grainy picture to the right shows you the exact rig.

Once I got across the river and worked my way into casting distance of the hole itself I began to drift fish.After two casts I realized that I needed more weight, so I pinched a single split shot sinker onto my line twelve or so inches above the mini jig.  This did the trick, because I began catching rainbows from 8 to 12 inches every other cast or so.  I even changed my trout worm color to natural and the hungry rainbow didn't mind a bit!  After working my way through the hole I waded down river to the BIG hole.

While the action wasn't as "hot and heavy" as it was upstream I did catch a small trout or two and missed what felt like a very nice one.  I then did exactly what I did the prior week.  I switched from a Powerbait trout worm body to a Powerbait Power Nymph body.  I know, it was just like the prior trip and can you guess what happened? 

Once again within a cast or two I felt the familiar "bump, bump", but then a very heavy pull.  I set the hook and immediately felt the weight of a large fish.  "Oh Jesus", I thought to myself.  I figured that this trout didn't realize that he was hooked because judging by the weight, if he made a run, I was in trouble!  So I kept reeling in slowly and could feel the monster shaking its head back and forth the whole time.  It just wasn't making sense, because a rainbow trout of this weight NEVER behaves like this one was.

I then got the fish close enough to see him and much to my chagrin, it was a lake trout!  A five or six pound lake trout, which on my four foot ultralight rod felt like a monstrosity.  I reeled the big fella in, unhooked him, then sent him on his way.  I then couldn't help but think about was terrible fighters lake trout are!  In hindsight, every one that I have ever caught has been just like this they initially bite, then get hooked, and all but roll over, just waiting to be winched in.  Oh well, it makes for a decent little story and the rainbows made for a nice little day.  All in all a good day on the water without a doubt.

Attempting To Catch Rainbow Trout With Mini Jigs In High Water & Wind

The other day my daughter and I headed out to my favorite trout river (The Swan River) in search of some rainbow trout. I knew that the weather had been cold and ugly for a day or two, but figured that since on this particular day we had partly cloudy skies that we would be fine. Before I made my first cast I noticed how high the water was.  Then, as my mini jig sailed through the air I noticed how windy it was.  "This might make for a challenging couple of hours", I thought to myself. 

We were fishing at the base of a small dam, so there was some water that was more than "fish-able", even though the rest of the river was very high and muddy.  And although cloudy, the water and current didn't seem too bad in the area that we chose to fish.  After getting snagged a few times using a 1/16 ounce jig head tipped with a Powerbait floating trout worm, I changed my jig head to a smaller 1/32 ounce which eliminated my getting snagged problem.  The problem with doing this was that it became even more difficult for me to cast my offering into the water with any distance, considering the wind.  Not to mention the fact that the only rod I brought fishing on that day was my 5 foot ultralight rod, which doesn't help either when it comes to casting distance. 

In the meantime my daughter was casting and retrieving a small Panther Martin spinner, which was brightly colored due to the murky water conditions.  Within 15 minutes she had landed a small lake trout.  I realize this might sound strange, a lake trout being in a small river like the Swan River, but be were fishing a couple of hundred yards from Flathead Lake.  And Flathead Lake is renowned for it's lake trout population.  You see, at this time of the year when the river is as high as it is, small lake trout will often run up the river in search of an easy meal.

I kept fishing my mini jig and although I wasn't getting hardly any bites from the area's I could reach with my short fishing rod, I did manage to hook and land a lake trout also.  And mine was quite nice, not by lake trout standards mind you, but by the size of the gear I was using.  The one I caught measured almost 24 inches and was quite heavy.  I would guess 5 or so pounds.

Although the rainbow trout weren't cooperating, at least the lake trout did and all in all it was a decent little day on the water.  And since this particular spot was new to me, I got some good reconisence in for the next time, when I guarantee you I will have my seven foot rod, so that I can cast to the really good looking trout water that I couldn't quite reach on this particular day. 

Trout Fishing With Powerbait Is About More Than Those Little Jars Of Dough Bait

If you fish for trout you are undoubtedly aware of the trout bait known as Powerbait. Powerbait is, without question, a very effective bait to use when you are trout fishing.  However, something some anglers don't realize is that fishing with Powerbait is about more than those little jars of dough bait. You see, whether or not you realize it there are many Powerbait products which the manufacturer (Berkley) forms into various trout catching shapes, some of which drive trout crazy.   From simple trout worms, to eggs and nymphs the list of products under the Powerbait brand is very extensive. And many, if not all, of these trout baits catch fish and some of them should be a part of your trout fishing repertoire.

I'm going to outline a few of the baits that I use and the basic rigging method that I use while I am fishing for trout.  First we have the 3" floating trout worm.  These little worms are probably my favorite type of non traditional Powerbait product.  There are two effective ways to rig these trout worms, threading and wacky.  Threading involves taking a size #8 or #10 light wire fishing hook and "threading" the worm onto the hook starting with the head end so that the shank of the hook is covered and the barb is sticking out. Wacky involves simply hooking the worm once directly through the middle.  The wacky method looks strange, but is nonetheless effective.  Although all of the colors that these worms come in seem to work at various times, many trout fishermen insist on the color pink or bubblegum anytime that you are talking about trout fishing with Powerbait worms. 

Now, because we are using a small fishing hook and a 3" Power worm is quite light, some weight needs to be added to your line to make casting and retrieving possible.  I like to use a few split shot sinkers, 12 or so inches above the worm itself.  The amount of weight that you add will depend on various factors such as:  where you are fishing for trout, the depth of the water, and whether or not you are dealing with current.

 Next we have the PowerBait Power Nymph.  These little trout baits can be fished just like I outlined above or by using a small jig head.  This is my favorite method for using Power Nymphs.  I get a small jig head, usually 1/6 to 1/8 ounce.  I then thread the Power Nymph onto the jig head and am good to go.  This little rig will catch trout in both rivers and lakes and is a very effective trout fishing technique.

The bottom line is that when you think about trout fishing with Powerbait, there are more options available to you than you may realize.  And many of those options are at least as effective as those little jars of dough bait that we all know so well. 

Still Fishing For Rainbow Trout

Although my favorite manner in which to catch a rainbow trout (or any fish for that matter) is while I am standing in the flowing waters of a river, I am by no means a "trout fishing snob" and realize that many a rainbow is caught while fishing in a lake or pond. Make no mistake, in the spring of the year when the rivers and streams in my area become to high and muddy to effectively drift fish you will often find me still fishing for rainbow trout.

Therefore, I figured it was a good idea to outline the personal method that I use to still fish for rainbow

trout. Although the method isn't a state secret or anything, it is nonetheless very effective and should be known by any trout fisherman who enjoys the act of still fishing. So, for those of you who may not know, still fishing refers to the fact that the bait is "sitting still" while you are fishing. In other words a hook is baited and cast into a lake, then the bait is allowed to "sit still" until a inquisitive rainbow trout bites the offering.

The rudimentary picture that you see to the right is the rig that I personally use anytime that I am still fishing for rainbow trout.  It's very simple, but at the same time, very effective.

As far as the best bait to use when you are still fishing for trout, it's hard to go wrong with Berkley Powerbait or Berkley Power Eggs.   Rainbow trout (especially trout that have been stocked) love these baits!  The only difference that I've noticed between the two is that the eggs are easier to deal with and bait a hook with that traditional Powerbait.  Although, if you are using a small treble hook (I suggest #12 or #18) traditional Powerbait is much easier to use, because you can just mold it around your hook creating a small ball of trout bait.

Once you have a rig such as the one pictured above baited up and ready it is cast out and allowed to sink to the bottom.  Once on bottom, the slack line is slowly reeled in and your fishing rod is propped against a stationary object or rested on a forked stick or other rod holder.  At this point, the still fishing begins.

Still fishing for rainbow trout means waiting for a hungry trout to bite your offering.  My general "rule of thumb" is to wait 20-30 minutes and if there haven't been any bites, I reel and and re cast.  If this happens more than 2 times, I change spots.  And just in case you didn't know, when a hungry trout is biting your offering the tip of your rod will begin to bounce, at which time your gently pick up your rod and as soon as you feel weight, set the hook by lifting your rod straight back.

What was just outlined is the way in which I have caught hundreds of rainbow trout over the course of a couple of decades.  Although very simple, the technique is very effective and because it has worked for me, I know it will be very effective for you as well anytime that you feel the need to head out fishing for trout.

3 Tips That Will Help You Catch More Trout When Fishing With Powerbait

If you fish for trout you are undoubtedly aware of the trout bait known as "Powerbait", but did you know that this unique fishing bait is also available in options other than the trout bait that comes in little jars? Now don't get me wrong, I have been using traditional Powerbait to catch trout for more than twenty years and love the stuff, but the truth is that nowadays the line of Powerbait products is quite extensive and has value far beyond the world of trout fishing.

As a person who has been catching trout (mostly rainbow trout) with various Powerbait products for more than 20 years, below I will outline it by outline 3 tips that will help you catch more trout when you are using this unique type of trout bait. When added to your fishing arsenal, the tips will help you increase your catch rates anytime that you are using Powerbait to catch trout.

• The "Fresher" The Powerbait Product The Better - When you open any Powerbait product, whether it be the extruded trout bait or packaged "soft plastic" Powerbait, this is when it will be the most effective. Now does this mean that your bait needs to be replaced every fishing trip or two if it isn't used up?  No, not at all, but with each new fishing season, any Powerbait product that you use should be replaced for maximum effectiveness. The longer the bait sits after being opened, the less effective it tends to become because of scent loss. 


• Make The Focus Be The Bait - Many Powerbait products (such as Power trout worms, minnows, nymphs or eggs) are shaped just like live bait that they represent. This means that small fishing hooks or jigs should be used so that the focus of your offering is the bait and the scents that the bait is releasing into the water, rather than the fishing hook. If you want to fish with Powerbait and catch more fish, make sure that the fishing hooks or jigs that you use are as small as possible so that the focus of the offering is the bait.


• Fish When The Fish Are Most Active - This tip isn't limited to fishing with Powerbait and actually pertains to fishing with any type of bait, but fishing when the fish are the most active on a given day is as important as anything. So, how do you determine when the fish are going to be the most active? Simply by paying attention to things like the weather, the phase of the moon, and the moon rise and set and planning your fishing trip accordingly.

The bottom line is that these 3 simple tips will help you catch more fish anytime that you are fishing with the extremely effective bait known as Powerbait. 

You've Tried Berkly Power Eggs, Right?

For many years I have been using Berkley Powerbait to catch stocked trout.  There are plenty of posts using Powerbait to catch trout throughout this blog for because this particular trout bait is so darned effective when you are fishing for rainbow trout that have been planted into a body of water.  But the other day I was introduced to another form of Powerbait that for some strange reason had not been on my radar for all of these years?  Actually it's probably due to the fact that because the dough style of Powerbait has always resulted in success, so I had never tried to investigate the situation any further.  You know,  the "path of least resistance" rule?

In any case, due to one of my colleagues (whom I hadn't seen in quite a long time until the other day when we got a chance to wet a line) I am now abundantly aware of Power Eggs and I couldn't be happier. These little buggers are great!  All of the trout attracting power of the Powerbait dough bait that we are all so familiar with, but power eggs have a couple of unique distinctions.  The most important in my estimation is that Power eggs are much more durable and easy to use than the dough style Powerbait. 

Power eggs come in the same variety of colors as the dough style trout bait that we are all so familiar with, but stay on the hook much longer than you are probably used to.  As you are no doubt aware, traditional Powerbait becomes slimy and disintegrates in the water after a period of time (30 or so minutes in my experience) and comes off of the hook fairly easily for a variety of other reasons as well.  Well this is not the case when it comes to the much more durable Power eggs.  These unique fishing eggs stay on the hook, even after multiple bites.  My colleague actually caught 3 trout from 10-13 inches the day we were out fishing, without having to put on a new Power Egg!  I can promise you that nothing like this ever happens when traditional Powerbait is being used as bait.  I mean sure you'll catch trout, but you'll be re baiting after every caught trout.

The bottom line is that if you use dough style Powerbait when fishing for trout, do yourself a favor and give Power eggs a try the next time you head out trout fishing.  You may never buy the dough bait again?  Power eggs are just as effective, without all the hassle of the traditional version of Powerbait. 

How To Set Up For Trout Fishing With Powerbait

One of the easiest and most popular ways to catch a rainbow trout or two is by fishing with Powerbait. Powerbait and below I will outline how to set up for trout fishing with this unique type of trout bait. It is a set up that I have used successfully for more than twenty years.

Powerbait is an extruded dough bait that has been specifically designed to attract hungry trout and in my experience is quite effective. Every fishing season rainbow trout that have been raised in hatcheries are then released into waterways throughout the country for the express purpose of being caught by anglers. I have found that these trout are especially susceptible to being caught with the trout bait known as

Although stocked trout (rainbow trout that have been raised in a hatchery environment) definitely aren't the most cunning creatures on the planet, they do share DNA with native rainbow trout and therefore should be treated with some level of respect, even though they often aren't. Let's begin with the fishing line that your fishing reel is spooled with. The biggest mistake that most people make when trout fishing, no matter what type of trout bait they are employing, is to use line that's too heavy. I don't want you to make that mistake, so make sure that the fishing line that your reel is spooled with is no heavier than six pound test, with four or even two pound test being the ideal type of line to use when you are trout fishing with Powerbait.

Next we have the type of trout fishing hooks that are being used. Most people who trout fish with Powerbait opt to use a single treble hook. Others opt to use a single shank fishing hook or a set or gang hooks (which is simply a pair of single shank fishing hooks which have been tied back to back). The key when it comes to the fishing hooks that are used when fishing with Powerbait is that said fishing hooks are small. Single shank hooks should be #10 or smaller and treble hooks should be #12 or smaller.

Next we have the actual set up that will be used when you are fishing for trout. Start by grabbing the end of your line and cutting off a twelve to twenty four inch length of line. This will be your leader (which can be whatever length you prefer) and you can simply set this aside for now. Now slip a small egg sinker onto your line and tie a small barrel swivel to the end of the line. This will act as a 'stopper' for the sinker a well as giving you a place to tie your leader to. Now tie the leader that you just made to the other end of the barrel swivel and your fishing hook to the end of the leader.

You will notice that your set up now has your hook with a sinker that “floats” freely on the line. This is great because when an inquisitive trout bites your Powerbait they will feel no resistance from the sinker, it will be a “direct shot” to your rod tip. The hook is now covered completely with Powerbait and your rig is complete. This is an extremely effective way to set up for trout fishing with Powerbait. The rig is now cast into a lake, allowed to sink to the bottom, and “still” fished until a hungry rainbow trout detects and begins to bite your offering.

Ice Fishing For Trout: Simple Tips To Help Anyone Catch More Trout Through The Ice

Now that the winter has officially settled on us like a lazy dog lying on his bed next to the fireplace, ice fishing ice fishing for trout. Add one (or all) of these simple ice fishing tips to your ice fishing repertoire and you will begin experiencing more success when you are targeting trout under the ice.

is starting to heat up. One of the most popular fish to target when fishing through the ice are trout, and in this post I will outline a few tips that will help you catch more fish when

Anytime that ice fishing is being discussed, I think it's important to at least mention safe ice thicknesses. I realize this info is well known to experienced ice fishermen, but it's nonetheless worth mentioning for anyone who might be new to the idea of fishing on a frozen body of water. In almost all cases four inches of ice is considered safe for walking, drilling holes, and fishing through the ice.  The following tips are being listed in no particular order. Use the ones that feel right to you, discard the rest, but keep in mind that I adhere to all of them anytime that I head out onto the ice in search of rainbow trout.

Be On The Ice When The Trout Are Most Active: So how the heck do you know when the trout are the most active? Simple, by paying attention to the weather and moon and planning your fishing trips accordingly. The weather and moon have an amazing affect on the feeding behavior of trout and using this information to your advantage can be a big help when ice fishing for trout. Not only this, but when fishing through the ice the warmer parts of the day are generally more productive than the colder parts of the day.

Small Jigs Tipped With Bait Are Effective: Small jigs, either traditional twister tails or marabou, tipped with meal worms or maggots can be very effective when trout fishing through the ice. A key is to not provide much jigging action to your jig. As a matter of fact jigging you rod every few minutes should suffice. Trout are extremely sluggish under the ice and a lot of movement can "spook" them.

Don't forget the Powerbait: I realize that this may sound strange, but if the body of water you are fishing on contains "stocked" trout, fishing with Powerbait can be very effective when ice fishing. A great technique when ice fishing for stocked trout is to us a set of gang-hooks with a small ball of Powerbait covering each hook on a set of gang-hooks. This ice fishing rig can be fished on a regular ice fishing rod or a tip up.

Small Spoons Are Effective: Small spoons such as "Little Cleo's" can be quite effective when fishing through the ice for trout. Just as with jigs, any jigging action should be minimal in many cases. Small spoons can also be tipped with maggots or meal worms for more trout attracting power.

The bottom line is that when fishing for trout through the ice these tips have helped me over the past two decades and I know they will do the same for you. Now get out there, drill a hole or two, and begin starring through a hole in the ice!

Using Powerbait to Catch Rainbow Trout

If you fish for rainbow trout you need to familiarize yourself with a trout bait known as Powerbait. This dough style bait is manufactured by a company named Berkley and as an effective a bait as there is if you want to catch a rainbow trout. However there are two caveats that you should be aware of. First,the rainbow trout that you are attempting to catch have been "stocked" or "planted" into the water that you are fishing, hopefully within a fairly recent time frame, and second that you are fishing in a fairly stagnant water scenario such as a lake, pond, or large pool in a river.


Why is it that all of this is true? Well, I have spent the past twenty five years or so fishing for rainbow trout and much of that time has been while using Powerbait to catch these colorful fish and have learned through experience that all of these things are the case. I believe it has to do with "stocked" rainbow trout being used to being "fed", rather than hunting their own meals and that Powerbait is full of scents that disperse into the water around the bait as well as being quite colorful and both of these facts help our fairly uneducated friends locate their potential meal.
The biggest key to using Powerbait to catch trout is to use the bait in the way in which it was designed, which means to use it while you are bottom fishing in a lake or pond that contains rainbow trout. I have seen guys attempt to use Powerbait when they are fishing for rainbows in a river, and this is often like attempting to spit into the wind. It usually doesn’t end well. In order to use Powerbait to catch rainbow trout you want to make sure that you are bottom fishing in a lake or pond that contains rainbow trout, preferably that have been stocked into that body of water in the past 2-12 months.

You want to use a rig that allows your Powerbait to float off of the bottom so that the trout can see it easily. When making your bottom fishing rig you should employ either a single treble hook or a set of gang hooks. Whichever type of fishing hook you choose to use, the key is that you keep your hook (or set of gang hooks) small. Using small fishing hooks is a key to using Powerbait to catch rainbow trout. In the case of treble hooks, I suggest size #12 or even #18. In the case of gang hooks, I suggest size #8 or size #10. You want to make our bottom rig with some manifestation of slip sinker as well, which means that your sinker will be 'floating freely' on your fishing line.

The slip sinker should be kept a twelve to eighteen inch distance from you hook or gang hooks by using a small split shot sinker or swivel. This will make sure that your sinker doesn’t 'float' all the way down to your bait and interfere with your ability to fight any trout that are hooked. Also, when the rig is on the bottom, this will allow the Powerbait to float 12-18 inches off of the bottom where your sinker is. With whichever type of fishing hook that you are using, you want to make sure that all of the metal on the fishing hook is covered with bait and no more. This means that your ball (or balls of Powerbait in the case of gang hooks) is going to be pretty small. This is okay though, as I have found that hungry rainbow trout prefer to gobble up little meals, as opposed to a huge ball of Powerbait.

The baited rig is now cast into the water that is being fished and allowed to sink all the way to the bottom. Once on bottom, the slack line is slowly reeled in until your line is completely taut. Now the waiting begins. It's time to wait until an inquisitive rainbow trout smells your bait and begins to nibble on your offering. When this happens the tip of your rod will begin to bounce. When my rod tip is bouncing I like to gently pick up my rod and feel for the bouncing myself. When it feels like the trout has the Powerbait in its mouth, I set the hook by lifting my arm in an upward motion, hopefully hooking the trout.

What was just outlined is the fastest and easiest way of using Powerbait to catch rainbow trout in my opinion. I have been using this method to catch rainbows for more than twenty five years and know that it will work as well for you as it has for me.

Powerbait Fishing Rigs – Catch More Rainbow Trout

When it comes to fishing for rainbow trout, especially if the rainbow trout that are being targeted Powerbait. While trout fishing "purists" may scoff at using dough style trout baits such as Powerbait to catch a rainbow trout, the truth of the matter is that Powerbait is an extremely effective rainbow trout bait, especially when it comes to fishing for trout that have been raised in a hatchery. And can you guess what the most popular and prevalent hatchery raised trout species is? You got it, the rainbow trout.
have been stocked, there is one bait that stands out above all others in terms of effectiveness and that bait is known as

When you are fishing with Powerbait, trying to catch rainbow trout, it is vitally important that you use an effective rig and in this article I will outline a few of the rigs I have found to be effective over the last three or so decades of trout fishing. Truth be told, catching stocked rainbow trout isn't that God awful difficult, but if the proper rig is employed it tends to be much more effective, which means that you will catch more limits of delicious rainbows. These Powerbait fishing rigs are being listed in no particular order, are all effective, and all involve 3 common elements. A 12-24 inch two or four pound test leader, a weight, and a barrel swivel.

1. The Gang Hook Rig – The gang hook rig involves the use of a set of #8 or #10 gang hooks. A bullet or egg weight is slipped onto the end of your line. You want enough weight to hold the rig on the bottom and no more. A swivel is attached to your line which will act as a "stopper" and to prevent line twist. A set of gang hooks (which are tied on a 12-18 inch leader) is then tied to the opposite end of the barrel swivel. Each hook is then baited with a small ball of Powerbait (enough to cover the hook) and the rig is complete.
2. The Treble Hook Rig – This Powerbait rig involves the use of a #12 or #18 treble hook. The first thing that you do is cut a twelve to twenty four inch length of line (leader) from the end of your line and set it aside. Now, just as with the rig above a bullet or egg sinker is slipped onto your line and a barrel swivel is attached. Now the leader you just cut is tied to the opposite end of the swivel and a single treble hook to the opposite end of the leader. Powerbait is added to the hook and the rig is complete.
3. Adding Beads to Your Powerbait Rig– For either of the above rigs, a wrinkle that many rainbow trout Powerbait fishermen like to add, is a small plastic bead in between the sinker and the swivel. Why do they do this? Added attracting power. Lightly 'jigging" your rod tip as your Powerbait is sitting on bottom will cause a faint underwater tapping noise when the bead comes in contact with the sinker and it is said that this noise attracts hungry rainbows. I have success using beads and rather than letting my rig sit on the bottom while I "still fish" I slowly reel the Powerbait in while "jigging" my rod tip with every crank or two of my reel.

The bottom line is that the aforementioned Powerbait fishing rigs all work extremely well when fishing for rainbow trout. If you aren't using any of them, they should be added to your repertoire sooner, rather than later.

Does Powerbait Actually Work?

A question that I often get asked, especially by people who are new to the world of trout fishing is, "Does Powerbait actually work?" And my answer is always the same. Yes it works as long as you are fishing for a certain type of trout in a certain type of water. Now truth be told with all of the innovations that Berkley has done with Powerbait that makes this unique trout bait available in many different shapes and sizes, my answer could probably be amended, but the fact of the matter is that when most people think of the term Powerbait, they are thinking of the bait that comes in little jars and is molded onto a fishing hook.

In the case of the Powerbait that comes in little jars, yes is does work, especially when you are still fishing in a lake, pond, or very slow moving current and the trout that you are fishing for have been stocked into that water. In my 25 plus years of experience fishing for trout, still fishing while using Powerbait as bait is a very effective trout fishing technique. However, if you are fishing for trout in a river or stream the Powerbait that comes in jars will be of little use to you. You are much better off using Powerbait trout worms or minnows in these types of scenarios.

But the bottom line is that, yes Powerbait actually works, as long as you are fishing in a certain type of water for a certain type of trout.

How To Catch Rainbow Trout In a Lake

In this post I will outline how to catch rainbow trout in a lake using a very popular method, still fishing. Although trout can be caught using a variety of other techniques, still fishing is a difficult tactic to beat when it comes to catching rainbow trout in a lake. This type of fishing is the best way to fish while using the various dough style trout baits that are so effective when it comes to fishing for rainbow trout in lake and pond fishing situations.

The first thing that you are going to need is a rod holder of some sort to keep your fishing rod completely stationary while you are waiting on a trout to bite. A forked stick that you stick in the ground will work fine, as well as propping your rod against a rock or even your tackle box, but the point is that your rod needs to be completely stationary while you are waiting on the trout to bite.
Now we come to the rig that will be used. Here is exactly how I set up my rig anytime I am still fishing for rainbow trout in a lake. I start by taking the end of my line and slipping an egg sinker onto the line. I then tie a small barrel swivel to the end of my line, which acts as a "stopper" for the sinker. Now the sinker is "floating free" on my line, which means that when a rainbow bites it will feel no resistance from the sinker. I then tie an 18-24 inch leader (length of fishing line) to the opposite end of the swivel and my fishing hook to the end of the leader. I usually use a #12 or #18 treble hook or a set or #10 gang hooks (which already have a leader attached) as my fishing hook choice.

At this point trout flavored dough bait such as Powerbait is added to the fishing hook or hooks and the rig is cast into the lake. When the bait hits the water, keep the bail of your reel open and allow the sinker to sink all the way to the bottom. Once the sinker is on the bottom all of the slack line is slowly reeled in and the rod is placed on your rod holder. Once stationary, make sure that your line is completely taught. Now it's time to wait.

My general rule of thumb is to wait for thirty minutes to an hour. If you get no bites reel in, check your bait and recast. You will know when you have a bite from a hungry rainbow trout when the rod tip begins to bounce. Normally it won't be too aggressive, but sometimes a trout will just grab the bait and take of, so you always want to stay within a reasonable distance of your rod. In any case, this is how to catch a rainbow trout in a lake.

How To Fish For Trout With Powerbait

One of the most popular ways to fish for trout is with Powerbait and in this post I will outline a very simple and effective way to do it. The first thing to understand about using Powerbait to catch trout is that in almost all instances you will be fishing for rainbow trout that have been stocked (which simply means that these trout have been raised in a hatchery for the express purpose of being caught by anglers). Stocked rainbow trout aren't generally the most difficult fish to catch and Powerbait is an excellent bait to use to catch them.

If you want to know how to fish for trout with Powerbait, you are going to be still fishing, which simply means that you cast your bait into the water and (wait for it) let it sit still. Yep, a pretty simple idea, however there are some rules that need to be adhered to. First, you want to make sure that you are using fishing hooks that are very small. This means if you are using tradition "bait holder" style hooks you should use size #8, #10, or even #12. And if you are using a treble hook you should use size #12 or #18. Small fishing hooks are used when you are fishing with Powerbait, because a little bit goes a long way. The bait is impregnated with trout attracting scents that disperse throughout the water to attract hungry trout so large portions aren't necessary. This and stocked trout are used to eating small portions and generally aren't in search of large chunks of food.

Second you want to make sure that you are utilizing light fishing line. The lighter your line, the better, because the lighter your line is the less visible it will be to the trout that you are attempting to catch, which means that you will receive more bites. This means that two, four, or six pound test should be used, and nothing heavier.

And finally we have the way is which your Powerbait is rigged and fished. Begin by cutting a piece of fishing line off that is 12-18 inches long and set it aside (this will be your "leader"). At this point an egg sinker that is at least a 1/4 of an ounce in weight is slipped onto your line and a small barrel swivel is tied onto the end of the line. The swivel will act as a 'stopper' for the egg sinker and will prevent your line from becoming twisted when trout are hooked. Now the section of line that was cut off earlier (the "leader") is tied to the opposite end of the swivel. Now your hook is tied to the other end of the "leader".

Now enough Powerbait is molded onto your fishing hook to completely cover the hook and the rig is cast into the water. Keep the bail of your reel open and allow the rig to sink to the bottom. Once on bottom, slowly reel in the slack line and rest your fishing rod in a forked stick that you have placed into the ground. Make sure that your line is totally taught and wait for a trout to bite. Every 30 or so minutes, if you haven't received any bites, reel your rig in, replace the Powerbait, and recast. What was just described is how to fish for trout with Powerbait.

Easy Ways To Fool Rainbow Trout

If you are new to the world of fishing for rainbow trout, you are more than likely looking for some easy ways to catch a few of these beautiful fish, and in this post I will help you with this common problem. Below I will outline a few easy ways to fool rainbow trout, so that you can begin to get some experience under your belt when it comes to the act of "trout fishing".

The first thing to keep in mind is that often rainbow trout are stocked or planted into various waterways for the express purpose of being caught by anglers. This means that the trout have been raised in a hatchery by human beings and thus aren't the most difficult type of trout to catch. You can find out if the waterway that you intend to fish has been stocked with rainbow trout by calling you local fish and game department or by asking the helpful staff at any place that sells fishing equipment and gear.

The easiest way to fool a stocked rainbow trout in a lake or a pond is by fishing with a trout bait known as Powerbait. Powerbait can be purchased is small "nuggets" or as a dough that you mold arpound your fishing hook. The best way to fish with Powerbait is to "still fish" on a basic bottom fishing rig. A detailed explanation of this trout fishing technique can be found here.

The next easy way to fool rainbow trout, a technique that can be used in a river, stream, or lake is to cast and retrieve a small in line spinner (1/32, 1/16 or 1/8 of an ounce). Small inline spinners have been a popular trout bait for a very long time and are extremely simple and easy to use, even by the novice trout fisherman. A small inline spinner is tied to the end of your line, cast out, and retrieved. It's as simple as that. Try varying the speed of your retrieve, which will change the depth at which the spinner holds in the water column, until you find the depth at which the trout are holding.

Fooling rainbow trout (especially when you are fishing for stocked trout) really isn't that difficult and the two ways outlined above will no doubt accomplish this task. Now get out there and catch a few rainbows, either for dinner for for fun.

3 Tips That Will Help You Catch More Trout When You Are Fishing With Powerbait

There is little doubt that for spin fishermen, Powerbait is a "go to" bait when it comes to fishing for trout. This fact is especially true during the spring of the year when river flows become high and muddy due to spring rains and snow run off from the mountains. When these things occur, rivers become all but un-fishable and when this happens, the only recourse that many spin fishing trout anglers have is to head out to their local lake or pond that contains trout.

When a lake or pond contains trout (often rainbow trout) it means that these fish have been stocked (or put there for the express purpose of being caught by fishermen). Well, when you are fishing for trout that have been stocked one of the best trout baits on the planet to use to catch them is Powerbait , which is a dough bait that is manufactured by Berkley. Powerbait is used for trout fishing by molding in around a fishing hook and then "bottom fishing" until a hungry trout swims by and smells your bait.

The first tip that I have in relation to fishing with Powerbait is to use fishing hooks that are very small. Small balls of Powerbait seem to always outfish large chucks mainly because small chunks are easier for hungry trout to engulf than large balls of Powerbait. If using a single bait holder, salmon egg, or set of gang hooks this means that size #10 hooks should be employed. If using a single treble hook, size #12 or even #18 hook is the way to go for trout fishing.

The second tip is to make sure that the Powerbait that is being used is as "fresh" as possible. A new jar of bait for each fishing trip certainly isn't necessary, but replacing your bait every season is. I have always found the "fresh" Powerbait will outfish stale or old Powerbait.

The third tip that will help you catch more fish when fishing with Powerbait is to be on the water at the most productive time of the day. How are you supposed to determine the most productive time of the day? By learning and paying attention to how the weather and moon impact trout fishing. You would be surprised at how much these these two factors have to due with whether or not the trout fishing will be productive.

Make these 3 simple tips a part of your trout fishing repertoire and you will catch more trout the next time that you are using the trout bait known as Powerbait.

Powerbait Tips - How To Fish With Powerbait

Fishing with the trout bait known as Powerbait seems quite simple, and on the surface it surely is, but the truth of the matter is that if taken somewhat seriously fishing with Powerbait is actually more effective than you have probably ever thought possible. Below I will outline a few Powerbait tips that you may have never considered and will no doubt make you a more successful trout fisherman.
When most people think of this unique type of trout bait they automatically think of the little jars that are filled with the bait, which is then molded over a fishing hook to be used when trout fishing. This is probably what most people think of because this is the most popular (and easiest) way to utilize Powerbait. Just bait your hook, throw it into a lake, and still fish until a hungry trout bites, right?

But the fact of the matter is that there are other Powerbait products such as the floating trout and steelhead worm, micro wiggler, 1" nymph, grub, and Power minnow that are all very effective when used while trout fishing as well. If you want to know how to fish with Powerbait, these other options should be added to your trout fishing arsenal as well. All of these forms of trout bait have been manufactured with the same trout attracting scents as the bait sold in the little jars, which makes all of them extremely effective when used while fishing fort trout.

For example floating trout or steelhead worms, micro wigglers, and minnows can be used while drift fishing for trout and are often just as, if not more, effective as their live counterparts when fishing for trout in the current of a river or stream. And how about threading a Powerbait nymph or grub onto a 1/32 or 1/16 ounce jig head and fishing your lake or river that has been stocked with rainbow trout? There is little doubt that these are some of the best Powerbait tips that you will come across when it comes to using Powerbait for trout.

Just remember, if you want to know how to fish with this unique type of trout bait, don't forget to "think outside the box" a bit and utilize the other ways in which Powerbait can help you catch trout. While traditional Powerbait that is sold in small jars is a very effective trout bait choice, there are other options that enable you to engage in trout fishing techniques other than still fishing from the shore of your favorite trout lake.

Powerbait Fishing : 3 Rules To Abide By When You Are Fishing With Powerbait

When it comes to catching trout that have been stocked into a body of water, Fishing with Powerbait is an excellent way to catch them. While some anglers will use this unique trout bait while fishing in rivers and streams, I have always found it to be most effective when used while "still fishing" in a lake or pond that has been stocked with trout. No matter how you go about Powerbait fishing, you can increase you bite and catch rates if you abide by a few simple rules.

Below, I will list these rules so that they can be added to your trout fishing arsenal the next time that you head out and with the intent of catching some trout while using Powerbait. It's important to point out that a majority of the trout that you will be caught using Powerbait are trout that have been stocked, which means that they have been raised in a hatchery and released for the express purpose of being caught by fishermen. Because these trout have not been born and bred in a natural environment, they tend to be much less weary than their native cousins who were born in a natural environment. The reason that I point this out is because the trout that will be caught while fishing with Powerbait tend to be fairly easy to catch. But this doesn't mean that there aren't things that you can do to "tip the odds" into your favor so that you experience more success when fishing for them, which is where these 3 rules come into play.

The first rule is to do your best to keep any human scents off of the bait itself. Anytime that you are fishing with Powerbait this can be a difficult task because the bait has to be molded around your fishing hook in some way and the obvious choice for doing this is your fingers (which obviously contain all sorts of 'unnatural' scents). The easiest way to remedy this problem is to use a 'scoop' or 'press' that can be inserted into the Powerbait so that the bait can be taken out with out you the angler touching it with your fingers. Some versions even enable you to 'press' the Powerbait into a perfect ball, all without actually touching the bait. This obviously keeps any human scents of the bait which results in more bites from hungry trout.

The second rule that you need to adhered by when you are Powerbait fishing is to not use too much bait. Remember we aren't trying to catch large mouth bass, we are fishing for stocked rainbow trout, which prefer fairly small food sources. For this reason you always want to make sure that you use just enough Powerbait to cover your fishing hook and no more. If you use too much bait, you will receive less bites, it's as simple as that.

And the final rule that needs to be considered anytime that you are fishing with Powerbait is to use "fresh" bait. Many times we have bait that is left over from the prior fishing year and this bait is not nearly as effective as is found in a new jar. So if the jar has been opened and used, then just sat around waiting to be used again for a year or more, chuck it and buy a new jar. I mean heck, it only costs a few bucks, and I have always found "fresh" Powerbait to be more effective than a jar that has been sitting around for a year of more.

How To Rig Powerbait To Catch More and Bigger Trout

Are you interested in knowing how to rig Powerbait to catch more trout? I assume so, or you wouldn't be reading this article. In this article I'm going to reveal the best way to rig Powerbait to catch more trout, and the best times to use said trout rig. These two valuable pieces of information will help anyone catch more trout on their next fishing outing.

When talking about trout and Powerbait I think it's important to describe what it is we're fishing for. When you use Powerbait for trout the bottom line is that you're fishing for stocked fish, rather than 'native' fish. These are trout that have been raised and 'planted' by the government. There's nothing wrong with this, it's just the way it is. For the most part the rig that I'm going to describe is used for still fishing in lakes. This can be modified as you see fit, but for me, Powerbait is only used when still fishing is lakes for stocked trout.

Many people ask what color Powerbait is best. I've always said that I've never believed that it matters. If one color isn't working, try another color, it's as simple as that. Stocked trout are no very sophisticated (to say the least) and I simply don't think that color matters much. The important thing to remember is that whatever color you use, make sure that it floats. Flotation is the important aspect this type of trout bait.

Begin by taking the end of your line and slipping on an egg sinker (1/4 to ½ ounce). Now tie on a small barrel swivel (size 10 or 12). The barrel swivel acts as a "stopper" for the weight and helps to prevent line twist. Now tie on a set of gang hooks, size 8 or 10 is usually best or a #12 or #18 Treble hook. Now add enough Powerbait to each hook to completely cover each hook. In other words, when you're done you'll have either one or two balls of Powerbait hanging from the end of your line depending on whether you used gang hooks or a single treble hook. This is how to rig Powerbait to catch more trout.
 
Now cast this rig into the lake, let it sink, and slowly reel in the slack line. Now prop your rod against an immovable object and wait. Your line should be completely taught. The rod tip will bounce when you start to get a bite (it shouldn't take long). Now how do you make sure that you're fishing at the best time?

The best time to be on the water fishing is determined by the weather and moon. All you have to do is pay attention to the weather and moon, and plan your fishing trips accordingly. Seriously, the weather and moon have an incredible impact on the feeding activity of trout and the better you understand this phenomenon the better. This might sound strange, but it's nonetheless true.
Begin using these tips sooner, rather than later and you will begin catching more trout. Albeit stocked trout, but hey sometimes an anglers got to do what he or she has to do.

Using Powerbait For Trout Fishing

A question that comes up a lot for anglers new to trout fishing is how to use Powerbait for trout fishing. Let's begin by defining the term "Powerbait". When I refer to the word "Powerbait" I'm referring to any synthetic bait that comes in a small container and is molded onto a hook as bait. Synthetic baits like this are made by different companies, and the only important thing, as far as catching trout is concerned, is that your synthetic bait floats.

Using Powerbait for trout fishing is really quite simple. There are a few things that can be done to tip the odds into your favor though. The first of these things is to make sure that your using light fishing line. We are talking about fishing for trout, which means that the water that you're going to be fishing in should be fairly clear. Couple this with the fact that trout have very keen eyesight, and the bottom line is that you should be employing light fishing line. I suggest four-pound test monofilament.

The next tip is to make sure that you're using small hooks. The smaller your hooks, the les visible those hooks will be to the fish (which is a good thing). Again, trout have very keen eyesight and can detect hooks very easily. For this reason, small fishing hooks should be employed. I suggest size 8 or 10 hooks for almost all trout fishing.

Along with the size of your hooks, the way your hooks are set up is important as well. This is why I suggest using gang hooks. If you don't know what gang hooks are, they are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, thus enabling you to present bait naturally, or in the case of Powerbait, gang hooks enable you present twice as much bait. Doesn't it seem as if this would work to your advantage?

Here's a great rig for using Powerbait to catch trout. Begin by taking the end of your line and slipping on a small egg sinker (1/4 to ½ an ounce). Now tie on a small barrel swivel, which will act as a "stopper" and help prevent line twist. On the other end of the barrel swivel, tie on a set of pre-tied gang hooks (size 8 or 10). Now add enough synthetic bait to each hook to completely cover each individual hook. This is your rig. Now cast it out and let it sink.

Slowly reel in the slack line and set your rod against a solid object. You want your line to be completely taught. Your rod tip will start to bounce whenever you get a bite. My normal rule of thumb is to wait thirty to forty five minutes, and if I don't receive any bites, I check my bait and re-cast. This rig works extremely well for trout fishing with Powerbait (or any floating trout bait).

Another important thing to keep in mind is when you are fishing. That's right, there are some times that are better than others, which is why you should always pay attention to the weather and moon. That's right knowing how the weather & moon relate to fishing will pay huge dividends in your fishing success. This simple information has a huge impact on you catching trout, believe it or not.

These simple tips and techniques will help you catch more trout when fishing with Powerbait, or any other synthetic trout bait. How am I so sure of this fact? Because, I've been using this exact information to catch more trout for more than 20 years and know how effective it is.

How To Catch A Trout From Shore

At this time of the year many anglers are reserved to catching trout from the banks of a lake. In most cases this means a lake that has been stocked with trout. While this most certainly isn't my personal favorite way to catch a trout, it suffices when there are no other trout fishing options

Stocked trout, such as the ones that we'll be fishing for love artificial bait. Baits such as Powerbait, corn, cheese, and marshmallows can all be employed. In this post I'm going to assume that Powerbait (or some other floating form of dough bait) is going to be used. Why? Because this is the type of bait that I've had the most success with fishing for stocked trout.

A basic bottom rig is what we want to use, so the first thing that needs to be done is to slip an egg sinker onto your line. Now tie a small barrel swivel onto your line that will act as a 'stopper' for your egg sinker. Now a leader that's 12 inches to 3 feet needs to be tied onto the other end of the barrel swivel. On the end of the leader, tie a small hook (size 8 or 10). Rather than the leader and hook, tie a set of pre-made gang hooks onto the other end of the swivel, if you have them available. Gang hooks are the most effective way to use this rig, but either way will suffice. At this point you add enough floating dough bait (Powerbait) to cover the hook, or hooks in the case of gang hooks, and you're good to go.

At this point you cast your rig out and let it sink to the bottom. Gently reel in the slack line, until your line is taught. Obviously your rod needs to be sitting in a rod holder of some kind (many people use a forked stick). As you can probably imagine, with this rig your egg sinker will be on the bottom, and your bait will be floating between the sinker and the end of your rod. This rig is a very effective way too catch these lake bound stocked trout.

The same rig can be used while fishing a live worm, and some marshmallows to float said worm off of the bottom. The live worm technique can be quite effective as well, although I would definitely suggest gang hooks be used with a live worm. A set of pre-tied gang hooks is best way to present a worm in a natural manner. The bottom line is that this technique is a great way to catch trout from the banks of a lake.