The sport of fishing has been around since the beginning of mankind. In today’s modern world, it’s not a necessity but an enjoyable sport. Trout fishing, in particular, is enjoyed by many men and women.

If you’re shopping for the best trout fishing lures, then this article should provide you with the nitty gritty details that you will need to make an informed decision. It would be unfortunate to buy the wrong trout fishing lure. This could cause you to have a fruitless fishing trip with no trout to be accounted for.

To avoid a fruitless fishing trip, let’s take a look at some basic trout fishing tips that will help you to choose the right lure.

It’s important to know the basics to fishing before you can know what type of fishing lures to purchase. In order to catch any type of fish, you must know about its lifestyle. This means that you need to know when the fish are feeding, what they feed on and how they feed. The most important detail from that is knowing what they prefer to eat the most. If you can find a fishing lure or bait that best resembles what the fish feed on (or if it’s actually what the fish feed on such as worms), then you have a higher chance in catching the fish. You want to lure the fish with what they eat!

When you are trout fishing, the magic trick is to use a bait or lure that appears in its natural habitat. This means that you should think about the location in which you’ll be fishing.

If you’re trout fishing in a pond…

Well, there’s two different types of ponds that you can fish from: the wild, natural pond and the man made pond. Yes, this makes a huge difference in choosing the right lure for the trout.

Why?

Think about it. If you’re going to trout fish from a man made pond, it’s likely that those trouts are accustomed to being fed by the owner. To be successful in catching trout fish from a man made pond, you should ask the owner what it is that they feed the fish. Then use the food that the trouts are fed to hook onto your fishing hook. This is extremely beneficial since the trouts may not recognize many other fishing lures that the trouts in the wild would easily be attracted to. You can always give it a try with other trout fishing methods, but you’re most likely to find success in using what the trouts are already trained to eat.

As for natural ponds, that’s a different story. The trouts won’t be accustomed to farm feeds but to the natural way of feeding. In general, wild trouts are aggressive by nature. If they aren’t hungry, like the farm fed trouts, there’s less aggression. Otherwise, wild trouts are known for being serious predators. Not only do they feed on bugs, worms and fish eggs, but they also feed on smaller fish. The larger trouts will even feed on smaller trouts if need be.

So, if you’re trout fishing in a wild pond, you may want to try salmon eggs or Berkley Powerbait as the choice of lure. Salmon eggs have proven to work great in areas close to shore. They are packed with tons of nutrients such as protein and trouts absolutely love it. Since trouts are attracted to color by nature, you can purchase different colored salmon eggs and combine them on the hook. This increases the chances of the trouts becoming more aggressive and latching on to the bait. Just keep in mind that it can sometimes be a tedious task in putting salmon eggs on a hook. However, once you get that done successfully, you’re in for a real treat.

Berkley Powerbait offers a very strong odor that attracts the trouts to the hook. If you’re pond fishing and prefer to skip out on the salmon eggs, then give the Berkley Powerbait a try. The strong odor has as strong of an affect as the bright colors from the salmon eggs.

If you’re trout fishing in a lake…

Trout fishing on a lake is different from trout fishing on a pond. For one, lake waters are much deeper than pond waters. This can only mean one thing: the lifestyle of the trouts will be slightly different. If you’re fishing on the shores of the lake, salmon eggs would be a great choice for lures. However, if you’re fishing from the boat in the deeper waters, it’s time to think like a trout. In deeper waters, there will be different creatures for the trouts to feed on. The best trout lure for deeper waters is undoubtedly the nightcrawler worm.

Nightcrawler worms baits are probably known as one of the best lures for wild trout. In fact, the nightcrawler worm bait is so successful that many fishermen enjoy combining it with other baits such as spinner baits. Even more? The nightcrawler worm is a successful lure for other types of fishing as well!

Since nightcrawler worms are one of the most popular meals for wild trout in the deep, lake waters, it’s best to use it for your fishing lure. If you’re going to use live nightcrawlers, they’re very inexpensive and easy to find in any outdoors store or local gas station. The worms can survive quite a long time in the water while on the fishing hook. In fact, while they’re on the hook, it’s their twisting movement that lures the trouts from nearby. They see it as a quick and easy meal. This works in your favor as they latch on to the hook!

The only downside to using the live nightcrawler worms is that they don’t leave a scent trail. Wild trouts are highly attracted to scent trails. If you choose to use the fake nightcrawler worm lures, many of them are created with a strong odor or scent that’ll attract the trouts. It’s also a cleaner alternative to using live nightcrawler worms. (Some people have trouble using live bait due to many factors such as the messiness and piercing of placing the worm on the hook.)

As for placing the nightrawler worm on the hook, you should use a single hook. You must be careful to not cover the entire hook with the nightcrawler worm since this will make it difficult for the trout to get a good grip on the hook. Many fishermen have lost their fish due to the bait covering the entire hook. Simply pull the worm down to the curve of the hook so that the sharpened point is exposed on the end.

Many fishermen like to use two nightcrawler worms on a single hook. This is beneficial since it gives more movement through the water as you reel the line back in. This will really bring in the trouts!

So, if you’re planning on trout fishing on the lake, purchase a bag of nightcrawlers for the deep waters and a bowl of salmon eggs for the shores. They won’t disappoint you!

If you’re trout fishing in a flowing stream…

Flowing streams are typically shallow waters. In other words, you wouldn’t use the same lure as you would in a lake since lake waters are deep.

So what’s a great lure option for trout fishing in flowing streams? Often times, this is where many fishermen choose to fly fish. The waters are shallow enough for them to wade through them, and they can easily cast their lines.

If you choose to fly fish the water stream, then one of the best trout lures is the dry fly. It’s also one of the most exciting lures to use when fly fishing for trout! The dry fly works by posing as a fly that floats on the surface of the water. The trout then comes to the surface of the water to eat the fly. This becomes an exciting experience when you get to observe the trout leap from the safety of the waters to catch its meal.

If you aren’t using the method of fly fishing, then another great lure to use for the shallow waters is the minnow. Minnows live in shallow waters and often stay in groups. This makes them a popular meal for trouts.

If you opt for the live bait minnows, simply place them on the hook through the mouth. This gives them mobility and freedom to move through the water which will attract the wild trouts much easier. Remember, imitation is the name of the game.

If you’re trout fishing in a river…

Rivers offer different lifestyle options depending on which river you choose to fish in. Honestly, the two best trout lure options for most rivers are minnows and nightcrawler worms. In fact, it’s in the rivers where many fishermen choose to combine their nightcrawlers with their choice in spinner baits.

Some rivers can be very deep thus making the use of nightcrawlers very helpful. However, for rivers that are more shallow in water depth, the use of minnows as a trout lure will do the trick. Learn about the river in which you will be trout fishing and that’ll help you to determine which lure to choose.

Let’s take a look at some great trout fishing lure brands.

Berkley

Berkley is, undoubtedly, one of the best brands in fishing lures. You can find almost anything that you need in terms of trout fishing. The brand offers high quality fishing lures for very, inexpensive prices. We highly recommend the Berkley Powerbait for trout fishing if you prefer to not use live bait.

Balls O’Fire

Balls O’Fire is another great brand for trout fishing lures. Some of the best trout fishing lures that they offer are salmon eggs. They provide the best with a wide variety of colors to mix and match while trying to hook a wild trout.

Rapala

Rapala is also another great brand for trout fishing lures. Their imitation baits have long served fishermen with many successful fishing trips. In terms of trout fishing, they provide excellent minnow baits that cleverly move through the water to attract the trout. Their fishing lures are offered for low prices and are worth every red cent.

Let’s check out a few great trout fishing lures from Amazon

Berkley Gulp Fat Floating Trout Worm Bait

For only a few dollars, this nightcrawler worm is made of the highest quality materials in order to perform excellent imitation under the water. It’s designed with a shorter yet fatter, plump shape. This gives it a very appealing look for the wild trouts. What’s so great about this particular trout lure is that it features the Gulp extreme scent release. This provides that strong odor that trouts cling to.

It has a high star rating on Amazon and customers have nothing but great things to say about it! With this lure, you’re guaranteed to have trout biting your hook all day!

Balls O’ Fire Orange Deluxe Salmon Egg Bait

The Balls O’Fire Orange Salmon Eggs bare a striking resemblance to the natural spawn of Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout. This means that you’re guaranteed more bites! These trout lures are great for locations that are light and shallow. Even better? If the trouts are being picky about the other colored eggs you’re using, the orange deluxe usually does the trick! Place these on the hook, and it’ll change their minds.

The Balls O’Fire Orange Salmon Eggs have an excellent star rating on Amazon and customers have stated they’ve had nothing but biting success with these colorful lures.

Rapala 1 1/2 inch Ultra Light Minnow

The Rapala Light Minnow lure comes in many colors. It’s designed with a super, light weighted body and dons a fancy wobble underneath the water. It practically dances for the trouts as they can’t resist it! It comes with external scales that provide it with more lifelike details.

With a stellar star rating on Amazon, customers have had nothing but great things to say about the Rapala Light Minnow.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve had an informative read on the best trout fishing lures and baits, find your location, your perfect fishing lure and have fun!

The sport of fishing may be a means of relaxation after a stressful work week or an incredible adventure that creates a lifetime of memories. Knowing the best times of day, best times of the year, and even a little fish biology can be the difference between reeling in dinner or going home empty handed.

Spring time fishing tends to be best during the afternoon to dusk hours, usually about one o’clock to five or so. This is ideal because the fish have been resting throughout the day and they are hungry, plus the water is warm from the sun being directly overhead. Early morning at least a week after the spring thaw, especially between the hours of six and nine o’clock is not such a great time for fishing, since the sun is low and the fish are busy with spawning and there is plenty of newly hatched fry swimming about for eating. Later in the morning until just after noon fish may bite here and there but it is still not an ideal time to land a catch. The sun is just beginning to warm up the water and any good fishing at this time of day will happen on a downwind shoreline.

Summertime is known as the season for fishing and the absolute best time is the hours between sunset and early evening. The fish are moving up from the shadows and the cooler waters. They are hungry and large fish are most often caught when they are following the faster moving shoals of bait. Early mornings during the summer may be okay for fishing, though most fish are not very hungry, since abundant food and cover are found. The worst times of the day during summer are the business hours, from about nine o’clock in the morning until roughly five o’clock in the afternoon. The fish move out of the warmest water and into the cooler, more shady areas. Warmer water contains higher oxygen levels and so fish in lakes and ponds tend to migrate to the thermocline, the area in the middle of the body of water found between two and ten feet deep. In the oceans and other large bodies of water, this zone is known as the temperature break. These zones are the most active feeding areas for most game fish species around the world.

In the fall, the fishing enthusiast will find the best time to put hook to water to be in the hours between noon and six o’clock. The sun is directly overhead, heating the surface of the pond or lake and the fish are almost in a feeding frenzy as they are putting on weight to see them through the winter. Early mornings in autumn are the worst times to fish during the season, since the water is too cool for the fish to be active due to the sun hanging low on the horizon. Later on in the day, fishing may be better in the shallower water. Deeper water will remain very cool and the fish will almost be lethargic.

Winter season fishing brings with it its own challenges and precautions. Weather considerations are more important in the winter than any other time of year, as plummeting temperatures, ice, and snow may be more risk than a day at the lake would be worth. Both the metabolism and digestion of most fish species slows down in the winter. A decent day for fishing with the sun overhead and between the hours of ten o’clock in the morning and four o’clock in the afternoon may offer up some bounty. During that time of the day, the water will be at the warmest temperature.

Another factor that influences successful fishing is the weather. Wind pushes food across the surface of the water towards the shore and the bait fish follow it, so naturally, the game fish follow the bait fish. The best place to fish when it is breezy is on a downwind shore, since nature is literally pushing the fish in that direction. Anytime a cold front or a storm moves in, fish tend to gorge themselves on whatever they can find and so may be that much closer to the surface. After the storms pass, however, it may be a day or two until the fish get back to normal. Rivers, lakes, ponds and creeks will be muddier after a cold front, making it more difficult for fish to see and catch their food.

Overcast days will improve fishing as most species hunt when the sun is not beating on the surface of the water. A light warm rain can be beneficial as it allows the person behind the rod to hide as the raindrops break up the surface of the water and make it difficult for the fish to see. Runoff will wash insects onto the surface of the water, drawing more fish towards a free meal. On the other hand, a heavy rain muddies the water and causes harder currents, effectively forcing the fish deeper into the water and decreasing the likelihood that they will bite.

Overall, the majority of game fish species are best caught in warmer water in the morning or early evening. This changes by season and with the weather. Fish do not bite as well when temperatures fluctuate too greatly as most species have their preferred temperatures and either become lethargic or hide when they are too cool or too warm. Most freshwater species such as Black Crappie, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass like their water to be in the sixty five to seventy degree range. Sunfish and Lake Trout prefer cooler temperatures while the Channel Catfish likes it warmer, up to eighty nine degrees. Saltwater species such as Pollock, Atlantic Cod and Haddock like their water to be cool between forty and fifty degrees. Albacore and Swordfish enjoy the sixty to seventy degree range, but the Red Drum and Tarpon will often be seen in waters that reach up to ninety degrees.

Given that fishing lines are usually made of nice, slippery nylon, knots and splices made with them have to be particularly secure. No simple overhand knot will suffice. Since nylon line is typically cheap as well, secure knots are also going to be permanent knots. Still, not all fishing knots are created equal. While any knot will compromise the strength of a fishing line, some stand out for maintaining a high level of line integrity. This guide will demonstrate the most reliable ones for affixing fish lures and beyond.

Improved Clinch Knot

Among the serious fishing knots, this one’s considered the most essential. Experts disagree on its durability, but estimates range from 86% to 95% of line strength. This means it retains 86 to 95 percent of a solid, straight fishing line’s sturdiness. This knot is primarily designed to attach lures to the end of a line. Like all other knots listed here, at least a foot of line should be devoted to forming the knot. First, the line should be threaded through the available eye on the fishing tackle. Next, the free end, also referred to as the tag end, is wound five times around the main line or standing end. Then it’s brought back up by the lure eye and passed through its own top loop. Once it’s threaded through this loop, it’s inserted back through the loop created between the windings and the previously mentioned loop around the lure eye. Finally, just pull the loose line to tighten the knot around the lure.

Palomar Knot

This knot does the same job as the improved clinch knot, but it’s a better choice for test lines over 20 pounds. The Palomar has a reputation for offering the same strength as the improved clinch knot. For this knot, the tag end is doubled over, so a longer segment has to be used. With the line folded over, the tag end is threaded through the eye of the lure or hook. Then it’s tied into a loose overhand knot. In this position, the folded tip of the tag end is opened to create a loop that the lure is passed through. The final step simply consists of pulling the lure in one direction while pulling the standing end in the other direction. Afterward, trim off the excess tag end to keep things neat.

Trilene Knot

This knot takes a similar form to the improved clinch knot, but features an extra strand of line to anchor the lure in place. Starting with the tag end passing through the lure eye, it’s sent through a second time. An ample loop should be created from this maneuver. Like the improved clinch knot, the loose end is wound around the standing end, but only four windings are typically used with this knot. Next, the tip is brought back up directly through the first loop. Finally, the tag and standing ends are pulled tight to create a tough, compact knot.

Uni Knot

The uni knot, sometimes called the Duncan knot or grinner knot, can be used to affix hooks, but as a type of slip knot, it’s versatile for other kinds of chores. The job begins with the tag end sent through the hook eye and brought parallel to the standing end. The tag end is then brought back towards the hook while leaving a segment long enough for several windings to be made. Next, the tag end is wound anywhere from four to six times around the double strand produced by the standing end and the upper segment of tag end. After making the final winding, the tag end is pulled tight to form a kind of miniature hangman’s noose. Once the excess tag end is trimmed, the standing end can be pulled to tighten the knot around the hook eye. This noose of the knot can also be used to attach fishing line to a reel. With a little practice, it can even work as a splicing knot.

Arbor Knot

The trouble with uni knots and line spools is that the spool has to have an open end to slip the loop over. If both ends of the spool are closed off, the arbor knot is the solution. This knot is simplicity itself. First, an overhand knot is made in the end of the fishing line. Then the line is wrapped around the spool. Next, a second overhand knot is made with the loose segment of line that encircles the standing end. When this knot is drawn tight, the smaller knot provides an obstacle that prevents the primary overhand knot from coming undone. The main stretch of line can then be pulled out so the loop will tighten around the spool.