Hatchery trout spend their first year or so being fed pellets in a concrete raceway. When they are released into a lake, they do not know where to find food yet - which makes the first days after stocking a great time to catch them.
Where they go
Freshly planted trout usually stay near where they were released - often by the boat launch or a public access - and cruise in schools near the surface. Over the next week or two they spread out and move deeper as they learn the lake.
Three setups that work
1. Bobber and bait
A small bobber with a #8 to #12 hook and PowerBait, a worm or salmon eggs, set 2 to 5 feet deep. Simple, cheap and great for kids.
2. Bait off the bottom
A sliding sinker rig with floating dough bait lets the bait float just above the weeds. Useful when trout move a little deeper.
3. Small lures
Small inline spinners, spoons and trout jigs cast and retrieved slowly. Bright colors often work well on freshly stocked fish. Trolling a small lure behind a kayak or rowboat covers a lot of water.
Timing
Early morning and evening are best, especially when it is calm or overcast. Our lake pages combine sunrise, sunset, moon times and the latest stocking to show the best windows for each day.