Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

my trout have grown well in a pond over summer (put in November - grew well over summer) jumping about now - we can net them at some time in the future, but now i would just like to catch a couple - i don't have a fly line & rod, was wondering what bait i might try - have used worms with a float, get bites but no hook ups - thinking of trying a little spinner - any suggestions on rigs, spinners or baits? cheers ST.

Are you going to eat them or do you want to release them back into the system? I don't know how this would affect the mental state of the other trout but you could take velveta cheese and roll into a ball around a small hook them coat with dirt. This will look enough like trout chow that you shouldn't have to wait long. Works on hatchery trout as well

This might send the others off their feed. if you plan on releasing them again use barbless hooks and try not to let them swallow the hook.

if they're pellet trained, you can put a little nylon around a pellet and attach to a hook..
there's a company in the us that makes "pellet lures" called stubby steves i think

Rapala lures are good and a bonus is you wont snag them and lose an expensive lure

thanxs for replies, after a few failures, finally got it right - we feed pellets each day, so got a few pellets, crushed these up and mixed in with broun bread, rolled bread into little balls on the hook. throw a bit of this mixture in as burley then throw line in, burley has to sink a bit but then fish were into feeding and hooked up well = 3 over 1/2kg in 5 mins. cheers ST

Nice one... Good to see that you are able to catch a few, in the tanks when using a line, we found that after you caught one, that was it, they would stop biting..

Same

I've caught 4 per weekend for the last 3 weeks by hook and line on bamboo pole. For bait I crushed some pellets, addeed a touch of flour and water to turn it into a ball of dough (not too much flour, just enough to make it stick together). Although after the first couple they were more cautious, we actually caught more than 4 each weekend (some catch and release, barbless hooks). Haven't noticed and difference in their appetite during the week. Much more fun than scooping!!

So after the catch and release with barbless hooks you havn't noticed any floaters? Apparently this is the biggest cause of death at trout farms from people releasing fish after being caught, however I have always thought this was just an excuse to make you pay for your catch.

I reckon as long as they are only lipped they should be fine, its when they swallow the hook that the damage is done.

survival also depends on how you play them. If you yank them straight out then release they stand a better chance than playing them to near exhaustion

no floaters...once so far a hook was swallowed and the trout in questions was swallowed shortly after. not much space to play/fight with them, especialy with bamboo pole and string. and yep, straight back in the tank and they are best friends the next day begging for food as usual.