Skip to main content

5 Trout Lures You Need in Your Tackle Box

5 Trout Lures You Need in Your Tackle Box

Spin fishermen have been tossing lures successfully for trout almost since Dame Juliana Berners wrote her fishing book in 1496. New trout lures hit the market every year; some prove themselves to be fish-catchers.

Here are five of the best that should be in every lure box.

By David Paul Williams

¶ Worden's Rooster Tail

Rooster tails have been catching trout everywhere it's used for over half a century. The willow blade has undergone multiple color and finish changes over the years. Anglers can choose from 135 finishes in 10 different weights. Trout favor the lighter weights. It's best to select a blade color that works best with the food most abundant in your waters. Use dark blades to imitate aquatic insects and leeches. Go light if the fish are hitting forage fish.

Worden's Original Rooster Tail (Yakimabait.com)

· Rapala's Original Floater


This lure can be fished using the cast-and-retrieve method or trolled when the fish are widely scattered. Our favorite color is rainbow trout in size 7. When trolled or cast, vary the retrieval speed to better imitate an injured or disoriented minnow. Fish will often hit during a slight pause.

Rapala's Original Floater (Rapala.com)




¸ Yakima Bait Company's Flat Fish

The Flat Fish is a trolling lure par excellence. It can be weighted to run deep in slow-trolling speeds, or run on a long line without weight so it kicks and wiggles right on the surface. Go small with F4 in a frog or gold finish.

Yakima Bait Company's Flat Fish (Yakimabait.com)

Recommended


¹ Eppinger's Original Dardevle

The iconic spoon in red and white stripes with a nickle back is another time-honored fish catcher. Trout favor model 616T.

Eppinger's Original Dardevle (Eppinger.net)

º Woolly Bugger

Who says flies only work for fly-fishermen? Tie on an olive Woolly Bugger, add a split-shot or two, and every fisherman now has a deadly lure. Woolly Buggers imitate a variety of fish foods, such as leeches, large aquatic insects like dragonfly.

Woolly Bugger (Shutterstock image)

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

Going to the Bank

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Gear

Advantage: Kayak

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: How to Skip a Lure

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

Take a Swim - For Real

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

Mega Worms

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

Give Me No Lip

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

Sling a Blade

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

The No-Fail Neko Rig

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Gear

Protein Powered Ultimate Season Preparation

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Learn

Strategies for Using Moultrie Mobile Edge Trail Cams for Hunting

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Guns

Browning Auric Camo Now Featured on A5, Maxus II Shotguns

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This ty...
Fishing

Take a Swim

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Game & Fish App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now