Summertime Trout
My favorite spot to go fishing to beat the heat of those hot summer days is the Lower Illinois river in Gore Oklahoma. That is exactly where I took Cody and our second winner, Mason Mooneyham of Sallisaw, in our monthly “Take a Kid Fishing” contest.
Mason was elated to hear that he had won our contest and told me that he had never been trout fishing. I knew that trout had been biting really well and with the summer heat it would be a perfect trip for the kids.
If you have never been to the Lower Illinois River, you need to go. The scenery is fantastic, for the most part the trout are easy to catch and it is a great time for all. Not to mention the water generally stays around 50 to 60 degrees and will cool off anybody who is trying to beat the summer heat.
The best way I have found to catch these hard fighting trout is live bait. The technique I use is simple and effective almost anywhere you go to catch these fish. Simply use 4 to 6 pound line, a number 8 or 10 size hook and some small split shot sinkers. Tie on the hook and run the split shot above the hook about a foot to a foot and a half, take a small piece of a night crawler, attach it to the hook and start fishing.
The way that you fish this rig is to cast your worm perpendicular to where you are standing and let the bait fall to the bottom of the stream. Then let your bait and sinker bounce along the bottom of the stream and hold on. Normally the bite will just be a few small taps on your line. You have to pay close attention as the bite will be extremely light and quick. When you set the hook on these fish, you need to have more of a sweeping soft hook set. If you try and set the hook too hard, you will pull it out of their mouths. That is why I suggest using clear monofilament line and an ultra light pole, a pole like the one you would normally use for crappie or bluegill. This is the equipment that both of the kids and I used that day.
The boys and I started fishing near a spot called the “Gravel Pit.” There is a designated parking spot in which to park and is not far from the stream. I had requested that all who were fishing that day, wear some sort of tennis shoes to minimize slipping on the rocks and for general safety. However; I along with Mason did not listen to my advice and showed up in flip flops. I definitely do not recommend flip flops to anyone wanting to stay dry. Mason found himself taking a few unwanted dives into the cool water and I was fortunate enough to stay dry for the day. That is what makes this type of fishing enjoyable on a hot summer day. There is no better feeling than the cold water catching you by surprise to make you forget about the 95 degree heat beating down on you.
It did not take us long by bouncing our baits on the bottom while slowly walking down stream to find feeding trout. Mason hooked up first with Cody following shortly behind him, I also got into the fun by losing a nice fish that would have went around four pounds. Mason also had a huge fish in my hands that came off just as I was about to pull him up from the water. We finished up the day with Cody landing a big trout that probably went over 4 pounds. All in all we caught and released about ten trout that day and left Mason and Cody with a smile on their faces. We will air this episode at a later date on the Future of Fishing show with Keith and Cody. It is one that you do not want to miss, as I show you another secret bait to use to catch those hard fighting trout.
So remember; take a kid fishing and instill a memory that will last a lifetime.
