Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 2723 Oct 26-Nov 9 | Page 11

Nor Cal Trout Anglers Challenge VOL.37 • ISS. 23 P Oct 26 - Nov 9, 2018 9 Rod, Reel And Line for the Bank Bound Trouter rospecting the waters of a lake or reservoir for trout from a boat decked out with downriggers and the latest electronics can be both productive and exciting there is no question about that. However, there is something inherently satisfying about successfully targeting trout from the bank. Obviously, when bank fishing you’ll be doing a lot of casting. This makes spinning tackle the best choice. Since you’ll generally be using weights that range from an eighth of an ounce to a half ounce, a light to medium light rod is a good all around choice. A lot of folks choose short rods ranging from 5 to 6 feet in length, but I prefer a 7 foot stick. Much of the time you’ll be fishing your baits close to the bank, but there are some situations and approaches where casting well offshore gives you a distinct advantage and this is when a longer rod really shines. A 7 foot rod also provides better leverage for fighting fish when you hook into one of the big boys. Once you’ve settled on a rod, it’s time to pick out a reel. As with rods there are a large number of quality spinning reels on the market today. The first require- ment is that the reel has a smooth drag. The reel should also have a high gear ratio. The gear ratio refers to the number of times the line is wrapped around the spool for each revolution of the reel handle. At times trout will run straight toward you at the hookset. When that happens a high gear ratio allows you to keep pace with the fish, preventing slack from forming in the line. A 5 to 1 ratio is ideal. The final consideration in selecting a reel is its line capacity. An average size trout isn’t going to pull a lot of line off the reel. So a very small reel with a modest line capacity would do the trick most of the time, but what happens when you hook the trout of a lifetime? When that happens you need plenty of insurance in the form of line capacity. A reel capable of holding at least 200 yards of 6 pound line is a sensible choice that provides plenty of insurance when that big trophy finally comes along. It’s surprising how many anglers will shell out their hard earned cash for a quality rod and reel only to get thrifty when it comes to line. When you consider that the line is the link between you and the fish it just doesn’t make sense to go the cheap route. What you are looking for is either a quality copolymer monofilament that is fairly limp while offering a high degree of abrasion resistance or a lightweight braid. Braid for trout? That’s right! Braid is limp, casts great and offers a lot of advantages including long life and exceptional strength. If you go the copolymer route you’ll do well to run 6 or 8 pound test. If you take the plunge and go with braid, 10 pound is perfect. TROUT TACKLE! Turn To Silver Horde For Fall Trout Gear W hether I’m trolling for kings outside the Golden Gate or trying to fool Alaskan silvers or just trying to secure a “Sierra Trout Dinner” lures and accessories from the folks at Silver Horde/Gold Star are never far from reach. Here are just a few of their products that I use extensively: Micro Squid Micro Squid are perfect for trout, landlocked kings and ‘kokes. The squid are 1.75 inches long. They come in a long list of standard, ultra violet and glow colors. Slip them on a double hook leader, toss a dodger into the mix and you’re ready to fish! Ace Hi Fly “Junior” An Ace Hi Fly is like a hoochie wearing a tuxedo, basically a greatly dressed up version of the old reliable plastic squid. Ace Hi Flies come with a hard bead head that boasts lifelike eyes. The skirt utilizes a hoochie, but adds to it with synthetic flash. Ace Hi Fly Juniors come either rigged or unrigged. The flies are 2 inches long. I generally go with the unrigged version and run them off double hook leaders. Kingfisher Lite When I need a small spoon for ocean salmon or a big spoon for trout I often reach for my selection of Kingfisher Lite Spoons. The spoon comes in three sizes that range from 2 5/8 inches long to 3 3/8 inches. I usually go with the smallest version. A wide range of color choices in standard, glow and Ultra Violet finishes are available. When it comes to color I usually keep things simple and try to match the baitfish the trout or salmon are feeding on. For more information about Silver Horde’s full line of fine gear, visit them online at www.silverhorde.com. Kingfisher Lite Spoons Gold Star/Yamashita Squid for Big Pyramid Trout! 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