Tiger Trout gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line
Standard light trout spinning rod, about 4.5 to 8.5 feet.	Small to medium spinning reel.	4 to 8 lb mono. Lean toward the heavy end: tiger trout eat other fish and can reach 20 inches in good waters.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: Standard light trout spinning rod, about 4.5 to 8.5 feet.
Reel: Small to medium spinning reel.
Line: 4 to 8 lb mono. Lean toward the heavy end: tiger trout eat other fish and can reach 20 inches in good waters.

Baits

bait where legal

Lures

minnow-imitating plugs
spoons
spinners
lake troll attractors ahead of bait or a lure

Rigs

Cast or troll a minnow imitation.
Troll a lake troll attractor with bait or a small lure behind it.

Tips

Tiger trout are a sterile brown and brook trout hybrid. They are aggressive and eat fish, and some states stock them to help control unwanted baitfish.
Fly fishing: Leech, muddler, woolly bugger and nymph patterns. Use floating line with a dry or emerger when fish rise, otherwise sink-tip or full sinking line with 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