Now I'm just dumb. After writing about fishing for more than 30 years, and fishing for over fifty I've developed my favorite techniques and target species. I'm not picky about tackle. A cane pole works. So does a five foot long ultralight spinning rod and two to four pound test.
Lures run to plastic grubs or flies, but baits like stump grubs, red worms or hellgrimites work too.
Frankly, I doubt you live more than an hour from this kind of fishing. Those in warm weather climes might substitute crappie for trout. If you're one of the 50 percent of all Americans who live within an hour or so of saltwater you might consider saltwater panfish. My own favorite are smelt that run ten to fifteen inches or so off the California coast. Otherwise go with a longer rod to seven feet or more, line to eight or 12 pound test and larger hooks and bigger baits.