My kid wants to go fishing. I don't have any clue what I'm doing but I'd like to take him, and I've surmised that next Saturday, opening day of trout season, is the day to do it. We have poles, and I know a good stocked location for us to go to. But beyond that I really don't know what I'm doing. What kind of bait does one get to fish for trout? I know I need a license, and believe I can buy one online. What else am I missing? If we catch one (big, big if) should I keep it and try to cook it? Is that considered safe? Will ALL the trout be gone by the end of the day Saturday or if we wait until the following weekend will there be some left? There's not a lot of good info out there on how to get started if nobody taught you as a kid. Any tips? Teach me like I'm five so I can teach my five year old.

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petertheo89 t1_jef0y30 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:16 PM

Go to a bait shop and get the following:

Bobbers/floats 1/8 oz sinkers Trout hooks Nightcrawlers Powerbait

Tie the hook to your line, attach the sinker two inches above the hook, and attach the float 2 feet above the hook. You can always adjust the float if you aren't getting any bites.

Usually stocked trout will go after powerbait or nightcrawlers(or both). Be prepared to go wherever you are going early and also to be around a lot of people. Carolina Trout Pond is a good place to take kids, also very busy. There may also be some kids only places.

UncleJimmee t1_jef88wg wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:04 PM

Yes definitely search out the kid only places listed on dem website. Opening day can be “combat fishing” and annoying w how many people are out there.

liliumsuperstar OP t1_jef2rt4 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:28 PM

Thank you!!!

Man_of_Aluminum t1_jef26o7 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:24 PM

To start: stocker trout will eat a lot of different things - I'd suggest live shiners, artificial bait like PowerBait, or good old fashioned night crawlers.

On top of a license, you need a trout stamp, which is about $6, is available on the same online portal, and goes to funding the stocking program. Children under a certain age don't need a license.

In terms of eating them, the stocked trout are farm raised, meaning they're typically safe to eat - any other fish you risk elevated mercury levels and stocked trout are the only freshwater fish RIDOH will recommend you eat.

liliumsuperstar OP t1_jef2owm wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:28 PM

Thank you SO much! Super helpful!

fmtheilig t1_jef15mg wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:18 PM

I don't fish but was a scout leader for years. Yes, season opens on April 8th. Best fishing is opening weekend and there will be people there at daybreak, but there should be good fishing throughout the spring. Stocked fish is safe but consider any native fish to be toxic. Groundwater in RI is bad. I believe you can get a fishing license at walmart or anywhere that sells gear. That used to be the case. If your kid catches their first fish, make sure you order the First Fish Award.

The RI DEM website has a lot of good advice for families.

liliumsuperstar OP t1_jef2zqy wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:30 PM

Thank you! Nice to know it doesn’t necessarily need to be next weekend. Such a busy one with Easter.

championofthelight t1_jef0r7f wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:15 PM

When I go trout fishing I use mealworms and try and find a nice little brook or something with moving water. If you don’t want to use live bait, trout also like lures. Something shiny or something that looks like a little fish. Generally opening day is a little busy but the fish won’t all be gone. Trout need to be a minimum of 8 inches to keep, but that’s still a little small for my taste. I generally try and keep 10-12 inches and up. They cook perfectly on the grill wrapped in tin foil with some lemon and pepper and butter. As long as the river you’re fishing from is deemed safe then you will have no issues eating them. Generally there will be a posting on a sign telling you how many of the fish are safe to eat within a certain time period, at least in my experience.

liliumsuperstar OP t1_jef2w44 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:29 PM

Thank you!

[deleted] t1_jefblw5 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:25 PM

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liliumsuperstar OP t1_jefeb3y wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:43 PM

Thanks! Excited to try!

[deleted] t1_jefg4o9 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:55 PM

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No_Resort9775 t1_jeffcl5 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:50 PM

If you guys end up like fishing, my suggestion is getting into fly fishing. So much fun learning how to cast, then catching them on a fly rod. I know off topic but it's what my dad and I got into and it was a hobby we had together. We got lessons and something clicked in my head and I ended up being great at fly casting suddenly. So once you get hang of casting it changes everything. Again off topic sorry, but I lost my dad a couple months ago and saw this and remembered that it was our thing for 15+ years.

bauer883 t1_jefiyhx wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:13 PM

Powerbait Balls. Yellow. Mimics the corn they’re fed leading up to them being stocked.

darekta t1_jeh4efc wrote on March 31, 2023 at 11:50 PM

I'm happy to see lots of good advice on this thread. Good luck OP

lobstahmann t1_jefse2r wrote on March 31, 2023 at 6:15 PM

YouTube has a wealth of information to get you started. On The Water channel is great. Get those kids into striped bass fishing and they’ll be hooked for life.