When I first started fishing for brown trout, I had no idea what kind of lures and colors to use let alone what kind of water and areas I should be targeting. When I would do my research and ask other anglers what they had success with, I was blown away with what seemed like an endless number of different responses and possible lures I could throw. I wasn’t sure where to start.
Back then I wish I had some better guidance and resources that would have helped me get me started. This would have saved me a ton of time and headache. For this reason, I have put together this list of what I think the top brown trout lures are, as well as some tips and tricks that will help you catch more of these beautiful fish. Let’s get started.
The 7 Best Brown Trout Lures
- Mepps Black Fury
- Rapala Countdown
- Panther Martin
- J Spec Jerkbait
- Little Cleo
- Spin-A-Lure (Jake’s Lure)
- Blue Fox Vibrax
Mepps Black Fury
The Black Fury is an all-time great spinner and is a killer way to catch brown trout. If you haven’t already, be sure to give this lure a try. You can find these on amazon by clicking here.
This spinner can be fished and is super effective in shallow to mid-range depths and is also fairly weed-less, making it easy to fish around structure as needed.
The Black Fury is also excellent in low light conditions such as early mornings, evenings or when its overcast. It comes in a plain or dressed option. The dressed option features a squirrel tail or a bucktail. However, in my experience brown trout tend to prefer the plain option that doesn’t include a tail. It also come in a single hook option as well as a standard treble hook option.
The Black Fury is the perfect choice for any angler looking to catch brown trout. This spinner would be a great addition to any tackle box collection and I recommend giving it a shot in your home waters.
Favorite Pattern(s): Yellow dot and Chartreuse dot
Make sure to check out My Recommend Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.
Rapala Countdown
The Rapala Countdown is one of my all-time favorite lures and is an awesome way to catch brown trout. If you are after big browns than the Rapala Countdown is a solid option.
This lure comes in a variety of sizes but the CD5 (2”) and the CD7 (3/4”) are the size that I have the most confidence in while target brown trout. The Rapala Countdown is available at any outdoors shop or you can find them on amazon by clicking here.
All of the available colors can produce well, but the brown trout, gold and rainbow trout are my go-to patterns. The Rapala Countdown should be added to any trout angler’s arsenal if it isn’t already there. I have been catching trout with this lure ever since I can remember and it’s still one of my go to lures.
Favorite Pattern(s): Brown trout, gold and rainbow trout
Panther Martin
If there are brown trout near by a well presented Panther Martin will doubt catch them. These in-line spinners are proven fish catchers that excel at triggering a reaction strike from any nearby fish.
The Panther Martin are known for their ability to provide a perfect spin both in and out of current. You can burn them in or fish them slow. Either way they are bound to draw the attention of any nearby fish.
These spinners come in a variety of colors but the black blade body with yellow dots and the yellow blade body with red dots are the most popular. As far as size goes, #2 (1/16) and #4 (1/4) are an ideal size for browns from what I have experienced.
Panther Martin spinners are phenomenal lures that will flat out fish. Any angler looking to target browns should give these a shot if they haven’t already. You can pick these up on Amazon by clicking here.
Favorite Pattern(s): Black blade body with yellow dots and yellow blade body with red dots
J Spec Jerkbait
The J Spec is the ultimate trout jerkbait and is an ideal lure to target brown trout as well as other species. This crank-bait was designed initially in Colorado and has quickly spread across the country.
You can pick up this jerkbait on Amazon by clicking here. It’s also available at many outdoor retailers as well.
The J Spec is a diverse lure that can be casted or trolled with excellent success. It’s unique size and shape gives it an erratic action that will drive any nearby fish crazy.
This 3-inch crankbait is the ultimate lure for any angler targeting brown trout and other species. Make sure to have this one in your tackle box on your next fishing trip.
Favorite Pattern(s): Brown trout, holofoil gold and brook trout
Little Cleo
The Acme Little Cleo Spoons are a versatile lure that are a perfect way to catch brown trout in lakes, reservoirs and large rivers.
The unique shape of the Little Cleo spoons produces a seductive, wiggling action as its worked through the water drawing the attention of nearby fish. This erratic action triggers a predatory response that brown trout can’t simply resist.
This spoons come in a wide variety of colors to perfectly match the hatch at any body of water and can be found on Amazon by clicking here, or at many outdoor stores.
When fishing in reservoir and lakes cast this lure out and let it hit bottom, then with your rod tip to the water, lift and retrieve and let if fall back to the bottom and repeat. Strikes will typically occur when you let the rod go straight.
Little Cleo Spoons are a versatile and effective lure that are excellent at catching brown trout. This would be a great addition to any fishermen’s tackle box.
Favorite Pattern(s): Gold and silver
Spin-A-Lure (Jake’s Lure)
The Spin-A-Lure by Jake’s Lures is a phenomenal lure that excels at catching browns in rivers, streams and lakes. These lures are manufactured in Wyoming, where they know a thing or two about trout fishing.
You’ll have no problem covering water and casting far with this lure as its heavier than most traditionally trout lures. This is a versatile lure that works well when spin-casting, trolling or jigging that can make for a very busy day of fishing.
It’s unique action and sound disturbance are some of the reasons why this lure is so effective. These lure can be found on Amazon by clicking here and are also available at most tackle shops.
Whether you are spin-casting in a river, trolling for browns in a reservoir or jigging in a big lake the Spin-A-Lure is an all-around great option for any angler.
Favorite Pattern(s): Gold and silver
Blue Fox Vibrax
The Blue Fox Vibrax is one of the best brown trout lures around. The spinning rotation and compelling vibration is what really makes this spinner stand out and the browns have a hard time resisting.
This in-line spinner features a stainless steel shaft wire, internal vibrating rattles, and a quality VMC treble hook that is built to last. You can pick these up on amazon by clicking here.
The Blue Fox Vibrax is a great river and stream lure that comes in a variety of colors and sizes. The most popular and perhaps the most effective colors are silver and gold.
Make no mistake, the Blue Fox Vibrax is a killer brown trout lure and should be considered by all anglers.
Favorite Pattern(s): Gold and silver
Tips on Choosing the Right Brown Trout Lure
The spinners and lures mentioned in this list have all been proven to catch brown trout all around the world. However, they all come in a variety of color options and sizes. Each one is suited for different depths and situations.
I have put together a quick guide that will help you select the right color, size and lure for your situations. Here are some things you should consider when buying a brown trout lure:
Depth
The type of water and it’s depth play a huge factor when it comes to selecting the right lure.
For example, if you are fishing in a lake and the trout are holding towards the bottom, then a deeper diving bait would be the better choice. On the under hand if you are fishing in small river or stream a lighter lure would be ideal.
Cover
Each body of water might present you with different types of structure. You could encounter some vegetation, rocks, bushes etc. In heavier structure you’ll want to select a lure that is more weed-less, so you don’t get hung up as much.
Water Clarity
The water clarity is also an important consideration when selecting the right lure. In clear waters, more natural looking bait are going to be the best option. In murky or darker water clarity situations, bright or dark colored lures will produce more results.
Fish Forage
‘Match the hatch’ is one of the most common fishing terms for a reason. You can increase your catch rate by simply matching what the fish would most likely be eating. This is especially true in clear water. If you are going to trick a trout into taking a swipe at your lure, the color, size, and movement of the bait needs to closely imitate what they would naturally be eating.
Fishing Conditions
What is the weather like? Are you fishing on a bright sunny day, or is it rainy cloudy? These things should be taken in consideration when deciding what lure to throw. Much like in murky water, dark and bright colored lures are going to do well in low light conditions. On clear sunny days your natural looking colors are the better option.
Tip: Use gold on cloudy days and silver on sunny days
Other Trout Fishing Resources
- Best Lures for Brook Trout
- Best Trout Lures for Rivers and Streams
- Fishing a Drop Shot Rig for Trout
- Fishing a Ned Rig for Trout
Final Thoughts
Having the right lure tied on in the right situations can be a game changer. I hope this list of lures provides you with a variety of solid lure options that will help make your fishing trip a success! Before you go, be sure to check out our other articles here at Tilt Fishing for more tips.
Tight Lines!