Check out this video where we chase some farm pond stocked trout with "secret" trout bait - shrimp! Didn't know that shrimp would work for stocked trout but it was all they wanted. Anyone else use any weird bait for trout?
I used cooked cocktail shrimp for native trout back in the 70's. It was in Alaska back when eating native trout from rivers was the norm. Shrimp, both cooked and raw is outstanding bait. I expect it would be great for stocked trout but can not say for sure. I have fished nothing but artificial lurers and flies with barbless hooks for over 30 years when targeting trout. I also release all river caught trout. I expect the survival rate on smaller stocked lakes is very small. When released, that fish will end up on someone else stringer before long. The number of hold overs locally is pretty small.
I have been taught by an 81 year old friend to troll with a small hook on 4 lb. leader attached to a swivel and small inline weight, thread a half a worm on the hook, Put the hook through the worm at the bottom, and put anise oil and WD 40 on it. I works great. You could also fish it under a bobber and real slowly. Make sure the worm wiggles while moving through the water.