Want to catch more Rainbow Trout?
Then you’re in the right place.
Because today I’m going to share with you the best rainbow trout lures & baits that every angler should have in their tackle box.
Not only am I going to give you the best rainbow trout lures and baits, but I am also going to share with you some fishing tips and techniques that will help you find, and trigger these fish into biting.
Let’s do this!
The Best Rainbow Trout Lures
Having the right lure tied on plays a huge factor in your fishing success. For that reason, I have compiled the following list of the top rainbow trout lures. These are all proven trout lures that will work just about everywhere. (Note: these lures are no particular order)
Dynamic Lure HD Trout
The Dynamic HD is a crankbait that was designed in Colorado specifically for trout and is a great choice when targeting rainbows.
This popular lure has a life like look with a small profile that still allows you to cast it with good distance. This is also a very versatile lure and can be used in small creeks, rivers, ponds and large lakes.
It also comes in a variety of different colors and patterns to help you best match your specific fishing conditions. I always make sure I have a couple different patterns with me just in case the fish are looking for a particular color.
The swimming action and drawing power of this lure makes it a must add to your fishing tackle box. If you haven’t fished with this lure already I’d highly recommend giving it a try.
Tip: don’t use a swivel when fishing with this lure, you’ll get better action and it will look more natural. Also, make sure to mix up your retrieval speed until you can find one that works.
Mepps Aglia
The Mepps Aglia is a world famous spinner and has probably caught more fish than any lure out there. This spinner works great in small streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.
Choosing the right size and color can play a key factor in your rainbow trout fishing success. In general, the smaller the fish the smaller the lure size and vice versa.
For large rainbow trout the best lure size is #4 and #5 for smaller rainbows a size #1 or 2 will be a better fit.
These spinners come dressed or plaining. The dressed spinners will attract bigger fish and the plain spinners are best for trout in small rivers and streams, but this is more of a general guideline.
All and all the Mepps Aglias is a fantastic rainbow trout spinner that would be great addition to any tackle box.
Recommended Size/Colors: #2-5, brown trout, gold, silver/red-white & hot firetiger
Rapala’s
Rapala’s are an all-time great trout fishing lure. I’ve been catching rainbows and other types of trout on these crankbaits ever since I can remember.
They come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. My two favorite patters are the brown trout and rainbow. They work for a ton of different species but are super effective for rainbows.
When fished at the right speed Rapala’s can be a killer rainbow trout lure. The key is to cover water, experiment with different retrieval speeds and to mix in a twitch of the rod here and there.
Make sure you grab a few different patterns and sizes the next time you hit the water. Check out the link below to view my favorite Rapala for rainbow trout.
Recommended Size 3-7 Colors: Gold, rainbow, brown trout
Trout Magnets
Trout Magnets may not seem like much, but this bait flat out gets the job done. This lure is a great way to catch rainbow trout but also works for other species as well.
The Trout Magnet is a light weight jig with a soft plastic worm that is designed to fall horizontally in the water column which gives it a unique action.
This lure was named one of the top lures of all time by Field and Stream magazine and has been catching fish all over since 1997.
You can fish this lure pretty much anywhere and is one that every trout angler should have in their fishing arsenal. Give this lure a shot, it won’t’ disappoint.
Marabou Jigs
Small jigs like the marabou jig are one of the most versatile trout lures out there and can be fished fast or slow, deep or shallow.
These jigs can be a super effective way to catch rainbows and thrive in waters ranging for small creeks to big rivers and lakes.
In fact, the current world-record brown trout was caught on a marabou jig but this lure often gets overlooked by anglers.
Check out this in-depth guide on how to fish small jigs for trout by Field and Stream here for some tips on fishing the marabou jig.
Recommended Size: 1/64 to 1/8 ounce
Recommended Colors: Black, white, olive, and brown are the best colors.
Panther Martin
If there is a rainbow trout nearby they will have a hard time resisting a well presented Panther Martin. These in-line spinners are proven lures that excel at triggering a reaction strike from any nearby fish.
What sets the Panther Martin lure apart is its ability to provide a perfect spin both in and out of current and when fished at different speeds.
You can burn it in or slow role them. Either way the flash and vibration of this lure drives the rainbow trout crazy.
As for size, I’ve had the most success with #2 (1/16) and #4 (1/4) but all of them have a time and a place, but you should adjust the lure size based on the size or rainbows you are targeting.
Panther Martin’s are a phenomenal in-line spinner that gets the job done. Any angler targeting rainbows in creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes should give this lure a shot.
Favorite Pattern(s): Black blade body with yellow dots and yellow blade body with red dots
Recommended Size: #2 (1/16) and #4 (1/4)
Little Cleo
The Acme Little Cleo is a versatile spoon that can be extremely effective for rainbow trout in lakes, ponds and rivers.
The Little Cleo has a unique shape that produces a seductive, wiggling action as it moves through the water drawing the attention or any nearby fish.
The erratic action and flash of this spoon does a great job at triggering a predatory response out of any trout, making it a must have in your fishing tackle box.
This spoon comes in a wide variety of different colors to perfectly match the hatch and conditions at any body of water. I have had the best luck with gold and silver but I haven’t had a chance to fish with all of the patterns yet.
The Little Cleo is a killer rainbow trout lure that can work just about anywhere. This would be a great addition to any trout fishing collection.
Favorite Pattern(s): Gold and silver
Rooster Tail
The Rooster Tail is another highly productive in-line spinner that works great when targeting rainbows and is one that I always makes sure I bring with me.
The original Rooster Tail made its debut in the 1950’s and is still one of the most productive lures around. The attractive spinning action and pulsating hackle tail is what makes this spinner so productive.
This spinner comes in over a 100 different colors and 10 different sizes to help you face any fishing challenge you may run into.
This spinner is a proven winner and is a great option when targeting rainbow trout. If you haven’t already I would highly recommend giving this spinner a try.
For more information about the Rooster Tail check out this article Rooster Tail for Trout.
Jake’s Lure
The Jake’s Lure is a phenomenal trout fishing lure that really shines at catching rainbow trout in ponds, lakes and rivers. This Lure is made in Wyoming, where they know a thing or two about trout fishing.
You’ll have no issues casting this lure far which makes it great for covering a lot of water. It a versatile lure that can be used when trolling, jigging, and when spin-casting.
What makes this lure so effective its unique action and vibration as it displaces water. These attributes can make for a busy day of fishing.
Whether you are fishing this lure with a spinning rod on a river, trolling for rainbows on a reservoir the Spin-A-Lure by Jake’s is an all-around great trout fishing lure for all anglers.
Favorite Pattern(s): Gold and silver
Blue Fox
The Blue Fox Vibrax is one of the best rainbow trout fishing lures around. The smooth spinning rotation and unique vibration is what really makes this lure stand out and is one that any nearby trout has a hard time resisting.
This is a great lure to use in small streams, rivers and ponds. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors and is built to last and handle fish with ease.
Make no mistake, the Blue Fox Vibrax is a great rainbow trout spinner and should be added to every angler’s lure collection. Give this lure a shot if you haven’t already.
Bubble & Fly
If you are an experienced angler, you know that rainbow trout prefer insect imitations over artificial lures in many cases. Making trout fishing with flies an absolute most for most fishermen.
A well-presented fly that looks natural to the fish is pretty hard to beat. That’s where the bubble & fly comes in. This can be a great way to fish with flies without having to use a fly fishing set-up.
Here are some great flies fishing resources to help you get started:
How to Fly Fish with a Spinning Rod
How to Fly Fish
Wooly Bugger
The Wooly Bugger is a one of the best rainbow trout flies around and can work great on a spinning rod setup. This fly will flat out catches fish regardless of the season and location.
The Wooly Bugger is a cross between a fly and a jig and the trout love them. The best colors in my opinion are olive, brown and white but there are a few different color options you can choose from.
Wooly Bugger’s are a great way to catch rainbow trout and is a fly that you should always have in your tackle box. If you haven’t fished with it yet now is the time, it won’t disappoint.
Best Rainbow Trout Baits
Lures are a great way to catch rainbow trout and it can be both rewarding and challenging to fish this way. However, it’s not the only thing that works. Using live and other types of bait can also be extremely effective, if not more so. Here is a list of the best rainbow trout baits:
Worms
Sometimes the best rainbow trout bait is the tried and true worm or night crawler. Anglers have been using this live bait for decades and it’s still considered one of the most effective ways to catch fish.
Night crawlers are pretty much one of the best baits for trout. Here is a in depth guide about fishing with night crawlers: Your Ultimate Guide to Using Night Crawlers for Fishing.
Berkly PowerBait
Trout fishing with PowerBait may just be one of the most popular ways to catch rainbow trout. It’s easy to use and can be really effective in waters that have a good population of stocked trout.
There are a ton of different scents and colors of PowerBait and every angler seems to have their favorite. I don’t think you can go wrong with chartreus, rainbow, corn and garlic.
There are few different variations of PowerBait and the Berkly variation is the best by far. You can also find them in nuggets that are designed to help make rigging easier.
Catching trout on PowerBait is pretty easy and is a great way to fish with young anglers. Here are some helpful PowerBait fishing tips that will help you catch more rainbow trout.
Eggs
Salmon eggs are a great natural bait that can be extremely effective in rivers and creeks. During the spawning season eggs will float downstream and trout love them.
These eggs float, so it’s important that you keep that in mind as you are rigging them. They also work best in rivers with some type of current – that way you can get a good drift to present you eggs naturally.
For some helpful techniques, tips, and how to rig and fish for trout with salmon eggs check out this article by Rod Reel Guide.
Salmon eggs can be a deadly trout bait when rigged and fished at the right time. I’d highly recommend giving these eggs a shot during the spawn, the rainbow trout will have a hard time resisting them.
Mouse Tails
The Berkley Floating Mice Tails is deadly bait that works great for rainbow trout. This bait is super easy to use and the fish love them.
Each pack of these baits comes with 13 pieces, so they will last for multiple fishing trips. Its unique design attracts species like the rainbow trout that are attracted to salmon eggs or trout worms.
The tail of this bait wiggles around behind the head and replicates movement of baitfish. They also come in a variety of colors so that the bait stands out in the water making it easy for your prey to see.
If you are looking for a great rainbow trout bait go ahead and give the Floating Mice Tails a try, you will be happy you did.
Marshmallows
Trout fishing with marshmallows is nothing new and anglers across the west have been catching trout on marshmallows for years, and they are still a great option.
There are a lot of different brands and colors out there, but the best ones are going to be loaded with a strong fish attractant like garlic. Go ahead and grab yourself a jar of these baits the next time you hit the lake and you won’t be disappointed.
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
Deciding what bait or lure to use while fishing for rainbow trout can be a difficult decision at times. That’s why I have put together this list of the best rainbow trout lures & bait to help you make the decision process easier.
I hope you have found the information in this article to be insightful and that it helps you catch more fish and that you have more fun making memories out on the water.
Cheers,
Aaron
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