Fishing for stocked trout is not as simple as it may sound. Fish that were bred in hatcheries and transplanted to wild streams or lakes are not domestic pushovers waiting for a hook to be dangled in front of their noses. To the contrary, stocked trout quickly adapt to their new surroundings and eventually take on the behavior patterns of their wild cousins. Still, experience has shown that there are some predictable actions that trout will take during stocking season that can be exploited by a knowledgeable angler.

The first thing is to know your state's stocking schedule. Most states post extensive information on their natural resource websites that detail stocking dates and locations. These tend to be similar year after year and bear attention. Knowing when a lake or stream was last stocked can help you predict where the trout have moved to and what they may be eating. Not knowing when the trout were stocked could leave you fishing in the entirely wrong place wasting your time and ruining your big fishing weekend.

If the stocking was follow a top water strategy. Stocked trout tend to stay in the top three to five feet of water after stocking. This pattern will persist for 2 to 4 weeks, unless higher than average water temperatures drive them deeper. Unfortunately, the stocked trout are particularly vulnerable during this period to predation by Eagles, Osprey or other fish hunting birds. Fear not, though, as the presence of anglers dissuades many predators from their activities. To fish the top for these recent arrivals it is best to troll with spinners, float baits, or flies that work the surface zone. Fishing the bottom during this time will be waste of your efforts.

If you find yourself fishing more than 3 weeks after stocking you will have to go deep. By this time the trout will have begun to revert to their natural food urges and their desire to seek cover. Your best bet now is to fish the bottom or just above the bottom. Power baits are excellent for this purpose, and by adjusting the length of the line between weight and hook you fish different zones above the bottom. Try three intervals at one foot, two feet, and three to four feet. Natural baits such as worms and fish eggs or artificial crayfish may do the trick as well.

Stocked, adult trout will follow these patterns of behavior as a general rule. Stocked fry in lakes and streams will be a little different. Fry are baby trout that grow up on wild foods and mature in the natural environment. If you're fishing a fry stocked lake or stream then you should concentrate primarily on natural foods or lures which simulate them.

Catching trout is never a sure fire prospect. However, if you armed with an understanding of trout behavior and a knowledge of the stocking program in your area your catch rate will rise dramatically. As always, leave no trace and if you see litter pick it up.

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