Posted By salmonking on 14 Dec 2011 11:38 PM
CQ,
Great topic. I have to favor cast and trolling for trout. I still drift eggs and worms. But I will still soak bait because of my youngest. He is still in training, with about a year left to go before both my sons are able to fish lures on their own.

I agree still fishing is best for youngsters.

Had an instance this spring where my uncle, his friend, and myself were in the boat. My uncle and I were doing the usual...casting spinners and joe-flies. My uncle's friend was still fishing...and killing them! I thought, hmm...I want in on this. I had a rod already rigged for powerbait, so I joined him. After I sat there and watched him boat 4 more trout, while I hadn't had a nibble, I noticed his rigging while he was rebaiting. He was using a sort of drop shot deal, where the floating powerbait would rise a foot or two above the sinker...perfect for the weedbed we were over. After changing to his rigging, I immediately started catching. When my bait was lying down there in the grass, I might as well been using a bare hook! I think either method can be superior, depending on conditions, but my favorite will always be casting lures.
                                                    

Posted By mo65 on 15 Dec 2011 07:33 AM
Had an instance this spring where my uncle, his friend, and myself were in the boat. My uncle and I were doing the usual...casting spinners and joe-flies. My uncle's friend was still fishing...and killing them! I thought, hmm...I want in on this. I had a rod already rigged for powerbait, so I joined him. After I sat there and watched him boat 4 more trout, while I hadn't had a nibble, I noticed his rigging while he was rebaiting. He was using a sort of drop shot deal, where the floating powerbait would rise a foot or two above the sinker...perfect for the weedbed we were over. After changing to his rigging, I immediately started catching. When my bait was lying down there in the grass, I might as well been using a bare hook! I think either method can be superior, depending on conditions, but my favorite will always be casting lures.
                                                    

Good story. I was talking to some guy about fishing once at a tire shop and he told me that was his "big secret" as well. He said he would float powerbait a couple feet off the bottom and knock em dead. And from what I understand, stocked trout (for some reason that im not immediately aware of) apparently dwell on the bottom for the most part. So what better place to place your bait?

Thanks CQ. I have since modified the rig to a more "troutable" set up. I now go through an egg sinker(1/4 oz.) to a swivel. Then there's an 18" leader to the hook. Any catfisherman will recognize this rig...it's exactly what I use for flatheads...only smaller. Trout are a lot like cats, in that they will drop the bait if they feel the sinker. That egg sinker allows them to move off without feeling so much weight.
                                                                                                                                                                                           

Great topic CQ, I mostly fish for bass but i do some trout fishing and this has helped me out with some good tips. when i do go trout fishing i will add some of these methodsand see how well they will work for me ...THANK YOU ALL JOHN

Posted By jtaylor23 on 15 Dec 2011 06:49 PM
Great topic CQ, I mostly fish for bass but i do some trout fishing and this has helped me out with some good tips. when i do go trout fishing i will add some of these methodsand see how well they will work for me ...THANK YOU ALL JOHN

That's what the forums are all about! Learning new stuff! And I believe a lot of techniques used for trout can be used for bass and vice versa.

Mo65 your rig sounds awful like a Carolina rig! At least the same principal. I also use a similar rig for any situation where I think or know the fish are near the bottom. The reason hatchery trout feed on the bottom is that is the way they are fed when raised. Discovered this on a tour of the Missouri trout hatchery at Raging River in SW Mo.

Yes, this rig is similar to a Carolina rig, but it lacks the all important glass bead. A true Carolina rig has the bead banging against the sinker for added attraction. No need for this still fishing though. Now that Pegsguy has mentioned the hatchery...I have another tip that may help. If you're going to use Powerbait or some similar pellets, use the plain brown/yellow pellets. They match the pellets that are fed to the trout in the hatchery. They produce better than the wildly colored pellets...at least in this neck of the woods.                  
                                                                                              

The slip sinker rig has been around a lot longer than the carolina rig, I learned about it in the neighborhood of 50 years ago. As for the drop shot style rig, that has been a common bait rig for cats and other fish for decades. Both predate Nick Creme's original products by a lot.
Another way to fish bait in the weeds, if they mat like some do is, to use a casting bubble for weight, fill it and it will sink slowly and sit on top of or settle very little into the weed mats. Can be fixed or used as a slip sinker. Obviously a shallow water rig.

Well I don't know much about the Carolina rig but I've been using THIS type of rig for a couple years- with one modification. Instead of an egg slip sinker, I use a bullet weight/sinker- the same type used with plastic worms in bass fishing. The bullet weight will pull through the weeds/grass more easily. You can put a small bead below it on top of the knot to help protect the knot from abrasion. I just put a snap swivel on the end of the mainlilne with the weight above it. That way I can change the length of my leader depending on the height of the weeds. Use a SMALL treble hook- they hold the powerbait better than others.

Posted By prober on 16 Dec 2011 03:28 PM
Well I don't know much about the Carolina rig but I've been using THIS type of rig for a couple years- with one modification. Instead of an egg slip sinker, I use a bullet weight/sinker- the same type used with plastic worms in bass fishing. The bullet weight will pull through the weeds/grass more easily. You can put a small bead below it on top of the knot to help protect the knot from abrasion. I just put a snap swivel on the end of the mainlilne with the weight above it. That way I can change the length of my leader depending on the height of the weeds. Use a SMALL treble hook- they hold the powerbait better than others.

I fish the same set up Matt.  I also use something simular to a drop shot, with a long leader. This rig works when there are long grass/weeds or something of that nature.

As far as a "superior" method of fishing, I don't know... each method you've brought up has their proper time and place. As far as personal preference, mine is casting spoons (Red Eyes, Little Cleos, Krocs) with one rod/reel, stillfishing (or "deadsticking") with a 2nd rod/reel from the nearest Lake Michigan pier or jetty. If the fish are hitting the spoons, I pack up the deadstick. If they're pounding the tar out of the still bait, I deadstick with both rods. I was always of the opinion that trolling was the boat doing the fishing and not the boater, but when the fish are biting trolled lures and spoons, then trolling's the thing. Gotta go with what's working that day.

Posted By jig fisher on 21 Dec 2011 12:19 PM
As far as a "superior" method of fishing, I don't know... each method you've brought up has their proper time and place. As far as personal preference, mine is casting spoons (Red Eyes, Little Cleos, Krocs) with one rod/reel, stillfishing (or "deadsticking") with a 2nd rod/reel from the nearest Lake Michigan pier or jetty. If the fish are hitting the spoons, I pack up the deadstick. If they're pounding the tar out of the still bait, I deadstick with both rods. I was always of the opinion that trolling was the boat doing the fishing and not the boater, but when the fish are biting trolled lures and spoons, then trolling's the thing. Gotta go with what's working that day.

You use TWO rods? At once?

I use two rods at once often, is that an oddity? Maybe its not legal in some places. Also I noticed several guys commenting on the bullet sinker's improved performance in weeds. I can see their intention, but an egg sinker comes through weeds just as well. After all, an egg is round...not exactly something to catch a weed. Look at the compared rigging, the Carolina rig. It uses an egg sinker. I guess if I ever experience weeds hanging up on my rig, I will try the bullet sinker.
                                                                                                 

Posted By mo65 on 22 Dec 2011 06:39 AM
I use two rods at once often, is that an oddity? Maybe its not legal in some places. Also I noticed several guys commenting on the bullet sinker's improved performance in weeds. I can see their intention, but an egg sinker comes through weeds just as well. After all, an egg is round...not exactly something to catch a weed. Look at the compared rigging, the Carolina rig. It uses an egg sinker. I guess if I ever experience weeds hanging up on my rig, I will try the bullet sinker.
                                                                                                 

Oh it's just that it is illegal where I live and the surrounding states. You actually can get what they call a two pole endorsement though if you pay extra on your license. I have enough trouble catching fish with just ONE rod though!

Posted By Captain Quantum on 22 Dec 2011 05:50 PM

Posted By mo65 on 22 Dec 2011 06:39 AM
I use two rods at once often, is that an oddity? Maybe its not legal in some places. Also I noticed several guys commenting on the bullet sinker's improved performance in weeds. I can see their intention, but an egg sinker comes through weeds just as well. After all, an egg is round...not exactly something to catch a weed. Look at the compared rigging, the Carolina rig. It uses an egg sinker. I guess if I ever experience weeds hanging up on my rig, I will try the bullet sinker.
                                                                                                 

Oh it's just that it is illegal where I live and the surrounding states. You actually can get what they call a two pole endorsement though if you pay extra on your license. I have enough trouble catching fish with just ONE rod though!

Before moving to Cali, I paid the extra to use two rods in Washington. I also pay the extra $ for it here too in Cali. Helps out during trolling and also allows one to soak and then toss my rooster tails, berzerker, kastmaster and mini jigs.

The question is which method is superior? As for me, I don't care. I love trout fishing, but I have almost all but given up the bait (too boring) and spinners (too easy). For years now, I've been heavy into fly fishing the local mountains here in CA for wild brown, cutthroat, rainbows, golden and brook trout. You drive and then hike into remote areas, tie on a hand-tied fly from your own fly tying table, lay a nice cast into a deep, clear pool and watch as the wary trout come up and inhale your offering. Oh, you may not catch 3# or larger lunker "factory raised and planted" trout meant for the dinner table, but you may never run into another person the entire day. I've spent days catching dozens of beautiful fighting native trout in their own habitat and left with pictures and stories to share with friends. Is fly fishing superior to all other forms of trout fishing? Probably not, but it's all in how you define "superior".

In my area of the world, bait is not legal, except, 2 of our rivers that do allow eggs, from Sept. 15 thru Nov. 1. You may only use artificial bait and/or lures, in fresh water, except those two rivers, at that time. The only time you can use two poles is when trollin' for winter kings from Jan1 thru May1, in salt waters! Needless to say, I'm forced to prefer trollin/castin'!
Allen

Posted By Troutinator on 24 Dec 2011 10:43 PM
The question is which method is superior? As for me, I don't care. I love trout fishing, but I have almost all but given up the bait (too boring) and spinners (too easy). For years now, I've been heavy into fly fishing the local mountains here in CA for wild brown, cutthroat, rainbows, golden and brook trout. You drive and then hike into remote areas, tie on a hand-tied fly from your own fly tying table, lay a nice cast into a deep, clear pool and watch as the wary trout come up and inhale your offering. Oh, you may not catch 3#  larger lunker "factory raised and planted" trout meant for the dinner table, but you may never run into another person the entire day. I've spent days catching dozens of beautiful fighting native trout in their own habitat and left with pictures and stories to share with friends. Is fly fishing superior to all other forms of trout fishing? Probably not, but it's all in how you define "superior".

I too love hiking into and fishing spots where no one else is. But I personally find fly fishing kind of one dimensional. It's really the same thing over and over. All you have is flies. No Spinners, live bait, Flat Fish, Wedding Rings, bobbers etc. There is no variety. I have tried it many times and didn't like it. I prefer using spinning tackle as it is much more versatile and in my opinion more effective and more exciting than fly fishing.

Boy...I'd like to know where they have "factory raised and planted" trout of 3lbs. or more. Here in Ohio, the stockies are 10 to 14 inches long, similar to those tiny mountain stream trout everyone cherishes. If I had my druthers, I would love to just one time fish the Kenia river in Alaska for those giant trout...and by whatever method produced...that's my idea of superior!