small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

[KRS]

Okay, I've taken the kids out fishing 5 times, with no results. others are catching fish (corn, powerbait, etc.) so I mimic them without results.<br /><br />It's been unusually warm and I'm hoping it will chill off and the bite will get better.<br /><br />My point... I want some positive fishing experiences for my kids (7 yrs old, 6, and 2) before they begin thinking that fishing isn't fun.<br /><br />I have fished, (in the Safford Arizona area) Roper Lake, Dankworth Pond, Cluff Pond, and the County Park lakes.<br /><br />Looking for thoughts/ideas/suggestions/locations.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

What pound line are you using?

 

[one more cast]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

Small hook, light line, small or no sinkers.

 

[KRS]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

I rig like this... 4-6 lb test, down to sliding sinker, swivel tied on, then snap a snelled hook onto swivel, then powerbait on hook.<br /><br />Everyone was rigging differently, some were using split shot above the bait, some were putting hooks above the sinker, which was last.

 

[AzMeadMan]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

Hey Az, We fish trout all the time up on the rim. We have been to Riggs Flat up on Graham a couple of times too. Great lake and very beautiful, worth the drive up the mountain and that twisty road. Too bad it is closed this time of year. Tried Roper once after we got chased off Graham by a winter strom. Didn't do well in the 4 hours we where there. <br /><br />This is what works best for us. 4 to 6 Lb line to a sinker, 3 to 5 Ft leader made out of 4 Lb Fly tippet and a 10 to 14 size hook tied directlly to the tippet. No snelled hooks. Cover the entire hook with Powerbait. Corn flavored, Rainbow glitter or lime green. Then chuck it out as far as you can. Let it sink, tighten the line and let it sit. Sometimes the strikes are real lite so you have to watch all the time.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

I usually talk about Bass, but I have done my share of trout fishing.<br /><br />Smaller is better, after all, ya cant shove a whole Big Mac in your mouth at the same time can you? (Maybe you can), but you want the whole bait in the fishes mouth.<br /><br />I like slip rigs if Im fishing on the bottom. Run the line through the sinker eye, (no bigger than you have to to cast), then a small swivel, (larger than the sinker eye), then about 2' of 4# leader and a small hook. I like the tiny trebles with the spring to hold the bait. After you cast out, tighten the line, then let just enough slack in the line so you can see it move if a fish takes it. The line will run through the sinker which translates into the fish not feeling you before you feel the fish.<br /><br />If the fish are schooling around towards the surface, I like those very small and light pencil bobbers. about 2-3' of leader under the bobber with no weight. (tied to just one end of the bobber). You normally dont have to cast out very far. Wait for the bobber to stand up and start down before setting the hook, they normally will just play with it first so if you set the hook when you first see the bobber twich you will miss them.<br /><br />Trout normally school around the edges of where they are, thats why you will catch a few and then have to wait for them to come back around.<br /><br />Think small and lite. I still like worms best!

 

[68Dartman]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

well im new here but............i love useing a worm tail with yarn(ya i know sounds stupid).around here trout love white yarn

 

[tomatolord]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

Trout? <br /><br />Fish for anything.<br /><br />Gold hooks are another secret<br /><br />do any type of fishing<br /><br />around docks or stumps or pilings or brush<br /><br />bobbers with worms, minnows, add some powerbait.<br /><br />I fish from the shore with the younger kids so they can play and then when something is on the hook I call them over to reel it in.<br /><br />My older 8 I take with me trolling and he enjoys my brother and myself as much as anything else.<br /><br />One thing that fishing does for younger kids is it teaches them to relax and not to be entertained for every minute like tv and games entertain them.<br /><br />The quieting of the mind is what you need to teach your kids, if you try to make fishing like a video game you are missing the enjoyment of fishing.<br /><br />Tomatolord.

 

[68Dartman]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

you said it Tomatolord,there is never a bad day fishing,id rather be on the water in the pooring rain that sitting behind some desk

 

[LubeDude]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

Originally posted by 68Dartman:<br /> I'd rather be on the water in the pooring rain that sitting behind some desk

Hey, Ill fish in pouring rain, but dont ask me to work out in it!!!!

 

[68Dartman]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

lol man you cant beat it.

 

[Silver/Fish]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

We have fished out west a few times, plus here in michigan over the years. When the fly rod just insn't working, we switch to a split shot and "fire balls" (red colored salmon eggs) Deadly for trout! <br /><br />Try to stay away from the snelled hooks and swivels if you can...Best of Luck!<br /><br /><br />"I travel Not to go anywhere," Robert Louis Stevenson once said. "But to Go!"

 

[jtexas]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

Tip: when using an egg sinker above a swivel, a glass bead between 'em reduces the chances of the lead cutting through the knot.<br /><br />BF, the rig you described...the bait is on the bottom, right? Sinker below the hook holds it off the bottom.<br /><br />KRS, if you were mimicing the successful fisherman, any chance maybe you just weren't detecting strikes? Sometimes you don't feel 'em, just see the line move a little - gotta watch the line. Bobber really helps in cases like that.<br /><br />Interesting comment, tomatolord - "fishing like a video game" - teaching my nephews (age 8 & 9) about moving up from spincast to spinning tackle, I described it as "levelling up - this is level 2 fishing." They immediately understood.

 

[brother chris]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

I know this thread is from a couple months ago, but I went out trout fishing last weekend, on Father's day and we caught 10 trout.
We used trout killers. We had hits all day. It was awesome...totally awesome!!!
B.C.

 

[dan3260]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

Okay, I've taken the kids out fishing 5 times, with no results. others are catching fish (corn, powerbait, etc.) so I mimic them without results.<br /><br />It's been unusually warm and I'm hoping it will chill off and the bite will get better.<br /><br />My point... I want some positive fishing experiences for my kids (7 yrs old, 6, and 2) before they begin thinking that fishing isn't fun.<br /><br />I have fished, (in the Safford Arizona area) Roper Lake, Dankworth Pond, Cluff Pond, and the County Park lakes.<br /><br />Looking for thoughts/ideas/suggestions/locations.

I use 4lb test tied to a three way swivel. Tie main line to swivel, then tie about 2 feet of line to lower part of swivel and attatch a bell sinker. Next tie 2 feet of leader and hook. I use power bait set at the eye of the hook and thread a worm through the hook and leave just enough worm to wiggle.

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

Here's my rig for trout anywhere in Arizona,White Mountains,up on the rim,Flagstaff,where ever.Spinning rod,or for the kids a Zebco,4 or 6 lb test.Slip bobber,3" is good for the kids and they will play while watching it.learn to tie your bobber stop good,I use a square knot after pulling it really tight,then clipping off the extra string.size 6 Aberdeen Eagle Claw hook,and a small spilit shot.I catch them with worms,little wigglers.or you can tie on a powerbait treble with the spring on the shank to keep the power bait on.Start out with about six foot under your bobber stop.If nothing move it up on your line until you find where they are biting.If your bobber is tipped to the side in the water,it is on the bottom,move it down on your line 6" at a time.Try it for anything,Just stay off the bottom or you will be tieing bobber stops all day with the kids.Good luck.And you will have fun,and your hands will smell like fish.

 

[Colorado_Cat_Daddy]

Re: small lakes, stocker trout, fishing help please

I use 4lb test tied to a three way swivel. Tie main line to swivel, then tie about 2 feet of line to lower part of swivel and attatch a bell sinker. Next tie 2 feet of leader and hook. I use power bait set at the eye of the hook and thread a worm through the hook and leave just enough worm to wiggle.

I use this exact method with extremely positive results. I use 4lb to a 3 way swivel and 10"-15" line of 6lb to a bell sinker and 18"-24" 6lb leader to hook. Cut the worm before threading to hook, use a marshmallow or powerbait beads (pink,orange, and chartreuse work well) to help float your presentation. My 6 year old and 3 year old out fish me with this set up... I usually can't drop my line in before they have a strike...lol