Whitewater State Park Winter Trout Lures?

[PakAttack86]

Hello! Just need some pointers here, but what do you typically use for bait/lures when fishing whitewater state park? I'd like to target just about whatever bites, but preferably browns and rainbows. Last time I was there I was using small panther-martin spinners and only was able to land rainbows.

I'm using light spinning gear. I'm thinking of using small spinners, small stick baits and maybe spawn on a splitshot, but I'm really not sure as I'm fairly inexperienced. Thoughts?? Also what is the best time of day? Thanks!

[JBMasterAngler]

Keep in mind, during the winter C&R season, only barbless hooks are allowed. Also, I don't believe spawn is allowed. The official rule is artificial lures only, so I would imagine spawn is considered live or preserved bait.

[PakAttack86]

Keep in mind, during the winter C&R season, only barbless hooks are allowed. Also, I don't believe spawn is allowed. The official rule is artificial lures only, so I would imagine spawn is considered live or preserved bait.

Actually I think the new regulations state that barbless hooks are no longer required, at least as far as the southeast streams go. Thanks for pointing out the spawn though, I never thought about that.

[delcecchi]

From what I hear, get out the magnifying glass. Some people use midges of very small size. The folks I know fly fish.

[JBMasterAngler]

You might be right about the barbless hooks. I was doing a quick look at the rule book, didn't look online. Either way, it was still new to me...I had always thought it was single hooks only, barbless or not.

[live4chrome]

Even if its not required why would you use barbless when fishing a C&R season? Barbs on larger hooks do serious damage to trout mandibles.

Go small this time of yr. If you aren't a fly guy try a nymph under a bubble

[PakAttack86]

Thanks for the advice. Does whitewater hold anything of notable size, particularly in and around the state park area? Would be fun to fight a big brown of a few pounds if they're in there.

[JBMasterAngler]

They are in there! And they are not easily fooled.