Rainbow Trout gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line
Light or ultralight spinning rod, about 4.5 to 8.5 feet; 5 to 6.5 feet suits stocked ponds.	Small to medium spinning reel, or a push-button spincast reel for beginners.	4 to 10 lb monofilament, with 6 to 8 lb a good middle. Go lighter in clear water.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: Light or ultralight spinning rod, about 4.5 to 8.5 feet; 5 to 6.5 feet suits stocked ponds.
Reel: Small to medium spinning reel, or a push-button spincast reel for beginners.
Line: 4 to 10 lb monofilament, with 6 to 8 lb a good middle. Go lighter in clear water.

Baits

worms or cut nightcrawlers
salmon eggs
kernel corn
cheese baits
dough bait
crickets or mealworms

Lures

small inline spinners
small spoons
curly tail jigs and grubs
small stickbaits and crankbaits

Rigs

Split shot rig: a size 6 to 10 bait hook with the smallest split shot that gets the bait down, plus a small bobber if you want to hold depth.
Stream drift: work upstream, cast bait above a pocket or pool and let it tick along the bottom.

Tips

Hatchery rainbows are raised on pellet feed, so baits that look or smell like food, including dough bait, work well soon after a stocking.
In lakes, spring and fall are usually best. In summer, look deeper where water is colder.
Fly fishing: A 4 to 6 weight, 7.5 to 9 foot rod with floating line and a 7 to 9 foot leader tapered to 5X to 7X. Carry small dries, wet flies, nymphs and streamers.

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