FS Digest

Our creeks were recently stocked with trout and artificial lures only can be used. I can see tons of them - just sitting there, even like 10-15 just chilling. I threw spinners, trout magnets, and swim bait and they just ignore them.

Are these fish that have already been caught and are recovering or is there is a go-to for finicky trout that I'm missing?

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by momoraa

Sinker Rig Loc: Tampa area

If you can see them they can see you.....fish an area where you can't see any fish or start collecting Hotwheels or something

Jeremy Loc: America

Net.

bobber22 Loc: Ocala, Florida

Likely they are shell shocker from being thrown in the water. Give them a day or two to cooperate.

DC Loc: Washington state

a lot of time stocked trout don't really start biting until a couple days after planting and when they do at first it seems like they are on the same feeding schedule as when in the hatchery which is why sometimes the best bite is not when you would expect but could be in the middle of the day. The other thing is if you can see them clearly they most likely can see you clearly as well. I would go light line and small lures such as a small spinner or spoon like a dick nite I am sure Flyguy on this site could recommend some flies that would work as well

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

DuPont

jepolt Loc: North East Ohio

Would suggest you take a good look around and see what kind of bugs are in the area. Look for spiderwebs and check out what’s been caught in them. Once you can determine the type of bugs active in the area see what you have in your tackle box that closely emulate those bugs. Also watch the stream and see what you see bug wise floating down stream. Copy what you see on the end of your line. If You do see very small bugs and you have or can purchase similar bugs 🐜 and your not a fly fisherman you can buy clear bobbers which allow you to spin cast the very small bugs and float them in front of the trout. Be sure to keep your bail open. If you put drag on the lure it will not float naturally and you will not get a trout to eat it. It’s very important that your bug 🕷 float naturally thru the area where you see all these trout. Also stealth is very important. Wear drab color clothes, fish on your knees, stay where you cannot see the trout and cast to them If you see them They see you. They won’t bite. Hope this helps you a little. Remember trout are pretty smart when it comes to protecting themselves. Also if your going to release them pinch the barb on your hook down. Much higher rate of a successful release without the barb. Be sure to keep tension on your line when reeling one in. Barbless does add a bit of a challenge to landing your catch😊. Hope you have lots of fun and best of luck in your trout efforts. 🐋

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

All of the above posts are from experienced trout fishermen who are accustomed to using and presenting flies. Also, remember, fish don't eat all the time, but may decide to accept a tempting morsel if it looks tempting and realistic. You have to be careful in how you present it. Just Sayin...RJS

Dambass Loc: Glendora California

I just have to say what an amazing piece of information about matching the hatch...looking for bugs in spider webs to get an idea of the food source for trout and so on...brilliant!
DB

PBFisherman

Small panther martins

SEPC1958 Loc: College Park, MD

Exactly

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Berkley powerbait or black and gold Mepps spinners

Mark-A-Fisher Loc: NW NJ

a net

crog1967 Loc: Avondale Estates, GA

I’ve caught a lot of trout on small, single hook rooster tails. Match the color to the insects you see. Fish that have just been released will probably not feed for a while.

FISHLIPS Loc: Colorado

In Colorado if they are just sitting there they probably won't hit anything. I literally have bounced lures off of them and they barely even flinch. Get there early and try Rapalas Brown Trout pattern or even HD Trout with some orange or red color. I fished the Platte on Saturday and they were hitting my Rapalas with red or orange. Landed 13 of them doing so. I know...pictures....I'm not pulling a cell phone out of my waders when I'm standing in the middle of the river !!!!!! The biggest was a 17" Brownbow full of color just like the lure I caught it on !!