Gents,

My wife and I are going on a stocker trout trip with my father-in-law. It's a weekend long thing at Bennet springs. I need some help with what to use. I'm not a trout guy and would be starting from scratch in terms of tackle. I've got the rods and reels covered.

I need to know what lures/bait to buy and a little about how to work them. I'm looking for quantity of fish over quality. Budget is say.....$40-$50.

Any help is appreciated.

Id definitely get some powerbait trout dough and te hooks and sinkers to use it with. You just throw it somewhere good and let it sit for a while.

Rooster tails and panther martins work well, too.

Trout dough. Color? What hooks? What weights?

Rooster tails, Panther martins. Colors? Weight?

I need specific info. I've NEVER done this before.

Thanks Peasey.

Salmon eggs work really well also. You can get those by the powerbaits usually at the store. If legal where you are going, I would go for a size 14 or so treble hook.  Sprinkle a little salt on the eggs to keep them from breaking easier. I prefer these to powerbait.  I seem to get better results on stocked trout.   Crickets are also a pretty good bait to use.  

Anybody else?

I'm not asking for much.

I would go with 1/8 oz rooster tails in various different colors

Bennet is divided into three areas: Fly fishing only, artificial lures, and natural bait. Be sure and read the brochure that is available at the park store for the rules and regulations; abide by them 200%, the game wardens will cut you absolutely no slack in the park. For bait, you can't beat salmon eggs in pink or red. For artificial lures, small Mepps, Rooster tails, and other small spinners work well. As far as tackle, Ultra light spinning is the way to go. Don't use line heavier than 4 pound; I always had better luck with 2 pound but you really have to be careful of breakoffs and retie often. Buy your permit the night before.

The trout fishing really slows down about mid morning. At the end of the Spring branch is the Niangua river. The river has small mouth and large mouth bass and several varieties of pan fish. You can rent a canoe or jon boat in the park and paddle around the river fishing for them if the trout get lock jaw. There are also trout in the river.

Good luck.

perfect! Thanks a lot!

If you go with the in line spinners try to find some of the Mepps with a signle hook instead of a treble hook.  I seem to have more hookups on fish with smaller mouths when using the single hook mepps.  They are hard to find though.

Also I would get the smallest lures you can get a decent cast with.

Rapala Countdown, rainbow trout pattern. (Buy two)

Panther Martin, gold blade with black body and chartreuse spots.

(Buy a few, you will lose some)

Red worms and night crawlers are excellent baits, but #1 for numbers is canned corn!

8-)

RW: What size of Rapala's?

So, with all of these things, the "bait" is rigged with weight? Do I float it? How should I fish that?

With the lures, cast downstream and work upstream or across the river? Is it just throw to what looks like a good spot and repeat?

Countdown: CD 09, 3 1/2" 7/16 oz

Rig the "baits" on a 1/0 straight shank hook with a split shot about 12" up the line.

ALWAYS cast across stream or upstream so the bait or lure is moving with the current.

8-)

10-4.

Thanks again. I need all the help I can get. This is like learning how to fish all over again.

Ultimately, I'd like to catch some fish. But, above that, I don't want to be "that guy" on the river.