by Randy Augsburger

Created on: January 28, 2011   Last Updated: January 29, 2011

The Best Baits for Catching Trout

Bait fishing for trout is one of the best ways to fill your creel.   Trout can have differing appetites depending on which type of trout you are fishing for. When fly fishing or using a lure you are trying to trick a trout into eating something that is not real, but with bait fishing you are enticing the trout with actual food. Baits for trout fall into two categories.

*Natural bait

Natural baits include worms, minnows, insects, grubs, filleted fish and salmon eggs. These are things a trout eats every day.

-Worms

Red wigglers or Night crawlers, bought or dug, worms are the number one bait for catching trout. They have a good scent and apparently a very good taste. They work great for all types of trout except lake trout. When fishing moving water it is best to “float” them. Using very little weight and letting the current carry them to the trout. When fishing still water they are usually fished on the bottom with just enough weight for casting. They do not work as well for ice fishing but can still be used.

-Minnows/filleted fish

Live minnows are illegal in many states now. In the old days you could rig up a minnow and let it swim around for a trout to find. Dead minnows and filleted fish can be fished on the bottom like a worm with a little weight. They are cast out and the bail left open on your reel. When a fish takes the bait it will swim off with it and you line will start going out. Wait until the line stops and close your bail. When it starts up again set the hook. This works well for lake trout ice fishing and also at ice off in the spring.

-Insects and grubs

Crickets, grasshoppers or grubs make great bait, especially for brook trout in small streams and beaver ponds. Trout don’t seem to be able to get enough of these and you can catch your limit in a very short time. Just use a light weight and flip the bait into the deep calm water. Another type of grub fishing is with wax worms and meal worms. These are used by themselves or for putting on a jig for ice fishing. They can also be used to tip a jig in the spring just after ice off. This is great for the big brown trout.

-Salmon eggs

Salmon eggs are a very popular bait to use. They come in a handy jar, are easy to put on a hook and they catch a lot of fish. They can be fished year round with good results. Ice fishing should be three on a treble hook fished just off the bottom. In the spring they can be fished on the bottom by casting from

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