Pellets and paste are two common forms of scent- or flavor-enhanced trout baits.

When the state's trout seasons opens April 12 in Western Pennsylvania, anglers wishing to present baits that provide natural characteristics won't have to use livebait to do so.

There is an impressive selection of soft baits suitable for both lake- and stream-dwelling stocked trout. In many cases, the products are largely biodegradable, an environmental plus.

Berkley was the first to market a soft pasty product aimed at duping trout. Its Power Bait became a popular offering for the area's stocked trout, especially ones in small lakes like Glade Run.

The more temperature-tolerant rainbows often are stocked in lakes, and they have the propensity for eating scented baits. Anglers who grew up in my era will remember the popularity of minimarshmallows and chunks of Velveeta cheese with freshly stocked rainbows.

The benefits of using such moldable pastes include being able to form the exact shape and size of nugget you desire.

You also have the option of buying these products in pellet form. In the water, the compound disperses scent and flavor, strong components when it comes to attracting and triggering trout.

Scented baits aren't limited to pasty compounds. An array of natural-looking configurations, including imitations of earthworms, mealworms and maggots, are on the market.

Food Source Lures makes 3-inch worms, 1-inch mealworms and a 3-inch bait it dubs the Steeler, which is especially popular with steelhead anglers but also works on stocked trout.

Berkley's extensive line of Gulp! products feature several appropriate for trout, including earthworm and wiggler formats. It comes in soft serve, with dough, egg and corn available.

Like their natural counterparts, scented soft baits can be fished with a variety of riggings aimed at both taking advantage of the characteristics of the offering and the particular waterway being fished.

These baits are lightweight in nature, so the first consideration is to keep terminal riggings light as well.

Egg- and pellet-shaped baits couple well with gold salmon egg hooks. The smaller profile of the egg calls for a smaller hook, such as a No. 10.

Pellets tend to be larger, requiring a somewhat larger hook, such as a No. 6.

Paste baits, which can be pinched off in the desired size, should be matched to an appropriately sized hook.

Octopus-style hooks also work well in situations that call for a salmon-egg style hook.

The longer profile of terrestrial imitations call for a longer hook. Traditional baitholder-style hooks like Eagle Claw's L181 serves this purpose well in sizes 8 through 12, depending on the size of the bait being used.

In stream situations, soft baits should be fished in the same manner as a livebait options like red worms. Just pinch on enough slip-shot weight to allow the bait to drift close to the bottom, occasionally bumping it.

When fishing a pond or lake, considering using a drop-shot style of rigging, with the hook tied up the line a couple of feet with a Palomar knot. Use a couple of split shot on the end of the line.

In this manner, the bait is presented off the bottom, where its visibility, scent and flavor can go to work.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.