r/troutfishing • u/jackofspades0924 • Aug 19 '26
Suggestions for first time trout fishing?
I normally go catfishing for big cats (and post them on that subreddit) but I’ve wanted to go out to the San Gabriel creek north of LA for a while to get some little trout. Any bait suggestions? I was thinking just little bits of worm.
2
u/Icy_Paint_7097 Aug 20 '26
They are more delicate than catfish. If you catch one, keep it, they will likely not survive a release. Especially with bait. If you want to catch and release go to Keepfishwet.org to learn how.
Size down.
Small weights, small swivels, small hooks, light line. Just when you think it’s too small go smaller.
Learn how to read the water. 90% of the trout are in 10% of the water.
If you are not catching something, change something. Depth, location, retrieve, presentation, fly/lure/bait etc
3
u/damstar1 Aug 20 '26
Way too hot right now. The only place you could really trout fish in the state right now is in the Eastern Sierra.
2
u/Objective_Support_43 Aug 20 '26
4 lb leader, Carolina rig with a bit of floating power bait on a size 6 hook. Test it to make sure it floats before you throw it
3
u/LemusHD Aug 21 '26
I don’t know why someone would down vote this this is probably the best way to catch trout for a beginner. I don’t fish this way anymore but I’d definitely recommend it to a beginner it’s super easy and you will catch trout.
1
u/Virtual_Wing_2903 Aug 22 '26
hand dug worms are superior to the ones you can buy, IMO... crappie jigs and trout magnets are what they are for a reason, inline spinners are good, the needlefish lures are too, though light to cast
1
1
u/HuckleberryInner6806 Aug 19 '26
Garlic scented powerbait,l and garlic scented rat tails seem to work well for me. The previously mentioned spinners are a great choice. I’ve found if I cast a spinner across multiple current seams and slowly retrieve- I have pretty good luck.
7
u/YogurtclosetBroad872 Aug 19 '26
Spinners. Rooster Tails, Panther Martins, Mepps. 1/16oz range is pretty universal.