Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Browns are warier and grow larger than stocked rainbows, holding in undercut banks and deep pools rather than open water, and feed most actively in low light during spring and fall. A drifted presentation through a likely holding lie beats blind bottom fishing for this species.
Typical size: 10-26in · Peak season: spring, fall. Always check current CDFW regulations for size and bag limits before keeping fish.
Float Rig
A float suspends bait at a fixed depth instead of dragging it on the bottom, letting current or light wave action carry it naturally past holding fish. This is the standard technique for salmon and steelhead in rivers, fished with roe or beads under a pencil float, and for light-tackle pier species like jacksmelt, where a small float and a multi-hook leader with tiny bait covers a school as it drifts through. Use it whenever fish are holding off bottom rather than on it, or when you want a natural drift through a current seam without snagging.
- Main line8-15 lb monofilament running through the float
- Leader15-25 lb fluorocarbon
- Leader length18-24in from the float to the hook, shorten in clear water, lengthen in off-color water
- Hooks#8 - #4 bait hook
- WeightSmall split shot, just enough to cock the float
- Line to sinkerShot placed 8-12in above the hook, or spaced 2in apart in a cluster halfway down the leader for salmon
- BaitNightcrawler or a small baitfish imitation drifted through deep pools and undercut banks