Trout fishing with lures in creek and small river

A good blank for trout needs to be fast to precisely manipulate the lures, even at a long distance, while flexible enough with sufficient bend not to unhook the fish. You only get one chance with trout. These formidable leapers easily unhook when climbing the current. To really bring out the best in a well-designed swimbait, you need a top-of-the-range blank. These blanks are also suitable for use with all types of spoons. We opted for three blanks from NFC’s Freshwater series that combine solid action with control at all times to allow for the pleasant surprise of landing a bigger specimen than expected. All are made of intermediate modulus graphite and come in two equal pieces to make it easier to access tight spaces as well as change spots by car, truck or other mode of transport. Their length and power will depend on where you fish.

1. The FW 602-2 IM 1.82 m 1–5 g is ideal for small streams. Don’t be fooled by its nondescript looks, this blank has lures of up to 5 g at its beck and call.
2. The FW 662-2 IM 1.98 m 2–9 g is a joy to cast minnows with.
3. The FW 664-2 IM 1.98 m 3-11 g is the most powerful of the lot. It is very well suited to sinking swimbaits needing a clean and lively lure action.