Fished the SSWA February tournament with my boy. We had a great time and caught 7 reds in the AM. Tagged and released 6 and kept 1 for weigh-in.
Late morning decided to target trout. The wind was picking up with the major front moving through, so I knew it would be difficult. I tied on Trout Tricks on 1/8 oz Gamakatsu jigs and we started working a pattern that I had had success on an incoming tide.
My boy had a fish on quickly but it spit the hook. He had 3 bites before I had one. Then I started getting bites but could not get a hook-set. I then realized the trout were knocking the TT’s with mouth closed as Bob has said. The front had them turned off. I told my son, “If we catch one, I bet its not in the mouth”
Tried several more spots with the same results. Could not get a hook set. Finally drifted a creek bend and I was talking and not paying attention, TT sitting on the bottom, when I get a good hit but lost it due to inattention… Duh, SLOW DOWN!
Made another pass working the TT painfully slow when I get a mush bite. But it fought good, pulling drag. It was hugging bottom and swimming erratically. I’m thinking nice flounder… No, big trout! Hooked in the gill plate.
This 3#, 19.25" trout took first in the tournament. Trout tricks rock!
Best part of the day was spending it having fun with my son. Nothing like quality Dad/son time 
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler
