Rigging Up for Reservoir Trout

[@papajohn4938]

Love the channel man, I’m new to this channel and seeing you fish all my somewhat local spots is awsome . Thank you!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. Glad you found my channel. If you go to my channel playlists you'll find hundreds of videos to enjoy. Backcountry fishing, river fishing, lakes, hiking, etc. Hope you enjoy it and if things go as planned the 650+ videos I have on there will just be the beginning!

[@1OrdinaryGuy]

What do you think of this Amani? Instead of a double barrel swivel between the hook and the egg sinker, try using a red or clear Carolina keeper. You just use your main line right to the hook. That means there are 2 fewer knots to tie, 2 fewer knots to fail. And, it saves you time. As long as your line is 6lb or less (preferably 4 pound test), it will work well. Also, if you want to lengthen or shorten the distance between the hook and sinker, it's super easy. Just squeeze the Carolina Keeper and slide it up or down.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I use 8lb on my reel with a 6lb leader for Lake Tahoe and straight up 6lb mono for everything else. That would probably work with my 6lb set up for regular reservoirs but I don't mind the knots. I haven't lost a fish because a knot broke in years. Probably because I compulsively check them! I like your comment though so others who come across it can possible go with it. I've used this set up for over 3 decades with great success so I'm sticking with it!

[@chrislatorre3875]

That's my go to. Way easy to adjust the length without tieing a new leader each time. Less knots less failures.

[@mikeRJCP]

Just started watching your videos Amani. I need to do some catching up. My son works on boats out of HMB and Bodega Bay as a deck hand.He's saving for his own charter boat and wants to get his Captains license. When he comes home he fishes Ice House, Union Valley and the American River. Growing up I took him as far as I could with basic fishing skills. I noticed early on at the age of 10 he had a very keen talent and passion for fishing. So I encouraged him to fish with more knowledgeable fisherman. I was very busy at work for so many years but we fished a lot together. A lot on the beaches chasing stripers from Pajaro to Pacifica, and through the delta system. Anyways I thoroughly enjoy the video and need to get back into it myself since I've retired in 2019. Great stuff .

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Thanks. It's cool your Son is getting into a career doing something he loves. If you're retired it's time to fish! I have a nice road map across my channel playlists to help you plan your attack!

[@bobmariano3731]

Thx 👍 great rig set up . I use a clear slip bobber & fill it with # 8 bird shot & seal the clear plastic with nail polish 💅 so water doesn’t get into my sinker . The extra weight enables you to get feather casts & especially if there are a number of rocks , no snags ! I use this set up everywhere & blow up my night crawlers too just like you do . Learned this rig from old timer California fishermen at Lake Chabot many years ago . Great advice . 👍🎣

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Now that is a highly evolved sytem!

[@jerrybriseno6136]

Great video 👍🏻🎣🤜🏻🎣🤛🏻🎣

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Thanks. That set up is money!

[@KalaniChampionChevrolet]

Amani, would you be able to make a video on how to find the best spots to cast from when fishing from shore at a lake/reservoir?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I talk about it a lot in many of videos on my lakes and reservoirs fishing playlist. Basically, when it's cold and the lakes are cold top to bottom I just look for 10 feet of water or more. Mid Winter you can get fish in less. Once the Summer hits and the thermocline is established I usually go to the deepest water I can find which is usually near the dam. I have a videos on my fishing tips playlist where I discuss the thermocline and how it can effect fishing. Hope that helps.

[@teaneys1]

Great tips brother. Thank you.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

This rig will work in most reservoirs that has trout. I talk about adjustments I make to the base set up in some of my clips. Weight size and leader length gets adjusted but the basic concept stays the same. Good luck out there.

[@justinssleeyt]

Great video, thanks!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That's a basic rig that will serve you well in most lakes when you are looking for trout during the colder months and in deep water when it's warmer.

[@zoltar2342]

Hi Amani- About to go try out Loon Lake. What size hook and what size sinker? Thanks Jim AKA Zoltar 2

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I typically use 1/4 OZ slip sinkers. I have clips for the specific types and sizes of hooks I use for crawlers and powerbait on my fishing tips playlist. Good luck. I hope to get up there in the Fall.

[@Eric-lp1rm]

Awesome and entertaining funny video bro lol I just wanted to ask for Lake Tahoe what kind of line do you use and what pound test? And length as well for shore fishing? Thank you🙏

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I use 8lb mono with a 6lb leader in Tahoe. I up my slip sinker to 1/2OZ and shorten my leaders as needed for farther casting. I've been doing well enough there to get me to keep 2 spinning reels with 8lb test specifically for it! I fish small, light action 5' Ugly Stiks. Gets scary when those big rainbows run you over and under the rocks. One sawed me off yesterday but I landed 2 today. Clip coming soon.

[@Eric-lp1rm]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 Ok thank you so much brotha! Cant wait! Do you use flourocarbon for your 6lb leader?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

@@Eric-lp1rm 6lb mono. Trilene XL.

[@Eric-lp1rm]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 oh cool thank you for your time bro

[@brediaable]

WWA First of all I need to give you great thankfulness for actually responding to my comment the other day of how cool it was to see you fish the places I actually try and catch fish like CAVE ROCK CHIMney beach places that are very close to my daughters house up kingsbury grade in STATELINE NV I'm actually going up there in about two weeks but heres the CRAZY part I go on your channel that I'm completely 100% addicted to because you only fish all the waters within a say 75 mile radius of LAKE TAHOE Truckee Carson all of the above so I thought I need to watch a educational video of how to set up for Resorvoir Lakes before I head up to Stateline to visit my daughter so I will have all the WWA tips and tricks so I get to the one video I can't right off hand remember the exact name of it it might even be this one BUT low and behold WWA is about 45 minutes from my actual house at BIG BEAR LAKE which is about 10 hours from Lake TAHOE BRO you are the most bad ass teaching travelin truckin Fisherman who loves to show people his craft on videos but how the F---K do you fish a lake 45 minutes from my house and do a video on it 20 hours later from my daughters house YOU are a bad ass dude I don't care keep up the excellent work I LOVE it BRETT

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. I used to fish Big Bear Lake a lot when I lived in SoCal over several decades. Big rainbows when it gets cold. The wild strain of rainbows in the lake is awesome. Don't know how that fishery is these days but it was real good, whether the lake was high or low, back when I was fishing it up until a few years ago. I have a lot of content on my 'backcountry lakes and creeks' playlist for the mountains between Lone Pine and Mammoth. A lot of good fishing with about a 1-3 mile hike, some even less. You could hit some of and in route to visiting your daughter. Also have some on my 'lakes and reservoirs playlist. Thanks for the kind words.

[@TedDBear9431]

I have had great results hooking the nightcrawler up like you do and then placing a power egg on the hook for the float. I prefer Rainbow and chartreuse colors. Sometimes a little garlic juice for a little more enticement.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

A little "Bacon and eggs"!

[@jondixon1392]

You are Very Good ,no worm thearder ? I still use syringe leaves very small hole not much leakage

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

No, I just work the worm on myself until the hook is completely concealed with the worm woven on securely.

[@JohnHenry2420]

I use a Japanese hook tying machine and special wire hooks with no eyes then cut a crawler in half and inflate with syringe.....I remember going on the guy fishing trip at Mineral Lake and the guys on the boat mocking me through using the little machine and going through the ritual of baiting........After i brought a few nice brown trout on the boat they quit mocking me and they also took my rigs night fishing and came back with a boatload of fish....the thing i liked about the hooks is they practically set themselves when the fish would take his first nibble at the worm.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Sounds like a winner. A lot of times very small adjustments like the one you are describing can make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting the larger fish to bite. I started inflating crawlers the day the 'worm blower' came onto the market.

[@bryanperez2067]

Hi amani, great videos I've watched them all. Have you ever tried using a carolina keeper instead of a barrel swivel? You can adjust leader size without have to re-rig.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

No I have not. I'll look into it. Thanks for taking the time to watch my content. I plan to do a lot more. Hopefully I'll get more time off in the spring to do some overnighters. Either way, onward and upward!

[@OffroadLifestyle5thgen]

Is your mainline 8# mono to 6# mono leader?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

6lb

[@OffroadLifestyle5thgen]

@wildernesswithamani1027 Thank you. Oh do you feel fluorocarbon is just a waste of money?

[@mtoleary42]

Crystal pier! That’s where I caught my first fish

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. Positive memory burn! You'll never forget it!

[@Mattytube18]

Thank you!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

hope it helps

[@HGANGHONY]

It's that a Caroliner?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Basic slip sinker set up I think. I remember hosts bringing up the Caroliner rig on bass fishing shows back in the day. I haven't watched any fishing content in decades so I'm not up on what things are called. I used to watch the bass fishing greats like Roland Martin and Jimmy Houston when I was younger but that's about it.

[@eminemilly]

Smallest peice of powerbait means just enough to cover the hooks?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That's what I go with. I use a small size 18 treble hook with just enough powerbait so that I can't feel anything hard. I can't give you any scientific feedback on the effectiveness of that. All I know is that it seems to make a difference when it comes to getting some of the larger trout I get to bite. It's a little scary when you see that tiny hook in the corner of their mouths at times but it usually works out. Usually!

[@haioiii]

Can you link the knots you used?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I just added "Building a trout tackle box" and "Fishing line and knot" clips to the end screen. Very low budget looking clips but they get the point across! I have a number of basic how to videos including basic jig and fly fishing. I also have another video for rigging for reservoir trout that has a lot of the same info but has a few more points I added. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[@haioiii]

Thank you Amani!

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 You are now my go-to expert on CA shore fishing for trout in lakes, reservoirs and streams. Watching your videos makes everything seem so easy, especially since I favor spinning gear like you do, and I live in the Sierra, a bit further down the western slope. I haven't typically fished in the winter around here, but after the holidays, you have motivated me to head out in good winter weather!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

@@Arturo-sm1tb I'll be on the Western side as soon as possible. Fishing will get hot in the Sierra once the temps come up and the snow starts to melt in early spring. Be ready and get some of it!

[@jeffjeff5845]

Amani put a link for your patreon account in every new video

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I know I should. I'll work on it and get it done eventually. I have to figure it out. Thanks for the tip.