Trout are wary, and the wrong lure put them down faster than almost any other freshwater fish. The good news is that a handful of patterns cover nearly every situation, and most of them cost a few dollars.
| Lure | Best for | Size | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inline spinner | Searching water, aggressive trout | 1/8–1/4 oz | Streams and rivers |
| Spoon | Still water, depth, big trout | 1/6–1/2 oz | Lakes and ponds |
| Soft plastic / bait imitation | Stocked trout, pressured water | 1–2 inch | Stocked lakes |
| Small crankbait / minnow plug | Holding water, larger trout | 1–2.5 inch | Rivers and lakes |
Inline spinners such as the classic Rooster Tail and Mepps patterns are the trout standard for a reason: they work in moving water, they cast well on light tackle, and they trigger a reaction strike from a fish that is not actively feeding.
Go small. Trout key on insects and small baitfish, and a lure that is too big is the most common mistake. On a light rod, check the casting range with the Lure Weight Calculator — most ultralight rods top out around 1/8 oz.
Streams and rivers: cast upstream and retrieve with the current. A spinner worked across and slightly downstream of where trout are holding is far more effective than a straight downstream retrieve, which looks unnatural.
Still water: trout cruise and feed on a horizontal plane. A spoon cast out and counted down lets you hit their depth precisely — count one second per foot of sink rate and adjust until you start getting follows.
Stocked lakes: hatchery trout have been eating pellets and will often take a small soft plastic or dough bait fished under a bobber with no retrieve at all. This is the least glamorous and most effective method on opening day.
Line diameter matters more for trout than for any other fish. Use the thinnest leader you can get away with — see the leader size chart for what pairs with which tippet strength.
A 5 to 6 foot ultralight or light-power rod with 4 to 6 lb line is the trout standard. It casts small lures properly, it protects light tippet, and it makes a 12 inch trout feel like a real fight.
Use a small snap or a loop knot rather than a tight clinch. A loop knot lets a spoon or minnow plug wobble freely — a knot cinched tight against the eye kills the action. A uni knot left slightly open does the job.
Single hooks, not trebles, if you plan to release. Barbless where regulations require it, and wet your hands before handling.
Small, light, and in the colors trout see. Two spinners and a spoon will cover a season.
The trout search lure. Silver and gold blades for clear water, chartreuse and orange for stained.
Check current price on Amazon →Still-water depth control. Cast, count down, retrieve. Simple and very effective on stocked rainbows.
Check current price on Amazon →Thin leader is not optional for pressured trout. Six to eight feet of 5X or 6X ahead of your main line.
Check current price on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, TackleCalc earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are set by Amazon and change without notice. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Trout move with the water, so start there. The water temperature chart shows where they hold at each temperature, the lure weight calculator sizes the lure to your rod, and the leader size chart gets the leader right for clear water.
An inline spinner in the 1/8 oz range. It works in moving and still water, casts well on light tackle, and provokes a strike from trout that are not actively feeding. Silver blades in clear water, gold or chartreuse in stained water.
Small. One to two and a half inches covers nearly everything, and spinners in the 1/16 to 1/4 oz range. Oversized lures are the most common reason anglers get follows but no takes.
In clear or pressured water, yes — trout are line-shy and fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater. Four to six feet of 4 to 6 lb fluorocarbon ahead of your main line is standard. In muddy water or with stocked fish it matters far less.
Single hooks are better if you intend to release fish, and they are required in many waters. Trebles hold better on a hard-fighting fish but do considerably more damage. Many anglers replace stock trebles with a single siwash hook.
In moving water, cast upstream and retrieve just fast enough to keep the blade turning — usually slightly faster than the current. In still water, steady with occasional pauses. If the blade is not vibrating, you are retrieving too slowly.
In still water trout feed on insect larvae, baitfish and leeches at different depths, so the right lure depends on where in the water column the fish are sitting. Start with a small spoon or an inline spinner in silver or gold to cover water, then switch to a suspended jerkbait or a soft plastic on a light jig head when fish hold deeper. In summer, when trout sit below the thermocline, a small jig worked slowly near the bottom out-fishes almost everything else.
A 5 to 6 foot light or ultralight rod rated for 2 to 6 lb line, matched to a 1000 to 2500 size reel spooled with 4 to 6 lb monofilament or a thin braid with a fluorocarbon leader. That combination casts the small lures trout actually eat and keeps enough give in the rod to land a fish on light line. Heavier tackle costs you casting distance and spooks fish in clear water.
Lure Weight Calculator · Leader size chart · How to tie a uni knot · Fishing line strength chart
Rods and reels: Best Rod for Beginners · Best Spinning Reel Under 100
Fishing line: Best Braided Fishing Line · Best Line for a Baitcaster · Best Line for a Spinning Reel
Bass and panfish lures: Best Bass Lures · Best Crappie Lures · Best Panfish Lures · Best Striped Bass Lures
Trout and walleye lures: Best Walleye Lures
Catfish tackle: Best Catfish Rig · Best Catfish Hooks
Knots: Best Knots for Braid
Tools and storage: Best Fishing Pliers · Best Fishing Scale · Best Fishing Net · Best Tackle Box
Wearables and electronics: Best Fishing Gloves · Best Fishing Sunglasses · Best Fishing Waders · Best Fish Finder
Weight, size and sink rate come from published manufacturer specifications. Sink rate in particular depends on water temperature and current, so the manufacturer figure describes still water. Trout lures are usually chosen by size and action rather than by weight alone, because presentation matters more than casting distance in most trout water.
Disclaimer: The numbers on this page are estimates based on published specifications and standard formulas. Real-world results vary with brand, gear condition and how the equipment is set up. TackleCalc is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with any manufacturer. Nothing here replaces the instructions that come with your own gear.