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The best baits for trout fishing depend upon the type of trout being fished, the type of water body, the water temperature and clarity, the cloud cover and storm weather systems either coming in or leaving. With the basic knowledge of what trout like to eat and what makes them irritated to the point of aggravation, the trout fisherman can catch trout during any type of weather. However, the time of day may have more of an effect on catching trout than the weather and even water clarity. When the waters are dirty, either as a normal effect from sediment, or from a storm, the best baits for trout are scented worms, crayfish, mice and grubs.

Fishing for trout with mice? A mouse fly, from about the size of a chicken egg to the size of a large tomato, is a wonderful trout lure, one that makes the trout aggressively strike the lure on the top of the water. This is when the fisherman needs a companion with a good digital camera, in order to get the pictures of the trout flying through the air. The mouse dry fly is a top-water lure, so reeling the lure in with a hopping formation, quick then slow retrievals, will drive any nearby territorial trout into a biting frenzy.

Split-minnow lures and red devils are two of the most long-standing best lures for trout fishing under all weather and water conditions, but especially for deep water lake fishing. Worms are the standard for trout fishing in rivers and streams though, unless fly fishing or trolling. No real trout fishermen, unless a die-hard fly fisherman, have a couple of dozen worms as backup in case the trout are not falling for false bait. When trolling, reflective plates should be used about 6 to 8 feet above the lure as an attractant.

The best artificial lures for trout fishing include the scented rubber minnows, grubs and crayfish, as well as the split-minnow lures, especially in chartreuse or red and white colors. Also popular for fishing lures to catch trout are the Rapala brand of deep diving lures, the warbler spoons and spinner baits. Spinner baits and Bobbits, a sort of 2-hook worm harness akin to the pickerel harness, are trout lures that require live bait to be attached to them. Both minnows (trout only, of course!) and worms (red, midnight crawlers, etc.) can be used with spinner baits.

When trout fishing after the spawning periods, the trout fishermen usually fish with trout egg sacks. Real eggs can be used, squeezed out of the first large female caught. Either wrap a few dozen eggs into a piece of cheesecloth, or simply wrap the fishing line around the egg sack so that the hook ends up within the egg sack. These trout baits should be weighted so that the flow about a half of an inch off of the bottom of the water source, floating against the current.

When trout fishing, and the water is dirty from a recent storm, using top-water crank baits (like the mouse) and colourful and scented lures work best. When the trout can not see the lure, make sure that they can either sense sounds (rattle lures) or smells (scented lures and baits) to attract them to the lures.

Fish on, and may your next trout be a trophy.

Learn more about this author, Marc Phillippe Babineau.
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