Trout Lures Buyers Guide

Trout is a common type of fish that almost every angler wants to catch. Therefore, it is one of the most commonly indulged fishing. As a result, there are too many trout lures available in the market. It can get highly tricky to choose the right one. After all, trouts are clever fishes with a keen sense of sight and smell.

Almost anyone can catch trout on an active day when there's a surplus of fishes. All they would need is a spinnerbait, and they will most likely catch one of the trouts. However, if you're a passionate angler, you would want a little more challenge. If you want to catch trouts more accurately and increase your chances of success, this guide is for you.

This guide will provide you information that you can use to get better lures according to your style and other conditions. Furthermore, you will learn about different types of effective trout lures.

Why is choosing the right trout lures essential?

The behavior of trout changes according to their size and the weather conditions. Most of them reside in clear waters with impeccable sight and smell. Therefore, it becomes pivotal to tempt them if you want to capture them. Trout fishes are smart. They would figure out if they are getting tricked. Therefore, you will drastically reduce the chances of catching them if you're using the wrong bait.

The condition of the water and the residency of fishes also impacts the type of lure. If you don't use the right lure according to the depth, you won't get results. Similarly, the lure has to look natural and part of the trout's habitat.

For an angler, choosing the right trout lures is more than pleasing the fish. It has to settle with their fishing style to capture the trout properly. There are many different types of anglers. Some like challenges, and others would want something peaceful to attract trouts. Therefore, choosing the right trout lure brings you a good experience. It complements your style for the experience you want.

Similarly, the right lure will play a vital role in your fishing line, especially if you fish in cover or use different types of lines for depth or surface fishing. Significantly, it contributes to your reel and rod, as well. Overall, the lure is an integral part of your fishing gear, and you can't neglect to choose the right lure for catching trout if you want a good experience.

Factors to look for when buying trout lures

Now you realize the importance of getting the right trout lures. However, there are still a plethora of specifications and considerations you would have to make. You'd have to compare features, pricing, material, and there are hundreds of opinions. There are too many companies.

What should you do? It will be alright! Here you will break through all of these daunting aspects. These are the only factors that matter, and these factors are divided into segments.

That's right. There are different parts in this guide: One to help you consider the lure factors, and then another to help you find the right lure according to the 'type.'

Furthermore, you will find some questions that will answer any query. Additionally, this guide will also help you with some highlights on finding the right lure for any fishing and condition.

Aspects of the lure

Here are the attributes of a lure that determines the best trout lures for you. If you want to get in-depth regarding lure selection, this segment is for you. Alternatively, you can skip down to other segments for a quick guide or tips.

Type of lure

The best you can do here is get the life-sized version of the trouts' diet. Most of them like to eat flies, small fishes, frogs, and other similar organisms. If you can consider their habitat, time of the year, and the trout type, you will have an easier time finding the best type of lure for them.

Another vital aspect of lure is the activity. For the realistic approach, you need vibrations and other activities. Get the lures that enable you to create the motion of swimming, wiggling, or something similar. It attracts trouts as they admire live prey with activity.

Material always matters

Trouts can get aggressive when hunting, and your lure would be no exception. They may attack or attempt to bite into the lure to test it and 'kill' it. Therefore, you need a lure with proper durability. The lure's material will primarily determine its price, as well.

Thankfully, there are some varied options for trout lures. You can find ABS plastic, the most feasible option. However, there are also brass, steel, and other similar materials available. It all comes down to your budget and longevity. This being said, other materials require proper care like washing and waterproofing to long last.

Lure's movements

As mentioned above, the lure's movement matters for trout as they are sensory predators. You need to provide apt vibrations and activity in the water. More importantly, the movement of the lure shouldn't be out of its natural tone. In other words, if it's a worm-like lure, it should wiggle, not spin.

You have to make strong considerations regarding the activity of the lure for trouts. There isn't any reason to get too intense a vibration. That would scare trouts away more than attracting them. You need something subtle and close to the 'natural prey' of trouts.

Design of the lure

Finally, it comes down to how realizing the trout lure looks for the predator. 3D designs and shapes are better for trouts. The more it can resemble their natural habitat, the better chance you have. However, it might come as a surprise, but color can vary. Due to their UV spectrum sight, you can use brighter colors to attract trouts.

The bottom line is, you need a realistic trout lure with a little bit of flash in the color and appearance with proper vibrations to have a higher success rate.

Don't forget the hook.

Trouts are not only sensory but also fairly smart. Due to their eyesight, they can easily notice the shiny surface of a hook. Therefore, you have to be a little deceitful here. You need hooks that hide well with the lure. Additional color on the hook can play a great role in hiding them. However, size also matters.

Smaller hooks are less likely to be noticed, and if trouts notice any sharp object, they go haywire and abort the hunt. Therefore, smaller hooks are better for hiding. Correlatively, trouts are vicious, and they may end up swallowing the hook if it's too small. That will end up killing them even if you manage to catch them.

So it would depend on whether you want to catch trout dead or alive. Secondly, the size of the hook should barely be noticeable according to the size of the trout. Yes, it is difficult, but the colored hook to be less visible in their UV spectrum sight could work very nicely.

External factors that matter

You can consider all of the factors regarding the lure as much as you'd like. However, it doesn't change the fact that external elements will always have a role to play. Therefore, you need to consider some of these external factors before you get trout lures for fishing. Here are some that could help you make a better choice:

Size of trout

Trouts are predators for life, and they love to hunt almost anything that is 1/3rd of their size. As the trouts grow, you will find them hunting for flies to small fishes. Therefore, it becomes paramount for you to consider the size of the trout you want to catch.

Correlatively, they are sensory predators that are aware of their surroundings. If something stands out of their natural habitat, they will become cautious. Regardless, they are not too picky when hunting. They will eat almost anything, even if the prey is smaller than their size. For example, fly lures are well-versed in catching trouts of any size variation.

Appeal to senses

As mentioned a couple of times, trouts have remarkable senses. They can perceive the UV spectrum more precisely. However, external factors like winds, watercolor, and other conditions will also impact their senses.

It's better to use lures that are as realistic as possible to appeal to a trout's senses. However, if you have less clear water, you can use a little 'out of the natural order' fluorescent colors like red and orange that would glow under the water, dimly, to attract trouts.

They also have a great sense of smell, so it'd be highly beneficial if you can do something about that.

Depth of the water

Let's put it this way – the depth of the water will influence your bait color. If you have brighter or warmer colors like red, orange, and yellow, they will go invisible in excessive depth. Correlatively, if you stick to green, blue, and other natural shades, they are more naturally visible. The best choice is the darker tone for deeper water, especially something in black shades.

Choosing the right color is a daunting task for any angler. Hopefully, this sheds some light for you to make a better pick.

The activity of the water

The water currents will primarily determine the weight of your lure. If you are going for less active water, lighter lures will be sufficient. However, if there are streams and waves in the water, you might want a heavier lure.

The weight of the lure is vital for better control and casting position. You don't want it to go along the flow and not attract the trouts. Heavier baits will also prevent smaller fishes from ruining your catch for the trouts. It will discourage irrelevant fishes from attacking it.

Quick selection considerations

Perhaps the above-given information is too much for you to get into, and you seek something quick and easy. Here's a quick buying guide for trout lures that keeps things simple. According to the best you can get for trouts, these are not according to personal style or preference. So, let's begin!

Choosing the color

Don't choose a single-color lure for trouts. Mix it up a little. Trouts would be more inclined to attack a lure that seems a little more colorful. You can get a mix of black and red, which would suit shallow and deep-water requirements.

However, green, blue, and black remain a great choice for deeper water. If it's the season of trouts, they will be on the surface. Solid colors with the realistic appeal of red, yellow, or golden could do the job. Similarly, violet and other shades work better for off-season trout fishing.

Be a little flashy

Don't rely on the colors entirely. Zest-it up a little bit with something flashy. As trouts have a vision in the UV spectrum, something shiny and fluorescent in addition would be great. The entire lure should be natural and realistic, but a little stroke of color here and there for the flashy appearance could make the lure pop out.

As a result, the trout will be more inclined to attack it, especially with all the flashy activities you'd do with proper activity and vibrations. Get little sparkles or glitters. If it's metallic, then the body might provide a proper shimmer to attract the trouts.

You need activity

To put it in short, S-shaped lures tend to work very well for trouts. However, you have to get active lures that are in nature. Crankbait or spinnerbaits with the bladed design is an excellent choice to attract different trouts through vibrations.

Don't go for too intense vibrations or abnormal activity as that could discourage the trouts. If you still want to lure them and give them a sense of 'real prey' in the lure, then you can depend on the scent.

Don't forget the smell

Of course, you covered most of their sensory requirements, but if a trout is too clever, it won't attack unless there is some form of smell. The smell is a completely optional choice, but it could increase the chances of getting a trout to attack.

Try to go for strong smells like blood and garlic. Most of the time, marshmallows' sweet scent also tends to work for trouts, but not too much.

Remember the size

Go big or go home. That's probably one of the best pieces of advice you can get for trout fishing lures. You need something that would stand out. 1/3rd the size is a great option but not necessarily the only option available for trouts.

If they are in the element and it's the season, trouts will attack almost anything that moves and doesn't seem to be too big for them. Ensure that you're in the right environment and habitat for the conditions to meet for a larger lure to attract them.

Get more pieces

As a general rule of thumb, you can't rely upon a single lure choice for trouts. It would be best if you had different pieces and variations. If you can get two or more kinds of lures for trouts, it would be better. Different colors and flashes will enable you to gauge the trouts' mood in the water and change your game according to their changing attitude. Always be prepared to have more pieces.

Correlatively, trouts are aggressive, and you may even lose the lures if you're not prepared correctly. The first few lures work as a warm-up. So be ready to lose some lures and always get multiple pieces for a single type of lure.

Best trout lures

As mentioned above, you need some different types of lures in a collection to fish trouts efficiently. Here are some of the best choices that you should have in your collection of trout lures:

Spinner lures

Trout spinners are among the most versatile choices available with a wide range of colors, sizes, designs, and other variations. They will suit large water bodies and tend to have a perfect combination of vibration and flash needed to attract trouts. You would have to rely on your speed of retrieval to make a successful catch with spinner lures.

Classic worms

If you gauge that the trouts are a little picky, then a worm is a surefire way to get them warmed up. They will certainly attack. It's hard for almost any kind of find to resist a delicious worm. If you can get your hands-on scented worms, that would be the best choice to get the trouts worked up.

Trout jigs

These will rarely be used by most of the anglers to fish a trout. However, the jig has the versatility to be used in any water. More importantly, if you think that trouts are getting too common catches and prey, a jig is a great way to stand out and lure them into attacking.

Like real bait minnow and nymphs, jigs could get trouts to attack. It is easier to conceal the hook, and if you customize their flashy appeal, you have yourself a great deal.

Spoon lures

For large lakes, spoons work verywell as a flashy choice. They come in metal choices and often have the good luster to get the trout attacking. However, their hooks are apparent, making it a little hard to attract trouts for proper attacks.

With a spoon, you will either have a sure catch or nothing at all. It would be best to keep them as a substitute collection if you didn't have any catch the entire day with other lures. Because then it means spoon lure will certainly work.

Jerkbait or stickbaits

Also known as minnow lures, these are the baits that mimic small fishes. Nothing can beat the temptation of striking small fishes for a trout. However, it only works if there has been a similar type of fish in the surrounding, so you might have to do some research. You will find many colors, shapes, and options with these, similar to spinnerbaits.

Flatfish lures

These are like jigs that distinguish you from common choices. Flatfish comes with a wobbling activity to attract trout fishes. Prominently, it is a great choice if you want to use light fishing gear or during the off-season in the depths of water. It is one of the best choices for its vibrations, ripples, and attraction for visual predators like trouts.

FAQs: Best Trout Lures

Q: When is the best time to catch trouts?

A: Trouts love the colder climate and would be available in abundance during spring, fall, or the rainy season. You wouldn't need to go too deep for them. However, in the summer season, they retreat deeper into the water for cooler temperatures. Therefore, the best time to catch trouts is spring or fall, as there are large gatherings and abundance.

Q: Where to find trouts?

A: Freshwater bodies are the best location to find the trouts, especially in the spring or fall season. They will surface at a temperature around 10-12 degrees Celsius, which is optimum for them. Correlatively, if there is rain, you can find them getting active in these freshwater bodies. You won't find many trouts to catch in saltwater.

Q: Are spinnerbaits lure a good choice for trouts?

A: Spinnerbaits are among the best trout lures that provide proper vibration or activity with bright colors. It tempts fishes like trouts to attack them.

Q: What type of lure is a better fit for brown trout or rainbow monsters?

A: You'd need larger and heavy-duty trout lures as brown trouts are among the species' largest members. Rainbow and brown are both aggressive. Metal lures would be preferable. If you want to catch them, be ready for some fight.

Q: What type of scent should I use for trouts?

A: Strong smells like garlic and blood works well to attract trouts. You need something robust and easy to expand over the water for trouts to detect and come rushing for.

Q: Can trouts bite you?

A: Trouts can get very aggressive, and almost every creature in this world can pose a fight when its life is in danger. However, it's not too dangerous. Most of the trouts have teeth that can inflict a cut on your fingers at best.

Conclusion

Trout lures require you to be active and consistently on the move. Due to their senses, trouts may notice the lure and wait for the right movement to strike it. Therefore, it becomes vital to get the right activity with the ability for lures to be stationary.

Don't forget to consider the reel type. For most of the trout lures, a spinning reel would go the job. A spin casting rod would be sufficient for trout lures. Remember to consider the size and weight of the trouts for your lure. The more activity or trolling you indulge in, the more durable your lure needs to be.

Hopefully, the guide makes it easier for you to choose trout lures according to various factors and elements. It aims to be your one-stop solution regarding different types of trout lures.