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