The North Carolina Mountains are home to some of the most abundant trout waters this side of the Mississippi. The hundreds of cold water streams flowing throughout this region play host to a wide variety of trout species. Here you&rsquoll find Brook trout, Rainbow trout and Brown trout swimming all throughout winding streams and rivers, and lots of &lsquoem.

Wild trout are among the most sought after of the freshwater game fish. This is due in large part to their great tasting meat. The sweet meat of these frigid water fish makes an outstanding meal. Charred over a campfire after a long day of fishing, or served atop a horseradish potato cake in some of the South&rsquos finest restaurants, most agree that trout is fantastic fare.

Another thing that makes these fish so popular among fishermen is the fact that they can be very elusive, and difficult to catch without the proper equipment. The idea of catching trout has spawned its own style of fishing. While fly fishing is heavily regarded as the best way to catch the trout of the southeast as well as the wild salmon of the northwest, it is definitely not the only way to be productive in cold mountain streams.

One of the biggest misconceptions about trout fishing is that you must use flies and a fly rod to catch them. A lot of bass and saltwater anglers have been turned off to the sport of trout fishing because of this myth. While fly fishing can be very productive for trout fishing, it is not the only way to net these delicious fish.

Using an ultra-light setup with various tackle outfits can provide a fantastic day of trout fishing for the pro and novice alike. An ultra-light setup provides the versatility and functionality of a spinning combo with a small size and weight perfect for the sometimes narrow brush covered areas along small streams and rivers. Ultra-lights are most often matched with small spin cast reels (spinning reels) and spooled with 2-6 pound test. Add to this a tiny spinner, and you have a perfect outfit for tackling wild trout.

The favorite lure of many ultra-light trout anglers is a small spinner or spoon style bait. Most often weighing between 1/32 and 1/8 of an ounce, these come in a variety of styles and colors. I prefer to stay on the lighter side of the scale, typically choosing a &ldquofly&rdquo style design, with a spinner action attached. I like to stick with the more neutral colored baits such as blacks, browns, and grays. Cast into the current and slowly retrieved, these style baits combine the food factor of a fly with the attractiveness of a spinner. I also like to go with a simple spoon quite often. A spoon style bait is just that, a spoon. Designed to flail about in the current, fish are drawn to these out of curiosity or annoyance more so than hunger. It is important to check with local wildlife regulations to determine what types of hooks and baits are allowed in a particular body of water. Many of these lures are designed using a treble hook (3 prong hook) and may need to be altered to satisfy the local regulations. Both of these style lures can be very effective and productive when fishing for wild trout.

Another option using an ultra-light setup is stink baits. Coupled with a small no. 2 barb less bleeding (red) hook, these baits can be immensely productive. There are many of these products readily available in most bait and tackle shops. Many of the stink baits available on the market today, have been designed to attract specific species of fish. This includes the various species of trout. A small amount of the doughy substance (no larger than a salmon egg) is placed on the hook, and cast to float freely in the currents of the stream. Trout are drawn to these mainly because of their scent, hence the term &ldquostink bait.&rdquo That is why I suggest using a bleeding bait style hook to add a more visual affect to the bait. Stink baits usually come in a small jar or zip lock style bag. The amount of product packaged is usually a lot more than the typical fisherman will need. Stink baits tend to break down and lose there scent and effectiveness after opening. Unless you fish very regularly with this product, I would suggest throwing it out after a period of 3 months.

There are also a wide variety of soft plastics specifically geared towards the trout family. Rarely longer than a half inch in length, these are available in many styles and colors. While not as productive as a stink bait or small spoon or spinner, I have had my fair share of luck with them. I typically will choose a brown earth worm style lure, as this is the most natural looking of the choices. Trout aren't very impressed by a lot of color like other game fish are drawn to. They end to be more attracted to neutral or natural colored baits. This style of lure is usually fished in the same manner as stink bait (cast to float in the current). However, I prefer to use a tiny no. 2 split shot placed about 4 inches above the hook. This allows the bait to produce a little more drag, thus putting it more in fish&rsquos viewpoint.