Getting The Angle
By: Leonard Spotloe

With the Pennsylvania Trout Season approaching, I have been asked to give my best 2 cents worth of advice on some tactics and baits for opening day.

I think it goes without saying that you need to be aware of your state laws regarding legal baits and limits, not to mention having a proper license and stamps for the kind of trout fishing you intend to do. That being said, I believe the most important thing one can do to have a successful day on the trout stream, is preparation. Here are a few things to hit on before you make that trip out to your favorite stream or lake.

Make sure your rod and reel are in proper working order. You may want to oil and grease your reel or even change the line. If your rod and reel have been exposed to sunlight, it may have weakened your line. It is always a good idea to put some fresh line on that spool. You may also want to check your waders for possible leaks. Make a list of necessary items you will need to pick up at the store,(hooks, sinkers, baits) etc…, and don’t wait until the last minute to pick up your supplies.


Once you have collected everything you intend to use, get it organized in a manner where you can get to it with relative ease. If you use a vest, designate a pocket for each particular item. This way, if you would have to break your line, you know exactly which pocket to reach for hooks, sinkers, lures or any other items you may need. The longer your line is in the water, the better your chances of limiting out become. On opening day especially, you want to be efficient when changing baits or hooks. It may be the difference between you or the guy across the creek getting that big lunker so your efficiency in changing baits or hooks is this setting is key.

As with anything in life, being organized makes everything easier. Get your things in order and your chances for success are much greater. These are things that most people will do automatically, but I have run into a few people in my lifetime, who did not take much stock in preparation, and their fishing experience turned out to be a nightmare. I am sure you won’t let this happen to you. Being prepared is the most important thing you can do. It will put you a step ahead of some, and light years ahead of those who just grab a rod and go.

I have been a stream fisherman most of my life, so the information I am about to give you applies mostly to that area. I do most of my fishing in my home state of West Virginia, but I have taken part in opening day of the PA season a couple of times since moving here in 2001.

Here are some of the things that have worked for me over the years. I believe in keeping things as simple as possible. There are those who like to throw the kitchen sink at those trout, and that’s ok. But, if you want to cover some territory, I suggest going as light as possible. Always use what has been successful for you in the past. If there is an item you carry around that has not been successful for you, leave it at home. I wear waders, a vest, and use a arctic creel out on the trout stream. Other than that, you may want to have a pair of polarized sunglasses, a hat, your pole and a dip net. Some people may want to use a stringer. It’s always a good idea to have one even if you have a creel. You may catch a trout too big to fit into your creel, then you will be glad you have one. If you wear neoprene or breathable waders, I suggest a nylon stringer. Chain stringers are prone to snag and tear neoprene or breathable waders, which will not only be expensive, but can ruin your fishing experience. If you are wearing rubber waders, then a chain stringer may be ok.

If you plan to eat the trout you take, they are much better preserved in a bag in the creel than on a stringer. A stringer sometimes bruises the fish or causes bleeding. If you have a creel you can wet down, your trout will keep fresh longer without damaging the fish. If you plan to catch and release your trout, try to keep them in the water as much as possible. I have read that having a trout exposed to air for over 30 seconds, will cause a 34% mortality rate. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but I will buy into it a little bit. You can look up mortality rates for trout on Google. Some articles may vary. The point I’m driving at here is that, IF YOU ARE GOING TO THROW THEM BACK, KEEP THEM IN THE WATER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! If a trout should swallow the hook and you want to release it, cut the line as close to the hook as possible. DO NOT TRY TO PULL IT OUT! These are all things you can look up if you want to take the time. Most of it is what us old timers call, “common sense.“

Most anglers are courteous on the stream, but once in a while you will have those that cut in front of you or throw in on top of you. This is no way to act, and you don’t want to be that guy. Give others their space!

As far as baits go, I usually take a couple of spinners with me. I have had a lot of success on Muddler’s and March Browns, although there are many that will get the job done. I suggest getting a spinner that’s made locally. They seem to work much better than say a Mepps or Panther Martin. I had some success on Joe’s Flies and PA Lures in this area. Once again, use what has worked for you in the past. I have also had some success on Super Dupers. I always have one with me. Mister Twister jigs are another good artificial bait, but in recent years, I have had tremendous success on Trout Magnets. You can carry most of this in one small box. Other baits I have used with success are Salmon Eggs, Powerbait, Minnows, and Worms.

When fishing for Brook Trout, I have found live minnows to be very effective. Brown Trout are also prone to hit a minnow, but I have had more success catching them on worms. While a Rainbow will hit either one on occasion, I have had the most success with salmon eggs and corn. I have guys telling me that corn is illegal in PA, but I never saw that anywhere in the regulations. In WV it is not, and I use it as one of my staple baits. It is cheap and effective. One thing to point out here is that while the use of corn is legal in my home state, chumming with corn is not, so DON’T DO THAT! I have caught many golden or palimino trout on corn. On this matter once again, check local regulations.

Some other points that may help you in your stream fishing experience is to move through the water as quietly as possible. When possible just walk the banks and try not to kick any rocks or splash water as you wade. Fish will know you're coming and may be spooked. One last thing that may help with your success on the water, is to not put your shadow on the area you are fishing or wear bright colored clothes. Camo or sky blue colors may be a good choice depending on what kind of day it is.

Hopefully, I have touched on something that will help you get the angle, and contribute to your trout fishing success. The rest is up to you. Enjoy yourself and above all, have some fun on opening day.