Someone fill me in on this whole "trout stocking" business.
Seems every TP&W puts trout in a pond, people go on a fishing frenzy.
What is the deal? Do the fish that come out of the TP&W truck turn into bait for the fish already in the pond?
Explain!
What kind of lures are good to use?

They're easy to catch right after the stocking so that's one reason everyone goes then.
Plus they die off when the water gets too warm so it's not like you can wait until May and then go catch some.

Hmm...so the fish they put in the pond are big enough to catch?
I assumed they were fingerlings and turn into bait.

Yes they are put in for people to catch - not for bait for the other fish. Although I'm sure some of the smaller trout are consumed by predators. The average size I've seen at most of the pond stockings I've ever been to are 7-10". If you get anything over 10" it's a monster.

Ahhh! So they actually put real sized fish in the stocking!
I assumed they just put a lot of babies in and the predator fish eat the babies.
So what is the legal size for trout in Texas?
What do I use to catch them?
I have several rooster tails.
I assume one of those wonder spoon's would work too.

Small rooster tails and super dupers work well. Artificial lures only seem to work for the first few days after the stocking. Then you should use bait like corn, bread, or salmon eggs. I agree with BuddyLee, if you catch one over 10" you're lucky. After a few weeks they are mostly fished out. Then you are lucky of you can catch them at all.

No size limit.
5 per day.

So if my window is between Day-of-stock and a week out, what day is best to go?
Day of the stocking?
or...
Day after? (let them settle down and feel more "at home")

Day of and the first couple days after.
I've always done best with corn fished on the bottom. Caught a few on lures here and there but they love the corn.

you can catch a lot of them the day of the stocking, but you have to fight for some elbow room on the bank. Lots of people show up on stocking days, especially if it is a weekend. the bite is pretty good for all of the first week or 2 most of the time.

try powerbait in rainbow and chartreuse. also the powerbait 3inch power trout worm on a small hook works veryveryveryveryvery... very well

What do I need to look for as far as location to cast?
Structure?
Open water?
Vegetation?
Points?
Lateral to the bank?

Depends on the size of the pond really.
Some ponds they put them in are so small it doesnt really matter where you fish.

Try to look for where the tire tracks are from the truck that put the fish in the pond and fish close to that area if possible. Usually if you can't find that area just look for all the people... Seems to be the same people fishing them year after year and they know the spots to fish in the particular ponds.

No minimum size required. Keep any you catch. There is a state 5 fish maximum per day.

I have been told to carolina rig corn or powerbait balls.
Do I just throw them out and let them sit on the bottom or do I bounce them off the bottom as I reel it in?
Me + Trout fishing = ignorance!
They are stocking Kidd Springs pond in Oakcliff on wednesday.
Anyone wanna pair up?