Things You'll Need:
- Spin casting rod and reel with line
- #4 bait-holder hooks
- Split shot sinker assortment
- Egg sinkers—1/8 to ½ ounce
- Snap swivels—6-lb. to 12-lb. test
- Live worms or minnows
- Lures—spinners, spoons or minnow lures
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Step 1
Choose an ultra-light spin casting combo with a rod length of 4 ½ to 5 feet for exciting action on light line (2 to 6-lb test). Ultra-lights will cast baits or lures in the range of 1/32 to 1/8 ounce.
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Step 2
Buy a light to medium weight spin casting outfit with a rod length of 5 ½ to 6 feet for trout fishing medium to large streams with line weights of 6 to 12 pound test. Look for an outfit with a reel that has at least two ball bearings for durability.
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Step 3
Set up a nightcrawler rig for live worm fishing, which produces good trout catches under almost any conditions. Tie a #4 bait-holder hook on your line with a Uni-knot (see eHows on attaching a hook to fishing line). Pinch on one or more small to medium split shot at least 2 feet above the hook, to keep the bait still or slowly moving in the current.
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Step 4
Push a worm onto the hook, starting at the worm’s collar and slide it up over the bait-holder barbs. Cast the bait upstream and let it settle on the bottom. Twitch the bait to let it drift downstream with the current until you feel trout nibbles or "hits" on the line.
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Step 5
Fish a live worm or minnow with a bobber rig in slack water or pools. Attach the #4 hook and clip a bobber about 3 to 4 feet above the hook. No sinkers or split shot are needed. Use a worm or a minnow hooked through the back for bait, and cast to various parts of the pool to entice trout to attack your bait.
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Step 6
Try a "fish-finder" rig to let your bait drift with the current. Thread a small egg sinker (1/8 to ¼ ounce, or larger for fast currents) on your line, then pinch on a small split shot below the egg sinker, about 2 feet from the end of the line. Tie on a #4 bait-holder hook and put on a worm or a tail-hooked minnow (see eHow on how to fish with a minnow). This rig is more sensitive to light nibbles because there is less effective weight on the line.
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Step 7
Attach a snap swivel to the end of your line for fishing lures with a spin cast outfit. Tie a 6 to 12-lb. test snap swivel on your line with a Uni-knot. No sinkers or split shot are needed. Now you can snap on a spoon, spinner or minnow lure for cast-and-retrieve fishing. The snap swivel helps keep the line from twisting, and allows you to quickly change lures.
