Authored by Douglas Mefford in Fishing
Published on 08-01-2009

For much longer than Man has had a written history to chronicle his activities, fishing has provided both food and fun. Of all the game fish varieties, trout has often been considered one of the most prized of these. Not only are they delicious when properly prepared but they also give a worthy struggle with the angler. Many different fishing styles and varieties of bait have been used to entice this fish to the hook. One of the most effective modern bait inventions is the product called “Powerbait”.

Powerbait is an artificial jelly-like substance that can be acquired in several forms. It can be purchased premolded into shapes such as crayfish, minnows, and worms or in chunks to be used like traditional doughballs. The Powerbait is also colored in several effective fish attracting colors, red, green and yellow, for greater underwater visibility. There are also different scents to choose from. Roe, garlic-mint, and corn seem to be the most popular with both fishermen and prey. The Powerbait used for trout fishing also has the advantage of being lighter than water so that it floats. This is a critical necessity for the methods best used in the catching of trout.

The equipment you use must be amenable to the peculiar specifics of the fish you are hunting. Usually a short five to five and a half-foot light rod will work best for trout fishing with Powerbait. To balance strength with invisibility under water, a 4# test line is recommended. Much heavier and the excellent eyesight of the trout will detect the line and thus cause it to ignore your bait. Anything lighter than 4# test may break during your battle with the fish.

Trout are neither surface nor bottom feeders. It will require a small one quarter to three-eighths ounce lead weight on the line, usually placed between eighteen and twenty four inches in front of the Powerbait to give your lure the proper “float” above the bottom. This is so the lure will mimic a food source swimming against the current of a stream or hovering if you are fishing a still water pond or lake. For minnow-shaped Powerbait, the addition of a lightweight spinner can give a better appearance of a current feeding fish. The objective is to have the Powerbait hang just a few inches above the bottom of the lake or stream. Depending on the strength of the current you may have to modify the amount of weight used.

Unlike fly-fishing for trout, Powerbait is not designed for trolling through the water. Once you have determined the best balance for the specific water you are fishing, the Powerbait should be cast, the slack reeled up on the line, and the pole set against a firm, stationary object. You do not want to fling the lure hard as the Powerbait can be whipped off from too much casting force. One should allow between twenty to forty minutes to see if the Powerbait scent has drawn a trout in to strike. If nothing has hit the bait in this time it is best to reel it in, check and repair the Powerbait ball or lure and then cast it back in at a different location.