Also trying to get into trout, what size hooks, float no float, what other recs can you give? Thanks for the input.
I have heard two schools of thought on hook size from two different established trout fisherman.
-First guy insists on very small hooks, the smallest possible that will still hold your bait.
-The other guy insists on a larger hook than expected.
I bought an Eagle Claw Trout hook assortment that comes with 3 different size hooks and two different style shapes (standard shape with back barbs and salmon egg shape). They have leaders attached but they are really short leaders and should either have an extension tied to them or get rid of the provided leader altogether and just use the hooks. What I was getting at was that this assortment is under $4 and it has more than adequate variety of size and shape wether you want to go small or a little bigger.
I tend to go a little bigger than you would expect and have done well. But I always make sure that the hook isn't too heavy. You want it to be light enough to float directly straight up from you sinker when you have floating bait attached.