Since I started fishing in the Sasamat Lake around early spring, I have gotten numerous emails from many of you about how to catch those hatchery rainbow trout. Therefore, instead of answering every email, I have decided to write up a generic guide for beginners and kids who haven't had much success in trout fishing yet. By the end of this article, you will know the dos and don'ts of trout fishing, tackles employed, optimal fishing time and many other little tricks that can improve your catch.

Sasamat Lake is located in Belcarra, just North of Port Moody. It is a relatively small lake right beside Buntzen Lake and is often neglected by anglers due to its size. In fact, for shore anglers it is excellent because of the small size and there is a floating dock where you can fish off, perfect for beginners and kids who are just out for a weekend fun. The lake is regularly stocked with hatchery rainbow trout each year. The trout mostly range between 20cm to 35cm long. There are some wild cutthroats in the lake that can reach as high as 3 pounds, but they are rather hard to catch. The lake is stocked early spring and fishing is good between March and May, before the swimmers move into the area and scare the fish away. In the south end of the lake, there is a floating dock that stretches from the east shore to the west, and fishing can be excellent on the dock right after stocking.

The lake is deep, above 15 meters if you are fishing in the middle of the dock. You do not fish at that depth though however, most fish are caught 1 to 5 meters below the surface. The most popular method that is used by anglers is float fishing, suspending the bait just below the surface and watching the float to sink as the fish bites. My set up is listed below:

5 weight fly rod

a small Shimano spinning reel

fitted with 4 pound line

a small pencil float that only requires 2 grams of weight to balance it

a size 4 steelhead hook, between 5 to 7 feet below the float

I prefer to use a fly rod than a spinning rod when float fishing for two reasons. The long rod allows me to cast the float rig with ease, and secondly, the flexible rod provides excellent action on these small fish. You don't have to follow this set up of course, because for novice and kids this can be somewhat pricey. As long as you buy a light spinning rod and small reel, it's all good. You can get a decent setup for 50 dollars or less. Once you master the fishing techniques and become addictive, then you can spend the big bucks on higher end equipment. My fishing line is light, since we are only catching fish that are 300 to 400 grams. Many anglers have asked me at the lake why I can consistently hook fish while they don't get a nibble, the answer often lies in the line thickness. There simply isn't a point to use 12-pound line for a 300-gram fish. These hatchery trout are fish after all, they will not simply jump onto your line without playing games with you. Since the line is thin, the float should be small as well. Just think, is it easier to pull down a large bobber that requires 10 grams to balance or a thin stick float that needs 2 grams to balance. This applies to all types of fish, as soon as the fish feel the resistance of the bait, they are long gone before you are able to strike. Finally, what size of hooks should you use? Personally I prefer a No. 4 steelhead hook, simply because the shape is easier for the bait to stay on. I don't use smaller size so the fish don't have a chance to swallow the hook, making catch and release much easier. There are other methods of fishing for these trout of course, but the above described method is cheap and easy to use for those who don't want to spend a lot of money.

Unlike their wild cousins, these hatchery trout are not too picky about their diet. When it comes to bait, you can't go wrong with the frozen cooked shrimp from the local supermarket (the ones that you would use for shrimp salad). Thread the shrimp from head to tail onto the hook, and it is guaranteed that the fish will bite if they are there. You can also try Powerbait, cured salmon roe, worms, dough (play around with the flavour).

Timing and spots are two crucial factors for any type of fishing. When fishing for trout, observe the area, watch for cues of fish such as surface splashing, rising, bubbles, etc. You can only catch fish if they are there. Secondly, timing is important. In the middle of a bright sunny day, your chance of catching fish diminishes. During this time fish are hiding away from potential predators such as birds (by the way, often you can see a pair of local eagles diving for trout at the lake, very spectacular!). The best time to fish is early morning or late in the afternoon (6pm+). You will notice fish are extremely active at this time. Manipulate the depth often too. If you think they are feeding closer to the surface, decrease the depth of your float.

Fishing in the Sasamat is convenient and excellent. The lake is close to Vancouver so it allows weekend warriors and kids to have a blast without travelling far. The limit for trout is 4 per day per person, and there are no size limits. However, it is recommended that you release any small fish (<25cm). The principle is simple, let the smaller ones live, so you can catch the bigger ones later.