[zaknorman75]

Hi all, I believe this is my second post on this site. Always lurking and reading however.

I have a problem, and it is that I seem to be incapable of catching a trout lol. I enjoy all types of fishing but spend most of my time fishing salt water. Over the past two years I have made quite a few trout fishing trips and have not a bite to show for it. I'm curious as to what I'm doing wrong. I feel I am pretty good at applying knowledge that I read on site's such as these, as I have had success for other species I otherwise don't fish for using knowledge gained on this site (shad, walleye for example). I'll give a quick overview of how I'm fishing, and also my experience this Sunday.

I'm fishing with a 5'6 uglystick spinning reel lined with 4lb test mono. I connect everything I throw to the smallest black snap swivel I can find. I use phobe's, spinners, trout magnets (both tipped and not tipped with powerbait), and power bait on a size 6 or 8 hook. I alternate between floating both the trout magnets and the plain hooks 6-8 inches below a very small bobber.

This Sunday I was on the Musky around the Port Murray area. I fished for 4 1/2 hours fishing walking up and down the river covering many miles of river. I fished multiple holes, fast water areas, and stead rolling stream areas. At one point I literally saw a 20+ inch rainbow sitting in a hole 6 feeet away from me. I literally plopped powerbait 2 inches from his mouth. Ran every lure past his face a could. Wouldn't even move. Not interested in snagging a fish, as that still wouldn't cure my "I'm-very-bad-at-trout-fishing-syndrome"

I've had at least 3 experiences similar to thus last year, and that was when I quit trout fishing for the year and moved to species I know I can catch.. What am I doing wrong? I admit I stick slightly off the beaten path, as I refuse to stand shoulder to shoulder next to a bridge or "main hole". Is that the only place trout live? Don't these fish move all throughout the river? For instance this past Sunday I parked at the "main hole" on the musky, and walked past it fishing along the river for about 2 miles until I hit the next bridge and "main hole"

Really just looking for tips and maybe someone to tell me its fishing and I've just had bad luck. I love fishing, and I want to love trout fishing but as of right now I am frustrated.

And just a note - any fish caught by me swims away, every time.

Genuinely appreciate any input.

Zak