Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

When it comes to catching trout, the toughest ones to catch are commonly the ones closest to metropolitan areas.

Each year, state wildlife departments stock tens of thousands of trout in urban lakes and ponds -- and many of these fish are never caught by trout anglers.

These are the same trout that anglers catch in high-mountain lakes, rivers and streams. In fact, they are raised in the same hatcheries. However, due to several factors facing anglers in these heavily urban impoundments, trout fishing here can be challenging.

Ironically, "fishing in a barrel" -- as many anglers refer to fishing the small park lakes -- requires a bit more skill than one might expect. It's not as easy as fishing in a trout farm.

It's a fact that the urban waters tend to be much smaller than lowland reservoirs, high-mountain lakes and streams. And here, the trout are confined to a tighter area and more heavily concentrated. On the other hand, birds like cormorants also tend to crop the population of stocked trout the moment they touch the water.

Cormorants are a protected species. They are obstacles you won't be able to control. Add that to the murky, off-colored conditions, and you'll need to employ special techniques to get the trout to bite.

Don't be discouraged. State stocking programs dump enough trout into urban waters that all anglers can succeed. They stock these trout so that inner-city residents, those living in urbanized districts and those in the suburbs can find viable fishing opportunities closer to home.

There are urban lakes, small park lakes and ponds that are stocked with trout in almost every major city on the West Coast, and also in smaller towns. They are planted from winter through spring when temperatures are sufficient to harbor trout. And by following a few tips, catching these trout won't be a chore.

TIPS
In late February and March, heavy rainfall along the West Coast can add to the already poor visibility in most urban waters. The seasonal rains stir up sediment and can reduce visibility down to less than a foot. This is when you'll need to alter your techniques to find success. When water conditions are poor, it's more challenging for trout to find food. Finding ways to make it easier for them will help your success.

"What I do in those situations is go to colored patterns, and sometimes some pretty outrageous ones like chartreuse and yellow," said Berkeley's Buzz Ramsey, the director of the freshwater trout fishing division. "I know they show up better in more turbid water. Even glow-in-the-dark stuff can help them find it better. Even if you are plunking PowerBait, sometimes the colors make a big difference."

In brown- or tea-colored water, a standard rule to follow is to use yellow or chartreuse, so fish can see it better. Keep in mind that with visibility low, anglers will need to do all they can to help the trout in locating their bait. Using colors that appear better in low-visibility conditions is a great start.