The arrival of Powerbait streamside will surely elicit strong feelings of both a positive and negative nature. Some anglers rely on it, or other dough baits, to fill the creel. Others feel it is cheating or somehow provides an unfair advantage. Although I am not a diehard Powerbait user I do find it, like any bait, has a time & place. I also do not understand how it can be cheating, and because it works, I do not feel using it is unfair. After all, anyone can buy a jar at the local sporting goods store.

What many anglers do not understand is that Powerbait is not as foolproof as they may believe. Like any bait, there is a time and place for its use. There is also a proper way to rig and use Powerbait for optimum performance. If you misuse it at the wrong time, you may get a stray trout here or there, but you will not fill the creel.

EQUIPMENT

Let’s take a moment to look at the ideal Powerbait set-up.

¯ Rod: a lightweight rod capable of using a 2-6lb test. Although many anglers prefer 6-7 ft. rods, I prefer to select a rod length based on stream size, sometimes opting for as short as 4 ft.

¯ Reel: an ultralight model matched to the selected reel. I prefer a spinning reel, but a small bait caster can also be used.

¯ Line: Select a line as light as possible based on the water conditions and size of the fish you target. I usually prefer a four-lb. test but will sometimes upgrade to a six-lb. test. If I do use the heavier line, I also make sure to include a lighter leader.

¯ Hook: Powerbait may be used with a treble hook or single baitholder. A size 12-16 treble hook allows for better bait retention but requires more bait. A size 10-12 baitholder will require less bait, resulting in some being lost on the cast. Regarding catch rates, a treble hook tends to land more fish with less gut hooking.

¯ Miscellaneous: You will also need a variety of weights (pinch-on and egg styles), swivels, and possibly small floats.

SET-UP

Place a small egg sinker to the mainline, followed by a swivel. If you use a leader, attach it, followed by the swivel. Attach the hook of choice and place a small sinker approximately 2 feet above the hook. This will be adjusted depending on water conditions and where the fish are holding and feeding. The key is to get the Powerbait to float off the bottom where trout are most likely to feed.

A second possible setup is to replace the egg sinker with a float and adjust the weights to allow the Powerbait to drift off the bottom. Adding weight below the float can assist in achieving the correct drift pattern, where the bait is slightly ahead of the float and thus presented first.

TIPS

¯ Have a variety of colors and scents available.

¯ Molding the Powerbait to the hook is the easiest way to get a firm hold.

¯ Allow only minimal slack in the line, making detecting a bite easier.

¯ Adding a mini marsh mellow ahead of the Powerbait will provide additional floatation.

¯ Treble hooks with small springs on the shaft are best for holding bait in place.