Trout Quick

Fishing Guide

Tailored Tackle ®
Fishing Kits & Combos
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License & Registration

One of the most important items any angler needs before they go fishing is
their fishing license. Each state has their own regulations and offers daily,
short-term, or annual licenses. TakeMeFishing.org has a great tool to find
out where to buy a fishing license, the types of fishing licenses available,
age requirements, fishing regulations and online purchasing.

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Review the best licens-

3 ing options to fit your
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Your state’s profile has links to resources where you can review the state
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in your area. Many states allow you to purchase your license online and
print out a temporary license to go fishing the same day. Remember to re-
view the age requirements as children, seniors and veterans often receive
discounts and unique opportunities for open fishing.
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 Places to Boat & Fish

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Body of Water to fish and boat on Use this list of Key Symbols on the
Best Place to Fish and Boat with map to find places to fish, bait shops,
family-friendly amenities and hot fishing bites!
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Click on a blue Body of Water icon on a
Marinas, moorings and supplies
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Bait Shop to buy fishing bait & lures • Review Logged Catches
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• View Photos of Fish Caught
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Charter & Boat rentals • Read Fishing Forecasts
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• Get Directions to that Location

Fly Fishing shops.

Fish Refuge or Hatchery Facility

Logged Fish Fishing
Multiple Places of Interest Catches Species Forecasts
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 Trout Lure
Feather Spinner Feather Tail 1/4 Oz
Gold/Fire Perch

Lakes
Cast and retrieve at a
steady pace. The lure
should spin, riding 2-3
ft from the surface. Best
when Trout are topping in
Spring and Fall.

Streams Cast diagonally upstream, so you retrieve

the bait with the current and cover the most
distance. Thump along the bottom and swim the top.

Casting Spoon 3/16 Oz

Chrome Silver

Lakes
Great for long distance
casts, troll or retrieve
through the middle of the
water column to mimic a
baitfish. Try various paces
at different depths.

Streams Let the spoon fall to the bottom then pick up

and retrieve at a less than fast pace through
the middle of the water column. Knock the bottom a bit.
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 Quick Sheet
Suspending Crank
2.5” - 1/8 Oz
Black / Silver

Lakes
Cast and let sink counting
1 ft per second until crank
is halfway down the wa-
ter column. Drive the
lure downward and let it
float back up in 2-3 ft in-
crements on the retrieve.

Crank and twitch this lure through the deep-

Streams est sections of the stream. Make sure to
pause in-between. Pausing suspends the lure and often
entices a strike.

Jig and Grub Plain Jig Head 1/16 Oz

2.25” White Curl Tail Grub

Lakes
Swim this bait along rocky
shoals. It performs best in
high water clarity. Bounce
around the rocks a bit, but
focus on swimming at a
constant pace.

Streams Pitch lure to the head of the run, hopping it

over cover. Try to reach the full water column,
rising and falling on the retrieve and pausing on bottom.
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 Trout Lure
Floating Rig Egg Sinker 1/4 Oz | #7 Swivel
#12 Treble Hook | Floating Bait

Longer 3-5 ft Lakes

leader, getting
as close to the middle
of the water column as
possible. Target drop offs
along the shoreline. Keep
line taut and monitor rod
tip for tap-tap-taps.

Streams
Shorten leader to 1 ft, target deeper pools of
3-5 ft. Cast from afar, the splash will spook Trout initially
so fish each pool for at least 10 min.

Split Shot Rig

#8 Baitholder Hook
#7 Split Shot | Live Bait

Streams

A simple split shot

pinched 1-3 ft above
your live bait is versatile
and a great option
when trout are docile.
Cast out and let sit for
a minute. Work along the bottom for a few reels and
pause again. Patiently cover a lot of water, working the
bottom.

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 Quick Sheet
Marabou Jig+Slip Slip Float 5/8”
White Jig 1/16 Oz

Work along Lakes

the surface,
setting your depth 3-5 ft
down. Best used when
Trout are feeding up top
during a hatch. Reel in
3-5x and pause to mimic
insects.

Streams
Dead drift in current with a float spacing the
difference to hang the jig close to the bottom. Current
works the jig, monitor float activity.

Live Bait Float Slip Float 5/8” -# 3/0 Split Shot

#8 Baitholder Hook | Live Bait

Slip floats let you

Lakes
target any depth.
Start with the middle water
column working upwards.
Most hits will happen in the
top half. Let the bobber
submerge, then set the
hook.
Streams Set the depth to a few inches off the bottom,
let rig float with the current to cover a long drift. Keep cast-
ing, let the float drift and ride the current.
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 Trout Lure
Micro Crankbaits Grasshopper 1.5”
Crayfish 1.5”

Crayfish
Use in rocky areas hold-
ing crustaceans. Dig the
lure down into the rocks,
pause and let it float up.
Repeat and expect hits
on the up-float.

Work along the edges of the stream

Grasshopper
banks, slowly retrieve so the lure wag-
gles in a tantalizing motion. Best during insect spawn.

Brass Rattle Spinner 1/8 Oz

Metal Spinner Vibrating Spinner 1/8 Oz

Lakes
The best spinner option
when searching for trout
in open water. Retrieve at
a constant pace in shal-
low water or troll to cover
deeper water.

Similar to feather spinners, run through all

Streams
parts of the stream at a constant pace. Use
these louder spinners to call in aggressive trout.
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 Quick Sheet
Trout Worm 3” Trout Worm - #7 Split Shot
#8 Baitholder Hook

Lakes
Best worked off the bot-
tom of flats on hot sum-
mer days. Silty, muddy
bottoms host aquatic
worms. Mimic them by
digging along the bottom.

Great for murkier streams with muddy

Streams
bottoms. Drag along the bottom then hold
in place for 30 seconds, letting the current work the bait.

Check out the Tailored

Tackle Trout Kit for all
the trout lures and rigs
from this Quick Guide.

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 Top 5 Trout Tips
Stealth Mode Trout can see you from 15 yds
away in clear water. They can
also feel the vibration of abrupt noises like shouts
or motors starting up. Be quiet, walk carefully, and
maintain distance between yourself and the area
you target. If fishing from shore, cast 20 yds away
or more. Turn off motors or stop paddling 30 yds
from your target spot. Troll your lures 50 yds back.

Cast Upstream When current is low,

present and retrieve
your bait with the current. Wounded bait fish or
insects cannot swim against the current, so your
lure needs to flow with it for natural action. Cast
upstream or against a current. If conditions are too
rough, add sinkers and slowly retrieve against the
current instead.

Cold Water Water temps in the 40-60

degree range are preferred
by trout. The colder the better. Trout hold to the
coolest area of a water body with steady oxygen-
ation. Inflowing water such as a creek joining a
river, or an inlet to a reservoir, are ideal locations
to target trout. New, faster moving water is often
colder and richer in oxygen and nutrients. Inflows
offer ideal feeding conditions for Trout.
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 Top 5 Trout Tips
High to Low Trout favor conditions over
structural features or cover.
Instead of relating to the bottom or holding to a
shady shelter, trout roam the open water at what-
ever depth they prefer based on needs. They hug
the bottom, stratify the middle, or breach the sur-
face. Most importantly, trout sight feed upwards.
Prioritize the top half of the water column until you
see a pattern.

Wet Hands Unless you are keeping fil-

lets for dinner, do your best
to handle trout with bare hands that have been
dipped in water. Trout skin is more sensitive than
most freshwater species, so delicate handling is
critical for release. Do not handle them with gloves
or towels, and attempt to corral your catch in a net
to remove the hook while submerged in water.

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 Trout in Lakes & Ponds
Location Trout are typically caught from
3 ft off the bottom to the top
of the water column. 15-40 ft depths are a typical
target range for shore anglers. However, Trout can
reach the 120-160 ft range. Early morning and eve-
ning are primary feeding hours and trout should be
surfacing at these times. At midday Trout will be
lower in the column, where the temps are cooler.
Insect and bait fish cycles often supersede these
common feeding habits.
Lures

Cast lures at dawn and

dusk when Trout are
aggressively feeding
up top. If you see them
breaking the surface,
cast and retrieve spin-
ners at a steady pace
so they swim 1-3 ft
down. With no action
on the surface, Trout
are likely feeding on
bait fish. Cast the Sus-
pending Crank, letting
it drop a few feet, then
twitch it back in by
snapping and pausing.
Prop Up Rod

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 Bait Rigs Bait Rigs are generally the most
effective method for catching
trout in lakes & ponds. Let the trout come to you.
Bottom Rig: Floating dough bait on a bottom rig is
the most popular way to catch trout in still water.
Cast out 20-30 yds and let your sinker hit bottom.
Reel in any slack and hold your rod still or prop it up
on a stick. Monitor your rod tip for “tap-tap-taps”.
Wait until you feel a slight tug or repetitive taps be-
fore setting the hook. Best used at midday when
trout are holding low.
Slip Float Rig: Use this rig with live bait like a worm,
minnow or leech to pinpoint trout anywhere in the
water column. Start by setting your depth halfway
down. Let the wind carry your float to cover water.
Experiment with depth until you find a pattern. Let
the bobber fully submerge before you set the hook.

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Trout in Streams & Rivers
Trout often hold to the
deeper, cooler pockets
Location

of rivers and streams.

Pools are your primary
target. Deeper pockets
of water with slow cur-
rent, pools are formed
by large boulders or drop offs
typically near the middle. Ed-
dys are your secondary target;
deeper holes near the bank
caused by an obstruction that
diverts current. Both are spot-
ted by darker shades of water.

Lures Best used in rivers and wider streams,

lures let you cover more water faster.
Stay mobile, working long expanses of the stream
when trout are aggressive. When water levels
change, trout feed actively. During the Spring in-
flows, baitfish are on the move. Cast crankbaits to
cover higher water and mimic the forage. Pools are
the likely ambush point. In the Fall, as insect hatch-
es rise upwards, trout start breaking the surface.
Cast spinners through the top of the water column.
Retrieve at a constant pace to stay 1-3 ft below the
surface. Cast all lures diagonally upstream so you
cover the most water and flow with the current.
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 Bait Rigs A simple split shot with a hooked
minnow or worm will always
work, especially when bites are slow. This classic
approach is light on hardware, serving up a meal
to finicky trout. Cast into deeper pools & dddys,
letting your bait sit for a minute before reeling in
a few feet and waiting again. Each cast should last
about 5 minutes, change your bait every 5 casts.
Stay quiet and leave your line completely still. Wait
for a sequence of taps before setting the hook.

Soft Plastics Ideal for aggressive Trout in

small streams, plastics give a
lively action with finesse. Jig the grub off the bot-
tom, bounce twice & swim it a few feet to mimic
a wounded bait fish. Slowly lift and drop the trout
worm along the bottom, pausing for ~10 seconds to
mimic an emerging insect wiggling in the current.

Use the Tailored Tackle Multispecies Combo

to fish for trout in lakes, rivers & streams.

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 Trolling for Trout
Trolling automates a lot
Easy Trolling
of the fishing and can be
done by boat or non-motorized vessels. Find a
speed that is similar to a brisk walk on top of the
water and let your line out 50 yds with a crankbait
or spinner. Hold your rod steady, the tip should
bend over by 1/3, and monitor the bend for big
pulls followed by rapid taps. Set the hook, then
gradually reduce your speed to a stop so the line
stays taut.

Adv. Trolling
Add an egg sinker, or
a series of split shot
weights to drive your
lure deeper in the
water column. Using
lead-core line, which
is weighted by dis-
tance, is a cost effec-
tive upgrade to your
trolling outfit. For more
advanced setups, a Downrigging
down-rigger system is
used to set your presentation at an exact depth all
the way down to 150 ft. Electronic Sonars greatly
improve the effectiveness of your trolling.
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 Handling Trout
Proper Release Please be respectful and
handle your fish with
care. If it is likely that your catch will not resuscitate
on release, please harvest your fish.
Only use a knot-less net to corral your Trout in the
water. Keeping it submerged, you can remove the
hook. To remove the trout from water, wet your
hands. Cup your left hand under the belly, and gen-
tly wrap your right
hand around the base
of the tail. Release the
Trout in under 30 sec-
onds.
Do not wear gloves or
use a towel. Do your
utmost to prevent the
trout from touching
dry land.
To release, gradually
Gentle Release
submerge the Trout
and release your hand from the tail. If the trout does
not kick off on its own, continue to cradle the belly
in one hand and work the tail back and forth with
your opposite hand. Repeat for 5 minutes, until the
trout kicks off. If you cannot resuscitate your trout
please harvest based on regulations or contact your
DNR agency.
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 How to Clean a Trout
How to Gut a Trout
1) Cut the gill away from the jaw.
1
2) Pierce through the belly near the anus, cut
up towards the head of the trout in a straight
line. Grab the base of the gills and pull down,
removing all the organs. Rub your thumb
against the spine to remove blood.

2 (Optional) To cook trout with

the skin on, remove the scales
by grinding the back of the blade
against the scales until the skin
becomes smooth and semi trans-
Optional parent.
To harvest a fillet, proceed to the
next section. Otherwise, you can
cook the trout whole, eating off
the bone.
3
How to Fillet a Trout
3) Start with the trout’s head fac-
ing your dominant hand. Break the
neck by snapping it backwards.
4) To remove the bones from the 4
fillet, slip the blade right beneath
the rib bones, working the knife up
along the rib cage to separate.
5) Flesh out any left over bones
with the edge of your knife, work- 5
ing upwards from the spine to the
belly. Flip over and repeat.

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6) Pierce blade through the back,
right above the neck. Cut from
head to tail, as close to the spine as
possible. Flip over & repeat. 6

7) Remove the head by cutting

across one fin to the other, severing
the spine. Remove dorsal fins.
8) Cut at the base of the tail to re- 7
move the spine, leaving the tail on.
For a skinless fillet move onto the
next section. Otherwise, sever each
fillet from the tail and wash.

How to Skin a Trout 8

9) Press 2 fingers firmly down

at the tail. Slant your knife to a
45° angle near the base of the
9
tail. Slowly draw your knife
back and forth until you are
underneath the meat, press-
ing against the skin.
10) Lay your knife flat. Work
your knife back and forth
10 against the grain of the skin,
separating the fillet from the
skin. Repeat on opposite side.
11) Trim any fins or fat that
were missed from steps 1-10.
Run under cool water, feeling
for any bones you missed. Dry
11 off and prep your meal!
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 Common Trout Species

Rainbow Trout

Brown Trout

Brook Trout
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Unique Trout Species

Cutthroat Trout

Bull Trout

Golden Trout

Steelhead
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