Having caught well over 100 trout in WV so far this year... (and with Maryland's opening day coming this Saturday), I'll give you the rundown on whats producing for me this year.
4 lb line. size 10 single hook with the smallest split shot you can get while still maintaining occasional bottom contact. 1/2 or 1/4 of a nightcrawler. Cast up or across stream, and let it tumble in the current, reeling up the slack as you go. Dont set the hook as you would in bass or catfish.. Just keep reeling, and when you feel weight or a bite (tap tap tap), just flick the rod tip in the air.
4 lb line. size 14 treble hook. Use just enough powerbait to cover the hook. Same technique as above.
4 - 6 lbs mono. 1/32 oz jighead. 2" plastic minnow body (thin minnows are usually better than the shad type). Cast above the fish and let it float down in the current with the occasional twitch. (deadly on holdovers,wild, and native fish).
Use a strike indicator is you must. If a trout even thinks about hitting, that indicator will move, dart, dip, or do something out of the ordinary.. Thats when you give him the flip with the rod tip.
Well I know you all have some good trout tactics up your sleeve right now and I'm glad. So, I'll answer your question myself what I use alot are Power Bait when fishing in lakes but in creeks I use other small stuff like redworms, minnows, and grubs.
But heres a question for you all.:
What do you all think is best to use for deep running large trout?
Dead minnows. big trout tend to be more of scavengers and will take a dead minnow just about as fast as anything.