I enjoy reading all the trout posts in this section of the forum so thought I would post something. Went fishin' two Friday's ago, after a Wednesday stocking, and didn't have much luck in the morning (was cold for down here), except for a few hits on artificials and a small bass and bluegill on the fly rod. By afternoon it warmed up and people started catching them on power bait and I still couldn't get any on fly rod or lures. Finally tied on a lure that got to the right depth at the right spot and caught-n-released over 10 trout. The trout in this stocked pond seemed to be grouped up in the same spot around the fountain. They always hit better on a slower retrieve closer to the bottom. Left them biting. The next day went back with a friend and we both limited out. I stayed a bit later and continued to catch-n-release a bunch of trout. Much fewer hits the farther a got away from the magic spot, but still some strayers. Great time fishing with a friend and hope to do it again, this time with my little buddy on Saturday morning (X-mas eve).

Those are some beauties. Good job.



Side Note: I have noticed the same thing about the fish bunching up. It seems that when I find a spot and get one there are usually a few more right there! I also think they swim in bunches while searching for food. Just my two cents. What type of lure were you using? Again nice mess of fish.

Thanks Banker for the reply - I appreciate it! The lure was a gold colored (with side orange patches) 1/8 oz blade bait, insect shaped. It is somewhat resembles the popular super duper. I have found in the past, that blade baits catch bass in colder water temps, so tried it out on trout for the first time and hit Bingo!

My deceased friend Terry Turner who taught me to catch trout used to swear that the fish stayed in a loose school for the first day after stocking and swam in a circle around the edge of the pond. We caught fish when the school passed us and the bite was slow until they came back around. He joked that the trick was to determine if they were going clockwise or counter-clockwise. In ponds with very clear water I have seen the fish behave just as he described.

I have also noticed that, in ponds with a spray aerator, after the first day the trout hang just outside the circle of disturbed water.

Nice fish! I have also noticed that the trout stay in bunches especially in the rivers. Like Smithaven stated the trout stocked in ponds seem to swim in a circle and bite when they get into your area.Txfisherman12 do the stocking draw a a lot of anglers in your area?

I wanted to sort of test out a new 1000 series Stradic Ci4+ I purchased for panfishing, took it over to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries in Athens and gave it a go. A St. Croix ultralight rod hasn't arrived yet so I used a 4'8" Ugly Stik a neighbor gave to me a year or so ago. I spooled up 2 lbs. SOS monofilament and tossed a 1/32 oz. hair jig: black body, white eyes and chartreuse feathers.

I caught 20 or so trout in a little over and hour, not a single bluegill or bass took the bait.

*** The water is stained but clear enough that I could see the various species. The trout acted like puppies running circles around the jig as I swam it, then one would eventually lunge for it and take the bait.

Lots of fun!

Brad

Yes sir for most places. The number of fishermen at the place I caught the trout was more sparse so it was not elbow-to-elbow. Overall, I don't think there are a lot of Houston area fishermen that know about the trout stocking - or even care a whole lot (IMO). Several years back TPWD stopped stocking trout in my mother load of honey holes - I would fish a day or two after the stocking and there would be absolutely zilch other fisherman. This happened on 2 consecutive years.

Took my little buddy out today to a stocked lake in Missouri City. He slew them with power bait fluorescent red. We had to leave them biting. I didn't have much luck on lures except for the biggest trout, which struck a panther martin as the lure initially dropped into the water. It measured out a little over 12", which is bigger (and stockier) compared to many of the other trout I catch in this area. Plan to fry some up tomorrow for lunch.

Nice haul.

Thanks Banker!

Nice fish. Do the stockings attract a lot of people? Just curious.