Freshwater Fin Loc: Killbuck Ohio

I’ve never used any power bait for trout fishing just wondering what anybody can tell me about it. How to use it, float it, hook it, what color? Thanks for any advice and tips.

GLA Loc: WA State

Using Power Bait for fishing is pretty straight-forward. Put a round egg sinker on your line and tie on a swivel. Put a 25-30 inch leader on the other end of the swivel and tie on a size 8 or size 6 egg hook. Form the power bait into a ball and cover the hook with it. Squeeze it gently around the hook (or if you're using nuggets just thread a couple onto the hook). The bait will float your hook off the bottom. To make sure you have enough bait on your hook, place it in the water and if the bait holds the hook up in the water, it's enough. The idea is to float the bait just above any weeds that may be under water. To do that you may need to experiment with the leader and make it longer. Cast it out and wait for the tug.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

We've had this discussion on here before. Power bait is deadly for trout. Berkley has perfected their formula for trout attractant to the point that rainbows just can't resist it. It's also deadly because the trout swallow it and the hook gets caught in their gut and you can't remove it without killing the fish. Now this is fine if you're going to keep them and eat them. But if you like to catch and release and you want to use bait, you should switch to barbless circle hooks. These don't usually get lodged in the gut but rather in their mouths and are easily removed. They are (or were, been a while since I bought any) available through Cabela's in size 8 which is just about right.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

I agree with the sentiment about the #8 circle hooks being a more manageable C&R possibility, but....good luck putting/keeping Powerbait on such a rig. I have never used anything larger than a #14 treble, usually a #16 or #18. You don't need a huge gob, just cover the hook. A jar usually garners me 2 or 3 dozen fish, sometimes more. Granted, the treble will get swallowed more often, but you can retrieve the hook when you clean the fish.
Not keeping them ? "Fishing for FUN" ? Take up a different method...this method is to get dinner. Don't kid yourself otherwise.
Wish to "play" with the "stockers" that go for "pellet-type" bait ? Try a fly rod with egg (puffball) flies, barb pinched, soak with scent, sink-tip or pinch-on tiny sinker to get some depth, strip oh-so-slowly.

Geezer Loc: Oregon Coast

Follow up question...does power bait ever go bad? Does it have a shelf life once opened?

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

I have jars that are 2-5 yrs old. As long as the lid was tight, so they don't dry out, I'll be using it. I have even " renewed" a jar that was nearly dried out with a few squirts of scent oil, stirred it up....good to go. I mean, really, how would you tell if it's "bad".... the smell ? Lol !
I'm of the belief that at $4/little jar, I am gonna use it ALL.

john1470 Loc: Sandy Hook, CT

Me thinks good thing to keep in ur tackle box - cheap bait, only use when out of live bait - it works; use the yellow ones.