Golden Trout gear
Quick setup
| Rod | Reel | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Standard light spinning rod, or a fly rod that breaks down short for hiking. | Small spinning reel or a matching fly reel. | Light leaders, usually 4 lb or less. Fly fishers use 2 to 4 weight lines with leaders 12 feet or longer and fine tippet. |
Rod, reel and line
- Rod
- Standard light spinning rod, or a fly rod that breaks down short for hiking.
- Reel
- Small spinning reel or a matching fly reel.
- Line
- Light leaders, usually 4 lb or less. Fly fishers use 2 to 4 weight lines with leaders 12 feet or longer and fine tippet.
Baits
- worms or other small bait, where legal
Lures
- small spinners
- small spoons
Rigs
- Bait under a bobber, or floated up off a slip sinker, cast 50 to 150 feet out near the bottom at midday.
- Light spinning rod with a casting bubble to throw flies.
Tips
- Golden trout live in clear high lakes and streams and can see anglers well, so approach carefully.
- Fly fishing: Dry flies when fish rise; nymph, leech and midge patterns when they don't. In small streams they readily take dries and terrestrials.
Starter setup
A 5.5 to 7 foot light to medium-light spinning or spincast rod and matching reel, spooled with 6 lb monofilament. Spincast is easiest for beginners, and a 4 to 5 foot rod suits small kids. Carry size 6 to 10 hooks, a few split shot (pinched on 4 to 8 inches above the hook), small bobbers, a couple of small spinners and jigs, and worms. Learn the improved clinch knot and the palomar knot.
Light line casts farther and draws more strikes. Heavier line and stiffer rods are for bigger fish, heavy cover or sharp teeth, not for everyday fishing.
When to size up
| Fish | Gear |
|---|---|
| Walleye, bass, saugeye, hybrid striped bass | medium rod, 8 to 12 lb line, 6 to 7.5 feet |
| Channel catfish | medium-heavy rod, 10 to 20 lb line |
| Northern pike | medium-heavy rod, 15 lb or heavier braid, steel or heavy fluorocarbon (40 lb+) leader |
| Muskellunge | heavy 7 to 9 foot rod, 50 to 80 lb braid, heavy leader |
| Trolling for lake trout and salmon | 8.5 to 10.5 foot trolling rods, 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid, level-wind reels |
| Steelhead | 8 to 10 foot or longer rods, 6 to 10 lb line |
| Lake sturgeon | heavy rod, 50 to 100 lb braid |
Stocked in the last 2 years
22 waters with a stocking in the last 2 years.
Montana (3)
- Basin Lake, Park
- Big Butte Lake, Carbon
- Desolation Lake, Carbon
Washington (19)
- Bathtub Lakes, Snohomish
- Cougar Lake, Okanogan
- Cougar Lake, King
- Cutthroat Lakes, Snohomish
- Cyclone Lake, Skagit
- Enchantment Lakes, Chelan
- French Potholes, Chelan
- Gravel Lake, King
- Horseshoe Lake, King
- Jakes Lake, King
- Josephine Lake, Pierce
- Josephine Lake, Chelan
- Lamont Lake, Okanogan
- Mary Lake, King
- Nazanne Lake, King
- Ruby Lake, Snohomish
- Summit Chief Lake, Kittitas
- Tahl Lake, King
- Warm Lake, Yakima
Gear for other species
- Rainbow Trout
- Brown Trout
- Brook Trout
- Walleye
- Stocked Trout (species not listed)
- Cutthroat Trout
- Muskellunge and Tiger Muskie
- Yellow Perch
- Channel Catfish
- Largemouth Bass
- Bluegill and Sunfish
- Northern Pike
- Crappie
- Lake Trout
- Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
- Tiger Trout
- Kokanee
- Chinook Salmon
- Coho Salmon
- Steelhead
- Saugeye and Sauger
- Splake
- Lake Sturgeon
- Smallmouth Bass
- Hybrid Striped Bass
- Arctic Grayling
Gear types only. Check your state's fishing regulations before you go.