This week I want to talk to you about catching trout. Now before you turn the page because you think you’ve got trout fishing figured out, let me make it clear that I’m not talking about catching little 12- or 15-inch trout drifting across a flat, I’m talking about catching those 24- to 30-inch gator trout you hear about. Small trout are almost ridiculously easy, but catching these big girls is no simple task — it takes the right equipment, the right technique and the right location. And even then, maybe a bit of luck.

The first thing we need to cover is
equipment. Having the right rod and reel is crucial to your success. You will want a longer rod with a light action. I prefer the Star Rods Stellar Lite fast-taper rated for 4- to 10-pound line. This rod allows me to make long cast with light baits, and the light tip helps me avoid pulling the hooks out of a trout’s soft mouth. Now for the reel, you don’t want anything huge. I like the Penn Battle 2000 spooled with 10-pound Spiderwire Invisi-Braid. This reel has plenty of line capacity
and a silky smooth drag, and the line’s super-thin diameter makes long, accurate casts easier. You will also want to lighten up on your leader. I usually use 25-pound fluorocarbon, but sometimes in gin-clear water I will drop to 20-pound to get more consistent bites.