The Tampa Bay Times

No question, for the greatest ease in getting on maximum action:  Go trout fishing.   The species “closed” their numbers and their size is the best that has been seen here in 40 or more years.     Trout are easily found over any grass bottom that is a depth of three feet or more.    All you need is lures.    Use two lures:   A soft plastic on a 1/8-ounce jighead in deeper water.    A topwater lure in water that is around 2 feet to 3 feet in water depth.   Go light with your tackle and your leader.   Make long casts.   On a drift, be ready to anchor when you get on the school of trout.    They travel together “schooled up” and when you find big fish, you catch quite a few of them in that one spot.   The biggest trout are tempted by the topwater lures.     If the bigger trout are deeper, the jighead with the soft plastic tail will do the job.     I prefer five to six inch tails.   The color is not critical but I use a lot of gold because of the visibility.   Trout are soft strikers.    If you break the habit of setting the hook and let the fish hook themselves you will catch more trout and you will catch bigger trout.   It is a finesse technique that leads to greater success.     Trout are an easy one.    You can make them your target when action is important.     Big trout are fun on light tackle.    It will be another year before they are reconsidered for harvest again.    I believe that this will help grow a trophy trout fishery around Tampa Bay.   Regulations were modified slightly for when they do reopen.     The top of the slot is now 19 inches, down an inch from 20.    One trout over 19 inches is allowed in your harvest.     Again, they are closed for another year, minimum so let them go and handle them as gently as you can.     One excellent way of making is easier on the trout, mash down the barbs on your hooks.    

Neil Taylor
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