What Type of Bait to Catch Trout?

The challenge that their finicky behavior poses to anglers and their delicious taste make trout one of the most popular species of fish in North America. A cold water fish preferring to inhabit water no more than 65 degrees Fahrenheit, trout reside in well-oxygenated streams and lakes across North America. Trout have an acute sense of smell, making it easy for them to detect natural bait, but they also have an extraordinary ability to detect your presence if you are not clandestine. The diversity of baits you can use to catch trout make trout fishing both an art and science.

  1. Spoons

    • Their unique combination of wobble and flash makes spoons irresistible to both stream trout and lake trout. Spoons are advantageous because you can both vertical jig and troll effectively with them. When vertical jigging, use shorter, wider spoons to produce more wobble and flash because of the lower speed at which the spoon moves through the water. When trolling, use longer, narrower spoons to produce more wobble and flash because the spoon is moving at a higher speed.

    Flies

    • Some flies are meant for fishing on the stream or lake bottom.

      Aquatic insects make up a significant share of the stream trout diet, making flies a popular choice for many anglers. Choose flies that resemble the local insect hatch in size, shape and color. Some of the most popular and productive flies you can use are the Adams, Royal Coachman, Hare's Ear, and Matuka. Because lake trout generally inhabit deep water in large, cold lakes, flies are not nearly as productive as they are for catching stream trout.

    Live Bait

    • Catch your own minnows for large, healthy live bait.

      You can entice trout to bite with a variety of live bait. Fishing crustaceans such as scuds and crayfish on the bottom produces good catches. Worms are popular during the winter months for ice fishing. Small frogs and grasshoppers work well in the summertime. Fish eggs, especially salmon eggs, are effective during the fall because that's when all salmon spawn. Cut bait and minnows attached to a variety of jigs are popular and effective baits for catching lake trout in the winter.

    Jigs

    • A popper with a feather can be a lethal weapon for catching trout.

      Trout are no different than other fish when it comes to jigs. Jigging Rapalas, Fat Boy jigs and Icefly jigs are superb for trolling especially, but also for vertical jigging. Most jigs work especially well when tipped with a waxworm, a segment of a nightcrawler or a piece of a minnow. Some of the best jigs for trout are those that are long and slender, and resemble minnows or other baitfish such as minnows, shad and ciscoes.