Wayne Kruse’s Pick of the Week: Local trout

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 31, 2017

By Wayne Kruse

For The Herald

The Gissberg Ponds at Twin Lakes County Park were the big winners in the hatchery truck sweepstakes last month. Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel traveled to Smokey Point more than once to drop off a load of fat rainbow trout. Most of the fish were 10- to 12-inch “catchables,” but a significant percentage were larger trout, averaging 1 to 2 pounds.

Here’s the May stocking plan for the ponds: North Pond (juveniles only, 14 and under), 500 catchables on May 8, then 1,430 catchables on May 19 and 500 of the larger fish on May 22. South Pond, 1,500 catchables and 180 larger trout on May 8, and 1,500 catchables on May 22.

Most anglers at the ponds fish worms or Power Bait from the bank, but small boats can be carried over the berm from the parking area, and trolling a Dick Nite Spoon, Rooster Tail or dark fly is deadly. Tossing Kastmasters in bright colors, or weighted Rooster Tails from the bank or boat, is probably more efficient than soaking bait.

A steelhead river or halibut hole they’re not, but if you want to put trout in the pan, or introduce a youngster to fishing, these backyard ponds are hard to beat.