Tips for Trout
Many times I may be using a cork while fishing for trout, and the bite is slow. I will change one of the clients terminal tackle with great results at times. Check out these three different presentations for trout, you may enjoy the results.
Three tactics worked at different times:
Free line the shrimp, no cork - no weight. Hook the shrimp at the tail end coming up from the bottom first. This will give you more casting distance having the head forward. Set up with the wind behind you, and cast the shrimp high to catch the wind. The farther away from the boat the better.
Add a popping cork - about three feet up from the shrimp. I prefer the Billy Bay Pop N' Gurgle style, it's set up for distance casting. Pop the cork every ten seconds or so to mimic another fish or bird hitting bait on the surface.
Add a split shot #4 a couple feet up from the hook (no cork) twitching it every now and then.
There is nothing wrong with using live sardines if you can net them. Also, artificials work great. My favorite is the Halo Shrimp also made by Billy Bay. On one trip I had four angler's with two on live shrimp, and two on Halo artificials. The trout caught were even between the two baits with a few mackerel caught on the artificials only.