How to Rig a Fishing Pole for Trout

Trout are notorious for spooking easily. This can be particularly frustrating for trout anglers, who often detect a strike yet are unable to actually catch the fish. The key to properly rigging a fishing pole to catch trout is to minimize the resistance the trout detects when it first takes the bait. This can successfully be accomplished with a fairly simple fishing rig.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Two- to four-pound fishing line
Knife
Barrel weight
Barrel swivel
Size 12 or 14 treble hook

Step 1

Rig the fishing pole with two- to four-pound fishing line. Generally, the higher the tensile strength, the thicker the line and the greater the likelihood the fish will detect it and reject the bait. The vast majority of trout in streams, ponds and rivers are under two pounds, so two-pound line should be used. But large bodies of water such as lakes can hold trout that weigh more, so opt for four-pound line.

Step 2

Cut a three-foot length of fishing line with a knife.

Step 3

Insert the tip of the fishing line attached to the pole through the center of a barrel weight. Trout can be easily spooked if they detect resistance when they first ingest the bait. A traditional weight clasps onto the fishing line and drags when the trout takes the bait. A barrel weight allows the line to slide through the center of the weight, minimizing the risk of the trout detecting resistance.

Step 4

Tie one end of a barrel swivel to the end of line. The barrel swivel prevents the barrel weight from sliding down to the hook.

Step 5

Tie one end of the three-foot long piece line to the free end of the barrel swivel.

Step 6

Tie a size 12 or 14 treble hook to the other end of the three-foot section of line to complete the rig.

Article Written By John Stevens

John Stevens has been a writer for various websites since 2008. He holds an Associate of Science in administration of justice from Riverside Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School. Stevens is a lawyer and licensed real-estate broker.

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