I went trout fishing yesterday and caught 3. I have the fever. Reading online, I see the optimal line is about 8# braid mainline with about a 4# mono or fluoro leader. Who can recommend their favorite setup for spinning? I like artificials.

I’ve never used braid for trout, but any brand should work. Always go as light as possible for anything trout related. Unless of course you fish up north with @J Franchofor 15 lb trout 

These are 8-12" stocked fish in shallow streams. Coming from a bass power fishing perspective it's hard for me to think light.

16 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve never used braid for trout, but any brand should work. Always go as light as possible for anything trout related. Unless of course you fish up north with @J Franchofor 15 lb trout 

My biggest brown was 22# and came on 4# leader. 

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

My biggest brown was 22# and came on 4# leader. 

Holy %#*^

State record is 34#. 

for stream you can go up to 6lb test. I have 15lb test braid as backing and 30 yards of fluorocarbon , So ill not call that leader anymore. but I use 4lb test invizX to 6lb.

I just run straight 4lb mono most of the time for trout...occasionally I'll run 2lb in super clear water that gets pressured. If there's a fairly strong current and good shot at big fish (10lb plus) I'll run 8lb with a 4ft floro bumper. 

Thanks, guys! I think as little as I get up to the mountains to fish I'll probably do well with straight 4# mono. I've been using 6# but I was using a Trout Magnet part of the time and it was really difficult to cast far. Appreciate it.

24 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Thanks, guys! I think as little as I get up to the mountains to fish I'll probably do well with straight 4# mono. I've been using 6# but I was using a Trout Magnet part of the time and it was really difficult to cast far. Appreciate it.

I you are using trout magnet, Use lines in their website S.O.S

get one spool for casting and 1 spool for leader, you can do 3lb test but I suggest use 2lb test.

I am using 2lb test and catch trout up to 10lb  with it.

29 minutes ago, ATA said:

I you are using trout magnet, Use lines in their website S.O.S

get one spool for casting and 1 spool for leader, you can do 3lb test but I suggest use 2lb test.

I am using 2lb test and catch trout up to 10lb  with it.

GREAT! I didn't know this existed.

6 hours ago, the reel ess said:

GREAT! I didn't know this existed.

That’s stuff is usually in wal mart as well, although maybe a wal mart closer to the trout water would have better odds 

I use seaguar 4lb inviz x for trout fishing.  I mostly fly fish now though and use 3.6lb flouro tipit. 

Ive done so much trout fishing on the west coast be it be stockers or wild, and even native trout, I can give you the scoop. Braid isnt an ideal line for trout. I use 2lb izorline to a 2lb florocarbon leader with water visibility 12 inches. Berkley xl casting monofilament is an okay alternative and will cast farther than izorline because of a thinner diameter, but is weaker and you will have to set your drag looser. Muddy water trout you can get away with normal coplymers and heavier line diameters. 2lb line isnt weak by any means and will teach you how to approprietley fight fish, my biggest trout was 9lbs on 2lb gear and took 4 minutes getting it in, It teaches you how to back reel or set drag, I have caught multiple 6+ pound trout on 2lb line. Get the right rod and reel for this line.

Our stocker trout are fairly small. Usually 10" to 13"

I use #4 mono on my trout rods with good success.

I've tried trilene XL, P-line CX, Sunline supernatural, SOS trout magnet line, Mr crappie line. They all work pretty good.

Supernatural is the thinnest, but you really have to watch for it for abrasion. Mr. Crappie line seems to be the thickest and a little more stiff.

I've also used #6 Daiwa j-braid but went back to mono because it was easier to manage in the current.

I just use maxima ultragreen and red label seaguar. Nothing fancy but both work great.