Favorite trout lure

[GRH]

I confess, a decade ago I hung up my freshwater gear and focused on the salt, but now that my kids are getting into fishing, I again purchased a freshwater fishing license. There is a local pond, walking distance from my house that is stocked with trout, and a decent population of largemouth. I went out the other day and was skunked throwing yellow meps spinners and small kastmasters. The kids were having fun with the bluegills, but I was looking for the 12-14" rainbows. Any advise to fool some of these stocked rainbows and browns.

[bass3six]

A small A's Goldfish used to work great at the Sportsmen's Club pond.
Tiny red/white daredevles did too.

[SamRiley]

I've done well with the smallest Rapala Countdown (http://www.rapala.com/products/lures/freshwater/countdown.html#countdown2) in Brown Trout color (TR). Slow, twitchy retrieve.

[haguebrook]

If you are spinning, stick with the Kastmaster. If yours was not working, slow down your retrieve.

These are reliable for all kinds of fish. I have been able to catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon, pickerel, yellow perch, bluefish and stripers on a Kastmaster. I have never caught one myself, but last Spring the Massachusetts state record lake trout was taken on a Kastmaster with a rainbow trout pattern.

Good luck!

[gerryg]

Thomas rough rider in brass and copper 1/5oz. DON'T get the nickel and brass. Fish it real slow tiger trout love it as well as rainbows and brookies.

[Eddy Merckx]

3/8 ounce kastmaster, chrome/blue.

[GRH]

Whats the perferred method of the small kastmaster. Is it two cranks then a twitch, or just a slow methodical crank?

[bdowning]

Thomas Buoyant spoons are very good. As is my personal favorite, the Super Duper spoon, quite possibly the strangest looking trout lure out there (salmon like it too!)

-bd

[Slappy]

If you are spinning, stick with the Kastmaster.
Good luck!

You won't get better advice. (not to belittle the superduper which is very effective, I just don't use them.)

Everyone has their preferred size/color. Mine is the 1/8 oz rainbow trout color or a 1/12 oz silver in shallow water/spooky fish. The smallest size is very effective in ponds like walden with smelt. Vary your retrieve until you get bit. I generally use a steady/slow retrieve without much added action.

the key to all metal fishing is to move. You have to find a school of feeders, which in April is generally pretty easy to do. Don't cast more than 10 times in a spot if you don't catch anything.

[DAQ]

I agree with the Kastmaster also but I like the small chrome/green version. I throw this lure 95% of the time. Ihave also heard good things about the Yozuri Pins minnow but do not have first hand knowledge.

D

[capemike88]

Small Colorado spoons, from 1/4oz on heavier line down to 1/10 on 4lb line.

Mike

[north coast]

thomas's little tiger, gold, Also I spray paint my kastmasters flo.orange (coat of white first) with unbelievable results.I don't think these stocked fish are really that fussy.I think them being able to easily see your offering is important(flo orange) good luck

[striper man]

a small rainbow colored Kastmaster

[haguebrook]

You won't get better advice. (not to belittle the superduper which is very effective, I just don't use them.)

Everyone has their preferred size/color. Mine is the 1/8 oz rainbow trout color or a 1/12 oz silver in shallow water/spooky fish. The smallest size is very effective in ponds like walden with smelt. Vary your retrieve until you get bit. I generally use a steady/slow retrieve without much added action.

the key to all metal fishing is to move. You have to find a school of feeders, which in April is generally pretty easy to do. Don't cast more than 10 times in a spot if you don't catch anything.

Actually, I think that Slappy's advice to stay mobile is more important than which spoon you use. There are several good choices; I just prefer the Kastmaster.

Slappy--good luck in the marathon!

[GRH]

Thanks for the input. I will stay with my small kastmaster and try to move around. The only problem is that the pond in small and only a few spots that you can cast from. I will be back out there on saturday. I will let you know if my luck changes.

[teflon_jones]

Whats the perferred method of the small kastmaster. Is it two cranks then a twitch, or just a slow methodical crank?

I always use the twitch method, just like jigging. I wouldn't do a steady two crank twitch two crank twitch approach though, I would vary it up. When was the last time you saw a fish or anything natural swimming in a perfectly regular pattern?

[bass3six]

Out of curiousity...is this pond open to the public?
I always thought that it was a "members only" place....at the very least for parking, anyways.
I used to live in Gloucester, so I am pretty sure which pond you are referring to.

[teflon_jones]

Strangman Pond is the only one Mass Wildlife lists as stocking in Gloucester, so I'm guessing it's that one! :) Can't you park in the roundabout at the end of Reservoir Rd and walk through the woods to the pond? Where's the ramp that Mass Wildlife uses for stocking it? That is most likely a public ramp.

It sounds like the same situation as a little pond named Uncas in Franklin. It looks like there's no access, and there's two trout clubs that are on the pond. But if you know where it is, you can get to the pond via the public ramp the state uses to stock it.

[bass3six]

Teflon....the stocking trucks used to just pull up to the pond at the Cape Ann Sportsmen's Club....little piece of lawn was pretty flush with the water level.
Reservoir Rd. parking does work.

[GRH]

This is the place. I just purchased a home within walking distance. I use to fish there all the time as a kid, now I take my kids there. I am not sure if its for member use only. No one has given me a second look, even when the rifle range is full. I usually pick up any trash/litter, and the last time I was there, I saw 6-7 kids there acting up, without anyone saying anything. 20 years ago, I used to put my canoe in there and fish all day. If you do go there, please be polite, I wouldn't want to lose the priveledge for everyone.

[detra]

I thought that if the state stocks it, there has to be public access.

[bass3six]

detra...
that was a big issue back in the '70s and '80s....the public used the state stocking argument as a reason that public access should be allowed.....never knew if there was any resolution.
BTW.....damn good bass fishing in the reservoir behind the pond. :brow

[teflon_jones]

It would seem to me that if the state stocks it, then there has to be public access to it. Does anybody know? I'm tempted to call the local Mass Wildlife rep to find out. Otherwise, why should public tax dollars pay to stock a pond that's privately owned and the public can't use?

[GRH]

Bass3six, which res. Babson or Goosecove.

[bass3six]

I knew that I should have specified that....ooops.
Goose Cove. NW end.
I haven't caught a fish in Babson since the '80s.
Haven't been there since then, either.
FWIW....last time at Goose Cove was 3 years ago

[bdowning]

I agree, especially once the trout spread out a bit after initial stocking. That advice someone gave about using some fluorescent colors is also good when the water clarity is poor. Trolling chartreuse or day-go orange rapalas or flatfish (if they still make those) works well.

-bd

Actually, I think that Slappy's advice to stay mobile is more important than which spoon you use. There are several good choices; I just prefer the Kastmaster.

Slappy--good luck in the marathon!

[Labrax]

A panther martin that is black in color on the weight and spinner blade with small yellow spots on it - believe the size that worked best was 1/16 or 1/8oz. Trout out west seemed to love them.

[bass3six]

GRH,
Any luck over the weekend?
I tried to do a drive by on Saturday afternoon....but some crap came up.
Me thinks that schoolies will be in the Annisquam/Little River(s) area next weekend.
Wishful thinking? I dunno.....but they were there at the end of April last year.
Doug B.

[albacized]

Well today, the favored trout lure was a small 1/8 oz gold kastmaster with a olive beadhead woolybugger coming in a distant second as I switched back and forth today at the Sudbury River in Hopington. I landed 6 decent rainbows-4 on the kastmaster and two on the woolybugger. The kastmaster was worked with the 2 crank and twitch method as was perscribed earlier (thanks for the tip ;) )

[GRH]

New line, 4# Berley sensitive. Small Kastermaster, warm, rather hot temps. Different results, 25-30 trout, from 8-14 inches in about 2 hours time. Had a hit on almost every cast. :)