Chad from Hookup Baits gave another Seminar on Trout Fishing at the San Marcos Turner's last night. I was thinking about Tom, since he seems to have quite the relationship with Catfish right now ;D ;D
Anyway, I have met and talked to him several times over the last few years and he gives a ton of info on Trout fishing and technique. The lakes in The Sierras have big fish and they have small Stockers too and he explained how they differ when targeting them.
Them Hookup Baits are great and they catch everything ! If you get a chance to go to one of Chad's Seminars,you will learn a lot ;)
Be safe out there
Good on ya getting out there and learning stuff. I bet you will put that info to good use on your trips north.