[briansnat]

-tips on live lining bait and the use of strike guards?

If it's not too windy, I'll drift with a shiner or herring hooked through the lips. I'll usually have a sinker on the line to get them down. How much sinker and how I rig it depends on how far down I want to get them.

If it's breezy I'll anchor up and fish them hooked through the back. Don't ask me why, it's just the way I've always done it.

I'll usually have three lines out if I'm "still fishing" alone and two if I'm with a partner. One rod will always have a free swimming bait on an open spool. Depending on the time of year and depth of water I may have another bait on a slip bobber and/or the bottom on a slip sinker.

I never used a Strike Guard. In fact I had to google it to see what it was.


-how to properly set the hook/when to set once the fish has taken the bait.

Not much to say here. Other than waiting to make sure the fish has actually taken the bait, for me hook set is no different than with any other kind of fishing.

trout & bait location when wind is pushing them

When you find out let me know.

-properly fishing the water column

In April I catch most of my trout near the surface, down to about 10 feet. The rest of the year a fish finder is essential to see where they are hanging out, and a downrigger and/or lead core to get it down to them.

-optimal water temperature.

I seem to do best when the water is between 50 and 65 degrees.

-the use of lead core and leaders

I use a 6 ft fluoro leader on my lead core rods and join the lines using an albright knot

-the use of trolling artificial bait vs live bait and proper tackle for live bait.

I never troll live bait. I know some people do, but if I'm trolling it's with artificials. For trout, blade baits like Binskys, small Shad Raps, Yo-Zuri Snap Beans,and small spoons like Cleo, Kastmaster, Dardevle, Phoebe and Warrior seem to work well for me.

As far as tackle for bait fishing for trout, I prefer a 6 1/2' to 7' ML spinning rod spooled with 6 or 8 lb test mono. For hooks I'll use a #2 or #4 circle.