TACKLE BOX : GEAR UP FOR TROUT OPENER.

Byline: Brett Pauly Daily News Staff Writer

Marina operators and fishing aficionados notice each year that well more than half of opening-day anglers use the wrong gear to tackle trout in the Eastern Sierra.

To reduce the chance of that big one getting away - or brushing off your lure altogether - experts in the field offer the following suggestions for trolling and bait fishing.

TROLLING

Rod: Medium to medium-light action, 6-1/2-foot spinning or casting rod.

The longer the rod, the more difficult it is to get the fish to the boat for netting. If the action is too stiff, there will be no give when the fish hits and it won't adjust to the strike or set the hook.

Reel: Spinning reel with a fine drag that is balanced for line rated at 6- to 10-pound test.

Don't overpower the rod by putting on an overly large reel. It places too much weight in the butt of the rod, losing sensitivity and balance.

Test the drag on a 6-pound system and if it takes a long length for the line to smooth out - if it rattles or jerks - have it looked at.

Line: Soft 6-, 8- or 10-pound-test monofilament that has ``no memory'' - it doesn't kink up like a spring after a week on the spool.

Lures: Minnow-type swim baits from two to four inches in length work well. Look for silver with a black or blue back, or a rainbow-colored pattern. A bright, chartreuse lure - especially the yellow, red or orange commonly designated as a ``fire tiger'' - is a must for any tackle box. Flasher baits and deep-diving bass lures also can be winners.

Rigging: Use a -1/8- to -1/2-ounce sliding-egg sinker, depending on what depth you want, and a barrel swivel below it to prevent the weight from going to the lure. Then add 18 inches of leader - in this case the leader is the same test as the line - and attach a strong ball-bearing swivel that is as small as possible so as not to affect the action of the lure, which goes on last.

Hot tips: The key to successful trolling is knowing the depth at which the fish are biting. Everything else is of lesser consequence if you know this. Query the lake manager or fellow anglers.

Start shallow - perhaps without a sinker at all - and gradually add weight to go deeper. Trout will swim up to a lure but will seldom go down.

Since line floats, the lighter itis the deeper the application and the greater the lure action. If you want the bait to dive, point your rod tip down; if you want the lure on the surface, lift the tip.

Vary the speed and direction of the boat. That changes the movement of the lure, making it look erratic, like an injured or dying bait fish that trout love to prey on.

When a trout jumps, point the rod tip down to take some pressure off the line.

Netting the fish is super critical. Most anglers have the net in the water as the trout comes to the boat and try to catch up to it or hope it swims in. Often the fish will get one of the lure hooks lodged in the net and use it as leverage to free itself.

Instead, grab the end of the netting, bring it back and up to the handle and hold it in position with one hand. Then, in one easy sweep, let go of the netting as you dip the handle into the water and loop it over the trout's head.

Often the fish will swallow a hook, making it extremely difficult to retrieve. Forget that hassle. Just cut the line but mark the fish so you can get the hook when you clean it up.

BAIT FISHING

Techniques and setups are very similar for bait fishing from a boat and from shore.

Rod: Try a 6-1/2-foot parabolic spinning rod that bends from tip to butt but has enough power left in the butt to fight big fish . . . and is designed to throw light lines.

Reel: Small, spinning reel with a very precise drag geared to handle 2- to 4-pound line.

Line: Monofilament rated at 2- to 4-pound test. A 3-pound line is ideal. Remember, the lighter the line the farther the cast and the less visible it is to your target.

Bait: Processed, floating baits are definitely the most common. Salmon eggs and nightcrawlers are also used.

Rigging: The setup is similar to that of trolling, except use a -1/4-ounce sinker, a smaller barrel swivel - but no ball-bearing swivel - and 12 to 18 inches of leader (same test as line) with a size 14 or 16 treble hook.

Ball the processed bait just a hair larger than the hook, so the metal is concealed and it is easy for the fish to swallow. Larger applications will get nibbles but miss a lot of strikes.

Hot tips for shore fishing: Cast with a gentle, sidearm lob - not an overhead fling like a lure cast - so the bait doesn't snap off.

Don't marlin-hook the trout. Simply lift the rod tip to set the hook. A 3-pound-test line is like a thread; it doesn't take much pressure to break it off.

A rod holder will put more fish on your stringer. It keeps the line off the water, making strikes easier to detect. And it puts you in better position to set the hook because you are closer to the rod. You needn't buy one; simply cut one from a notched branch.

WHAT ELSE TO KNOW

Wear your fishing license so it is visible above your waist.

The general bag limit is five trout per day, 10 in possession. Fishing time is an hour before sunrise to an hour past sundown. Anglers should refer to the California Sport Fishing Regulations for exceptions to season dates, limit and size restrictions or gear requirements for specific streams and lakes.

Helpful phone numbers: Bishop Chamber of Commerce, [phone]; White Mountain Ranger District in Bishop, [phone]; Bridgeport Ranger District, [phone]; Mammoth Lakes Ranger District, [phone]; Mount Whitney Ranger District in Lone Pine, [phone]; Carson Ranger District in Carson City, Nev., which oversees Alpine County waters, [phone]; Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center, [phone]; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau [phone]; and Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitors Center, [phone].

Items commonly forgotten:

Sunglasses (polarized are better to see fish with), sunscreen and moisturizer to ward off UV rays and low humidity.

A wide range of clothing to combat the quickly changing weather, from heavy wind, rain and frigid temperatures to extreme heat.

Fresh line - Monofilament deteriorates with age. Line that hasn't seen action since last year's opener is likely wasted.