| Southern California has a vast array of streams | | | | types of hooks. For weight, small lead 'split-shot' |
| running through its mountains which are stocked | | | | work best as you can add and remove them as |
| regularly with trout during the cooler months. | | | | needed. Split-shot come in many sizes, but it is |
| Although we will be concerning ourselves mainly | | | | sometimes easier to get the smaller and use |
| with these 'stocked' fish, many of these streams | | | | what is needed than the larger and not be able to |
| also contain 'native' trout which may be caught | | | | put the amount weight you want. Lastly we will |
| year round. In this article, we will be discussing the | | | | need some sort of bait (although spinner bait and |
| equipment and tackle needed to catch these | | | | spoons can be used, bait is easier in these small |
| sometimes elusive fish. | | | | streams). Bait can be commercially packaged |
| Before you can even begin, you will need a rod | | | | salmon eggs, cheeses and other so called trout |
| and reel (Although you could just as easily use | | | | baits, but what I personally found to work best is |
| something as simple as a stick with fishing line and | | | | plain old Velveeta cheese. You may also want to |
| a hook?). Ultra-light tackle is preferable, as it is | | | | try corn, worms, live bugs or dry flies- the choice |
| smaller, lighter and more sensitive than its normal | | | | is yours. |
| (or heavy duty) counter parts. Fishing line comes | | | | Now for the fishing part, almost - but if you are |
| in many pound (lb.) test ratings, but 2 to 4 lbs. | | | | 16 years of age or older, you will need to |
| test is best for stream fishing as it is of a small | | | | purchase a fishing license for a small fee (this |
| diameter which makes it harder for the fishes to | | | | helps to pay for the fish we are trying to catch). |
| see underwater. This light line is also ok since | | | | All that is left now is to find one of the many |
| most of the fish caught will be less than one | | | | streams that are stocked, find a good fishin' hole |
| pound. Many anglers find that a fly fishing rig | | | | and catch a few trout for dinner. |
| works well too, but unless you have experience | | | | In the next part, we will cover some actual |
| fly fishing it can be a daunting task on the small | | | | techniques for fishing the streams of the |
| mountain streams. | | | | mountains of Southern California. |
| The only other things we will need to begin are | | | | Jonathan Parker is the webmaster at and has |
| hooks, weights, and bait. For hooks, treble hooks | | | | been both fishing and working online for many |
| in the 14 - 16 range work best for these smaller | | | | years. At you can find fishing tips, the free report |
| trout, and cheese baits stay on these best. There | | | | "How to Plan and Budget the Fishing Trip of Your |
| are also small salmon egg hooks if you chose to | | | | Dreams" and the eBook "Everything You Always |
| us salmon eggs as bait, but you can also just put | | | | Wanted to Know about Fishing". |
| 3 eggs on one hook and save from having 2 | | | | |