Spin fishing for trout (Part 2)

By Ian

The next thing you need is your "bait." It could be in a dough,  nightcrawler, your own mixture, or in the form of salmon eggs. While I find baits mainly work on hatchery trout, you can also sometimes catch a trout trout or two on some of these. Yes, dough  are a type of fishing bait. They have a special scent to them and texture to them, and float in the water. There are many rigs on how to rig them up, but the basic rig has you tie on a weight on your line, heavy enough so that it sinks in the water and firmly stays on the bottom. 12"-18" up the line you then tie on a hook, small enough that it can hook on to your bait and fully be embedded,.

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Dough bait needs to be rolled into a small ball, which is then places on your hook. Do not expose the hook point! By far, Berkley Powerbait Trout Bait is the most popular dough bait for trout. Other Berkley trout dough baits are commonly sold are big retail outlets around the country,  such as Walmart.  Dough type baits are the most common ad most popular trout baits currently.

​Next up are the salmon eggs. Berkley, and some other companies make  artificial versions of this.  There is an old tradition are using "cured" salmon eggs in the US, with scent and color added to attract fish. Trout and salmon natural will try to eat eggs they see when they are out foraging, not only for a high nutritional content, but to ensure that their young have less competition. Salmon eggs are commonly, although less popular to dough, and can be bought at Walmart, Dick's and other large stores.

​Lastly, we have the humble nightcrawler. In an age of powerful laboratory scents, flashy neon colors, and even flashier advertising, the nightcrawler still is one of the most common trout baits. Available at bait shops, or at local markets, you can also dig them up. They are very effective on trout, and have natural scent and texture built inside of them. Rig them up on a hook, add a split shot 12" up the line, add a bobber,  and you're all set.

Bait fishing is not for everyone, and in certain special conservation areas, you are not allowed to use them. Also, baits have a much higher chance of killing trout than artificial lures or flies, so we ask that you only use baits in put and take management areas, and to not release any fish hooked on bait, since they will probably die. It's a good way to fish for stocked trout, and a great way to spend time with friends and family. Trout fishing also supports the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) because people over 16 years of age have to buy a trout stamp and a fishing license, generating revenue to support the many streams and forests that we love.

Tight lines,

Ian