Folks, I need a little advice.

This winter I will be taking a bunch of young scouts to a local community pond after TPWD stocks it with rainbows (the schedule isn't out yet but last year it was mid December when they stocked it). Most of these boys have never fished before and I would really like for them to be successful.

I'm a saltwater guy and I have never fished for stocked rainbows in my life. Does any one have some advice on the surest way to make certain that these boys catch some fish?

Advice on baits, rigging, ect. would be appreciated. Remember, were talking about kids that will barely know how to cast.

Thanks!

Spinning tackle or spincast w light line. Split shot 10"-12" in front of hook. Use a small hook like a #10 and get you some Powerbait dough that is designed for hatchery trout. Probably the best color is chartreuse. Have them throw it out there and wait for the bite. That will catch trout 95% of the time.

Beware that sometimes the bite can be very very slow, even a couple hours.

Haven't fished for them in years .. but i took my boys when they were little had good luck on plain old can corn using the same set up skeeteroneal posted also seen guys use the tiny marshmellows tiped with a nightcrawler have pretty good results.

From last years experience:

As long as you get to the pond with 5 days of stocking. A superduper (501 or 502) in gold or silver will out fish powerbait. A week after, then powerbait will out perform.

A light pole with a spinning cast spooled with 4 lb line will get some good cast distance and more hits. Cast out let it sink for 2 secs and then reel in med to slow speed. Have fun.

10 - 12" stockers? They sell a power bait that resembles the food they feed the stockers. I like to use salmon eggs, power bait, corn, worms, spinners, jigs.

I start with jigs and work my way down the list. For kids I would do the opposite.

When you have live worms, they are really good. Salmon spawn now and thus the eggs. But you don't have salmon ... so ???

I have always had luck with corn and salmon eggs in rivers but not in ponds. The ponds in Ft Worth get wiped out by people who take wayyyyyy to many and probably dont have fishing licenses. That and the water turkeys have gone rampant. Best advise is to get there before the fish are gone lol.

This technique is guaranteed. My old fishing partner and I used it to catch our limit on each stocking for years.

First, buy several colors of Berkeley trout bait. Get the dough, not the preformed stuff. You will need chartreuse, orange, red and yellow as a minimum. Get genuine Berkeley, not brand X.

Then buy #20 gold treble hooks. You may have to order them online or get your tackle dealer to order them for you. Make up snells 18 inches long with 4-pound monofilament.

Attach a snap swivel to the end of your line. In the swivel attach a � ounce bell sinker. Then attach your snell in the same swivel.

Roll a small ball of the Berkeley trout Power Bait. Completely cover the treble hook. The idea is to use just enough to float the hook but not more. Avoid using too much, but make sure the hook floats.

Cast your bait about 20 feet out. Take up the slack. When you feel a tap gently set the hook.

The one drawback of this technique is retrieving the high priced hooks. I usually make up 5 snells and just change the hook. Retrieve the hook when the trout is cleaned.

If you want to catch and release this technique will not work. It usually kills the fish if you retrieve the swallowed hook. In that case the smallest Mepps spinner or Panther Martin spinner is your best bet. The problem is casting the ultra light spinner, especially for kids.

Follow instructions, fish the first day of the stocking and your kids will catch trout.

Super Dupers kill them right after the stocking like rod said. I would catch them almost as fast as the cormorants, lol.

The cormorants are machines. I wish I could catch fish like they do

Be sure and get both silver and gold and that other super duper. No telling which will be the hot one. May have to play with the retrieve to get it just right. Great instructions on the trout bait above.

I grew up in Oregon and we use to bend the law a little bit by using corn ( not me, my buddies! I waited in the truck ). Was very illegal to use because the trout were feed corn in hatchery?

Please do not do this in OR, and ya better check in Texas. Take a can of corn and poke small holes in the bottom. This allows the corn oil / water to drip out. Put the can in some old nylon stockings ( panty hose )! Tie a rope or twine to stocking, launch can in lake where ya want to catch. Bait up with corn and catch??

I never ever did this but saw an article about this method on a web site

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/fishing/trout-fishing/gf_aa013501a/

I grew up in Oregon and we use to bend the law a little bit by using corn ( not me, my buddies! I waited in the truck ). Was very illegal to use because the trout were feed corn in hatchery?

Please do not do this in OR, and ya better check in Texas. Take a can of corn and poke small holes in the bottom. This allows the corn oil / water to drip out. Put the can in some old nylon stockings ( panty hose )! Tie a rope or twine to stocking, launch can in lake where ya want to catch. Bait up with corn and catch??

I never ever did this but saw an article about this method on a web site

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/fishing/trout-fishing/gf_aa013501a/

Folks,

Thanks for all the tips. I plan on showing the boys how to cast and how to rig up their own gear a few days before so they will be ready to go that morning. I'm sure that they are going to have a good time.

Smithaven pretty much nailed it for these stockers. But the main thing is that the kids have fun. When I was that age, I got a little bored soaking bait on the bottom like this, but they will do fine with any small spinner or spoon, less that 1/4 ounce. Just cast them out, count down to the right depth, and you all will have a blast. The rainbows will tend to hang out together until they are all harvested. There is not a chance that these trout will hold over in Texas ponds, so dont feel bad about keeping your 5-fish limit!! Always call the warden when you see guys keeping beyond their limits. You will see them, and they are taking away from the kids...
The point is, have fun!!