Summer stockers to eat

[mixermarkb]

Ok guys.

My four year old has it in his head that he wants to catch a rainbow trout and eat it. My wife also loves trout, and so does our older boy. I've fished for trout exactly once, a couple years ago on Taney, and caught a few bouncing powerbait eggs with something similar to an ultralight Carolina rig. My question is if I can get away in a week or so, what is the best pattern to get novice fishermen hooked up with eating size rainbows. I'll be in a 20' glass bass boat, and plan to drop in at the ramp by Scotty's trout dock. What do I need to know? Rigs, hook sizes, weights, baits, boating tips, recipes, regulations, mistakes newbies make that tick the locals off...

I'm a pretty fair hand at catching stinkin bass, but these trout critters are something totally new to me- help me shorten the learning curve so I can get the family a fun day on the lake, and a decent meal.

ps, I am keeping fish, but this isn't gonna be an everyday thing, and I'm for sure not going to keep any big ones should one of us lucky.

 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

When i used to eat trout i would just boat up to monkey island from Scotty's anchor up my little jon boat behind the island in the eddy and throw any color power bait you want on a #10 hook with 4 lb line pretty simple.  Its also fun to trow little rapalas or jigs at them.  You could always troll little rapalas or flicker shads around the landing and catch quite a few.  Ive always caught lots on the down stream side of the White river fish house in the little eddy it makes.   As far as regulations, youll just need a trout stamp if you want to keep them

[crazy4fishin]

Mixer - there are four things that you can do in this order.

1. Read Phil's latest report here.....watch a couple of his vids 

2. When you get down to Taney either by car or boat head over to Lilly's Landing and walk up to the office and they will have the day's specials on the board in addition to where the better places are to catch fish

3. If you are not in possession of the right tools they have them available for purchase! 

4. Fish / catch (the appropiate limit) and eat!!

C4F

 

[Phil Lilley]

Roark Creek is full of stockers right now. Anything under a float will catch them. Jigs, power worm. 

[crazy4fishin]

See Mixer.....it is almost like Phil was listening  

C4F

[Fish24/7]

And trout are so much faster and easier to clean than a crappie or walleye  imo I just use a pocket knife and my bare hands.  Stick the blade in the 💩  shoot and slice open the belly make a cut under the lower jaw and remove the gills and  guts, then I use my thumb  nail and run it down the spine gets some blood out,  rinse them off good, wrap them individually in foil with lots of butter , olive oil ,salt and pepper , and sliced lemon inside the fish and bake them on the grill.i use 300-325 degrees approx 25-30min for a small stocker . I think that's right been so long ago lol

hope the family doesn't mind the heads left on haha

There's other ways for sure ,good luck!😆

[MickinMO]

If they are running water go to Lilley's and buy bottom bouncing drift rigs in several sizes and powerbait eggs. The person at the counter will have an idea on hotter colors. I always buy powerbait from Lilleys. I may be superstitious, but I figure they sell more trout bait than walmart or bass pro (maybe not bass pro at the landing, but I avoid the landing at all costs) and not sitting on the shelf for a year can't hurt.

Seems the last few years we have had most luck with orange or an orange/white tandem. Chartreuse, rainbow, yellow, etc will work too. Get a couple colors in garlic scent too. Two eggs per hook and try different colors and combos. I think the powerbait works better than gulp eggs. You can also put night crawler on. Powerbait micetails have been good at times in white/bubblegum color.  Easy fishing for a youngster as usually the trout will end up just swallowing it and there is no hook to set for them.

I'd boat up to just past monkey island and drift down past Scotty's. Stay closer to the south side of middle as you drift between the island and Scotty's. We catch most fish before 65 bridge and in the no wake zone right there across from Scotty's marina near the mouth of turkey creek going towards the business 65 bridge.

If water is off I'd put a splitshot about 24-30" above a size 10 hook. 4lb line is best, but my brother uses 6lb and still catches fish. Two power eggs on, throw it out, and just let it sit. You can also use a float with a pink worm. I'd anchor at the mouth of turkey creek or out in front of the landing. If you want to get the motor warm and see some of the lake boat up to short creek area. It's not as good as it used to be before the floods took out the gravel bar, but that area still can be good and daddy will have a chance to hook nicer fish throwing a jig while junior is fishing powerbait. Of course, I caught a 17" rainbow in short creek area last year using a drift rig with powerbait eggs so you never know.