"TROUT SEASON"

Being a father of three young boys who absolutely love to fish, I have learned how to take advantage of our seasonal hotspots. I should have said "three young boys who love to catch fish". Anyone who has ever taken a group of children on a fishing trip with little success knows just how long the day can seem. On the other hand, if they are catching fish, there is nothing better. While planning an outing past experience has taught me to pay close attention to stocking and fishing reports. Over the years we have actually built our own little family circuit. If you ask my eight- year old what late fall to early winter means to him, he will tell you "TROUT SEASON". This is the boy’s favorite time of year to fish. Partly due to the fact, they consistently catch fish all day, and partly because mom will actually go with us. The weather and beautiful scenery in the pines or along Oak Creek is very relaxing for her.

My early experiences fishing for trout were not a very enjoyable experience however. Trout are one of your most easily spooked fish, and if you go to the lake with the wrong set-up you will be greatly disappointed. I believe the best line for trout is four- pound monofilament. If your drag is set properly, there is not a trout you can’t patiently wear down and land. Besides, I take the boys to heavily stocked waters and most stockers are under a pound. But ask the boys if they really care. The proper rod is an ultra-light rig, and I prefer a spinning reel. The bait we start with is Berkely’s Powerbait. It comes in a variety of colors, though we always have good luck with rainbow, green, and red. Start by setting a small splitshot about eighteen inches above a small #12 hook. People often put too big of a weight on the line and scare away anything close when it comes crashing into the water. The four-pound line gives you great cast ability, but you will find just as many trout close to shore as in the middle. The light line is also a must in order to allow your Powerbait to float off the bottom. Put just enough on to cover the hook completely. Some fishermen will use a small treble hook. I don’t recommend this because of the damage these hooks cause to the fish. I personally prefer catch and release because the kids can fish all day. It is important to handle your trout with wet hands, a gentle grip, and always swirl him in a backwards figure eight motion to allow him to get oxygen back into his gills until he regains his strength. After you cast, allow a little slack in the line. Just enough so you can see the strike. A tight line or a large weight is enough to tip off the suspicious trout to your presence. When you see your line tighten or move left or right, set the hook and it’s Showtime. The Powerbait’s scent, color, and the milky film it spreads around your hook, will attract trout. It’s up to you to have the right set-up. Other baits we occasionally use are: mill worms, dilly’s, corn, salmon eggs, or cheese. All will work on the same rig. Dad also likes small spinners and z-rays.

There are a number of great places to fish for trout in Arizona, but if you are taking the children I suggest finding a regularly stocked body of water. Ashurst, Lynx, Woods Canyon, and various spots along Oak Creek are a few of our favorites. Good Luck, hope you have a great "FALL TROUT SEASON".

KIP POLLAY