Dead sticking trout

[RussH]

I had some decent success trout fishing the local lake today. I noticed something though. Everyone dead sticks for trout. I did it too. I was working a rooster tail, poorly, getting no hits while I had power eggs floating a foot above some split shot a ways off.

All 4 fish I caught on that setup were hooked in the top of the throat or middle if the mouth and not the lip. One fish died the rest were okay but I didn't feel good about it.

Is this something you should only do if you're gonna be taking them home? I don't like killing fish I don't intend to utilize and even with crushing the barbs I had to have hurt the fish.

Also what's the trick to working a rooster tail. I throw it out let it sink a bit give a bit of a yank and then start reeling nice and slow with frequent pauses. I've caught one fish in 4 trips like that and it was a friggen blue gill.

[briansnat]

I think one of the issues with the Rooster Tail, at least in streams, is that it doesn't get down to the bottom where most of the trout hang (unless the stream is really shallow). Try a small Kastmaster spoon. They are heavy and can get down to the fish.

[Lard Almighty]

Kastmasters have a tendency to ride up during the retrieve. Try a heavier, more compact spinner like a Panther Martin or a Blue Fox.

[Almaink]

I've never had much luck using spinners from shore in lakes for trout. Pretty much a bait and wait fishery. Streams and The D&R Canal is were spinners work best. Panther Martins and Blue Fox spinners are deadly but the right color combo is also important some days they will only hit gold some days only silver spinners.

[acabtp]

Like you're thinking, dead sticking often = dead trout

Even if you're actively working the rod anticipating the bite, trout will often take bait into their gills or gut so if you are planning to release the fish, best to stick with lures. At the very least, for c&r trouting with bait, hooks with the barbs pinched down will be a lot easier on the fish during removal.

[River Renegade]

Rainbow Trout like silver spinners the best, browns go for gold.

[SaltLife1980]

Im a Blue Fox fan myself

[NJSquatch]

give small inline circle hooks a try. No gut hooks yet!

see this thread where others have success with them too

http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87293&highlight=circle+hook

[RussH]

You know I remember that thread now.. dang it I was just at Dick's today AND I placed an Amazon order yesterday. Oh well, next time. I picked up a couple plain chrome Kastmaster 1/8 jigs to try instead of the roosters. Maybe I'll have better luck. Saw a guy catch a beast of a fish on one yesterday while I was half killing cookie cutter 10" fish.

[nsell]

I have found no. 8 hooks with power bait will get deep in the throat of trout, but a long hemostat pliers will get them out with no damage. I found the Mustad 9523 hook in no. 8 works well. You cannot get them any longer, only on ebay. I do not like the new ultrapoint 9523 as much as the older style 9523.

[Bill Willix]

The only good thing is if you do want to eat a few fish the one fish you don't have to feel bad about taking home are trout put in ponds and lakes in NJ. Most will not survive summer and are stocked for the purpose of taking home and enjoyed in a meal. But I do understand how you feel when you dont intend on taking any and hook it deep. That really is the down fall of fishing with bait

[RussH]

Don't get me wrong I'm no bleeding heart! I understand they'll die at some point. Either to us or to the birds/turtles/eventual heat. I just don't like needless suffering and it's nice to give others the opportunity to catch. They're fragile fish though and probably next time I go out I'll keep what I catch either to eat or strip, salt and freeze to use as fluke bait.