EVERYTHING You need to Know About Stocked Trout Fishing!

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]All right, you want to catch talk trout?

[00:00:01]I've caught a bunch of them, and you can do it, too. So, let's get into it.

[00:00:05]Before you do anything, it's always a good idea to check the regulations of the waters you plan to fish. Some trout waters have certain restrictions, like using single and barbless hooks only, fly fishing only, and catch and release only. Sometimes the opening date for the water is different, too. Before making this guide, I actually wanted to try fishing a local stocked trout pond until I realized that it wasn't open for fishing yet. At least here in New Hampshire, they stock the trout ponds before they're open to give the trout time to acclimate. Another thing you got to do is to watch the local stocking reports. Each state keeps track of where and when each trout is stocked. It's usually released in a weekly stocking report. You got to stay on top of this.

[00:00:42]Like, watch it like a hawk because in most cases, the trout won't last longer than a few weeks after they're stocked.

[00:00:48]Of course, you also got to make sure that you have a fishing license ready.

[00:00:50]Fishing licenses are required to fish just about anywhere and they serve to fund conservation efforts as well as stocking the very trout you're trying to catch. And if you already have a fishing license, make sure that it covers trout fishing, too. If you live in one of these states, an additional trout permit might be required in order to fish for trout. All right, time to gear up. Let's start with a rod and reel. When we say trout fishing, most of us aren't talking about landing massive steel heads. Most stock trout are only 9 to 12 in long.

[00:01:17]And for targeting these fish, I highly recommend an ultra light fishing setup.

[00:01:21]You can always use a light, medium light, or even medium power rod in a pinch, but the sensitivity you get with an ultralight rod will give you the best experience. My favorite ultra light rod to recommend is a 5-ft Shakespeare Micro Series rod. It's a pretty fragile rod, but for around 20 bucks, you really can't beat the value. It's light, sensitive, and does everything you need to catch trout. When it comes to reels, I used to think you had to spend at least $60 to $70 to get a decent quality one. But I tried a new budget option recently that totally blew me away. The Shimano Sienna size 1000. It's a little on the heavy side, but it reels in buttery smooth, even after dropping it in the water. And at just $35, this reel is hard to beat. Now, let's talk about fishing line. Trout are very weary fish, and if anything looks slightly off, they won't bite. That's why you should avoid using braided line unless you're using a transparent leader. Beginners should either use a clear monofilament or fluorocarbon line. Monofilm is stretchy but cuts more easily whereas fluorocarbon is more stiff but abrasion resistant. I personally like to fish c-olymer line which is somewhere in between the two. Six lb test is the perfect allaround strength for ultra light fishing. I currently fish a sixlb test co-olymer line from pline on all of my ultralight fishing rods. If you plan on fishing catch and release, a landing net is essential for trout fishing.

[00:02:39]Yeah, despite being able to drop them from literal planes and helicopters, these fish are pretty fragile. Though, despite being called a landing net, it isn't primarily for landing the fish.

[00:02:50]Compared to other species, trout don't last as long out of the water. It's good to have a net so that you can keep the trout in the water for as long as possible. It's perfect for when you're fumbling to get your pliers or getting a phone ready for a picture. If you do get a net, make sure it's a rubber mesh net.

[00:03:04]Trout have a protective slime layer on them that keeps them safe from parasites and disease. And a traditional nylon net can cut through it. I managed to get one on Amazon that I use whenever I'm targeting trout, and it's never failed me. Another essential, no matter what you're fishing for, is a good pair of fishing pliers. You don't need anything too fancy. I just got mine at Bass Pro Shops. You can get at Walmart or even on Amazon. So, what should we be throwing at these trout? Well, I rarely use live bait, but earthworms are one of the best trout baits out there. Trout rarely bite off more than they can chew though, so make sure that if you do use worms that you keep your bait size small. If your only option is a large nightcrawler, then try cutting it into smaller pieces and put it on a small Aberdeen hook. I mostly fish with artificial lures and there's one that trout will go for above all others, the inline spinner. I know it's written all over my face.

[00:03:55]Whether it be a rooster tail, panther martin, or even one you make yourself from a kit, trout go crazy for these things. They're ideal for shallow water, especially small streams. 1/16th ounce is my go-to size, but I've caught plenty of trout off of 1/8 ounce and 132nd ounce sizes as well. Another lure I've used to catch trout is the Acme Phoebe.

[00:04:14]It's a small fishshaped spoon lure that creates a ton of flash to grab a fish's attention. They work especially well in ponds and lakes or just about anywhere that's deeper than where you'd fish a rooster tail. There's one more lure I wouldn't go without for trout fishing, the micro jig. The most well-known of these lures for trout fishing is the trout magnet. I personally haven't caught any trout off this lure before, but I know plenty of people who have.

[00:04:36]I've also caught trout off of a very similar lure, the Berkeley pre-rigged atomic tube. With either of these lures, cast it into a stream, let the current take it, give it a few jerks every now and then, and watch that line for when a trout bites it. All right, we're all geared up. What now? When I arrive at a new trout spot, I always try to find where the fish were likely stocked into the water. On most ponds, it's pretty straightforward since it's almost always the boat launch or an open beach near the road. Rivers and streams can be a bit tougher, though, but most of the time, it's as close to the road as possible. These fish are either pumped directly from a truck or carried to the water by net, which is more often for smaller stockings around bridges.

[00:05:13]Streams can also be a bit trickier because the fish often travel upstream or downstream from the launching location depending on conditions.

[00:05:20]Naturally, most trout are going to travel downstream at the current, especially if it's fast moving water.

[00:05:24]But I have occasionally caught trout that went upstream from the stocking location as well. There are a bunch of fancy terms used to describe a river.

[00:05:32]Riffles, eddies, seams, undercuts, rapids, you name it. I'm going to tell you, you don't need to know any of those words as long as you know this. Most trout hang out where the fast water meets the slow water. Fast water carries lots of insects and other food sources, but the trout won't stay in that water for long because it takes a lot of energy to fight the current. Instead, they'll stick around right where it slows down so that they can keep a lookout for food without having to do much work. It's usually pretty easy to figure out where these spots are, but here are a few places to look for.

[00:06:02]Behind large rocks or boulders, deep pools, insides of river bends, or the base of a dam or natural waterfall. When I'm trout fishing, I am always on the move. If I'm fishing a stream, I probably won't spend more than 10 minutes at the same spot unless I'm getting some good action. Freshly stocked trout are much less wary and you can usually catch multiple in the same spot quite easily. But the trout that stick around for a few weeks or even months after stocking, they're much smarter. And even if they bite a few times, they'll usually smarten up and hunker down pretty quickly, refusing to bite anything. It's rare that I catch more than two trout in situations like this. But if you come back to the spot about 30 minutes later, you might have another chance at catching them. All right, so you throw the right lure at the right place in the right time and you finally catch a trout. Here are a few things to keep in mind when handling it. Most importantly, be sure to wet your hands first. That protective slime wear on the trout can rub right off if you have dry hands, so it's best to dip your hands in the water first. Be sure to avoid touching the gills. The gills of a trout are very fragile, so if you plan on releasing a fish, try to avoid touching them when possible. Also, because trout aren't the most hearty fish, keep them in the water for as long as possible. This ensures a strong release for the fish. If you have a landing net, this is the perfect opportunity to use it. If you don't have a landing net or you forgot it at home, happens to me all the time. I recommend just keeping the fish hooked on the line until you have everything ready to unhook it and release it. For me, I usually get my pliers out and I have my phone ready so that I can unhook the thing, grab a photo, and release the fish as quickly as possible. Also, if the fish goes belly up immediately after releasing it, don't worry too much. This often happens that the fish is out of the water for a minute or longer. And most of the time, the fish just needs to get its bearings and breathe a little bit more before it swims upright again.

[00:07:50]And there you have it. I hope this video helps you crush it out there and catch some trout of your own. Also, if I missed anything or you got your own trout fishing tips to share, put them down in the comments so we can all become better anglers. Big thanks to all my channel members. And if you enjoyed this video, be sure to give it a like, subscribe, and check out my other videos, too. Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next one.