We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Products or services advertised on this page may be offered by an entity that is affiliated with us. Learn more about our process here.
Daddy by day, fisherman at night.
Trout fishing, especially trout trolling, is challenging. But if you have the right lure, then your job is half done!
Looking to create a tackle box filled with trout troll setup that is always reliable? If so, you’ve arrived at the correct spot. We have sorted out the stinkers after many years of trout trolling and now have a trolling kit with just the greatest trout lures in it.
Top 3 Trolling Lures
Best Trout Trolling Lure For Small Fish
Woolly Bugger
- Simple to use
- Inexpensive yet effective
- Versatile styles
Most Popular Trout Trolling Lure
Berkley
- Pinchers that move quickly to imitate a craw
- Extremely lethal on a jig, Texas, Punching, or Carolina rig
- Lightweight
Best Vibration Trout Trolling Lure
Panther Martin
- Unique shaft through blade design
- Convex-concave blades that generate fish-attracting sonic vibrations
- Body weights that are heavy cast like bullets and sink deeper
Table of Contents
- Best Trolling Lures for Trout: Our Recommendations
- Woolly Bugger
- Berkley PowerBait MaxScent
- Panther Martin
- Mack’s Lure
- Acme Kastmaster Spoon
- Rapala Original
- Yakima Bait with Multi-Spec Design
- Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ
- Yakima Bait Flatfish
- Rapala Scatter Rap Minnow
- What Are Trolling Lures?
- Trout Trolling Lures Buyer's Guide
- Action
Best Trolling Lures for Trout: Our Recommendations
Woolly Bugger
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Woolly Bugger can be dead drifted, swung, or stripped like a streamer, making it quite universal. In fly fishing, it stands in for a wide variety of species, including minnows, bait fish, leeches, stone fly nymphs, crayfish, dragonfly nymphs, and much more.
- Weight: 0.02 pounds
- Style: 7 available, including 15 Pack Size #10 and 15 Pack Size #6
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Color: Assorted
Pros
- Simple to use
- Inexpensive yet effective
- Versatile styles
- Sharp hooks
Cons
- It’s impossible to select one color that is best under all conditions
- Not recommended for bigger fish
- Tiny hooks
OVERVIEW: The sharp hooks of this lure make it great for catching small fish without much effort.
In our opinion, the attractors are the most remarkable and varied class of Woolly Bugger-type patterns. Anglers may use any combination of shape, flash, and color to construct a fly that will successfully reel in more fish without having to replicate the appearance of a natural food source.
FEATURES: These basic flies’ adaptation is the key component that has let them endure for so long. Woolly Buggers may be used successfully in almost any fly fishing circumstance, as they come in a variety of sizes and colors.
With Woolly Buggers, you may explore rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and the ocean. They work well on almost all types of game fish, from northern pike to striped bass.
Berkley PowerBait MaxScent
WHY WE LIKE IT: A supercharged fragrance field is released by this Berkley PowerBait MaxScent lure, attracting fish from various distances. With its incredibly lifelike texture and all-natural matte colors, this lure is ideal for finesse presentations and will trick even the most difficult fish. Multiple fish may be caught on one bait because of the lifelike motion and durability while also facilitating easier hook-ups.
- Size: 15 sizes available, including 2 1/2″ and 3 1/2″
- Style: 18 available, including Powerbait Maxscent Tube and Powerbait Maxscent D-worm
- Material: Plastic
- Color: 61 available, including Watermelon Red, Smoke Silver, and Lucky Penny
Pros
- Pinchers that move quickly to imitate a craw
- Extremely lethal on a jig, Texas, Punching, or Carolina rig
- Emits a supercharged fragrance
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not recommended to store with other scented baits
- Too brittle
- Not very durable
OVERVIEW: With the enhanced scenting and alluring shimmy of the Berkley Powerbait Maxscent, you can take control and win trophy trout. This lure features a scent-heavy design and great trolling speeds, increasing durability for prolonged bait life.
We used it in shallow and deep water and found it to work great in both settings. However, we wouldn’t advise using it in weedy terrains as it may tangle.
FEATURES: The Berkley delivers a gradual, shaking descent and a luring scent for fish, encapsulating a bigger area for enhanced attraction. It is poured utilizing Berkley’s innovative Maxscent recipe.
Panther Martin
WHY WE LIKE IT: The distinctive and organic holographic lure colors reflect light and shimmer in the water, especially when exposed to the sun. Panther Martin’s vibrating movement draws fish in a variety of fishing situations. It’s great for catching trout, bass, pike, and salmon.
- Size: 1/2, 3/8, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 ounces
- Colors: 18 available, including Reg Gold, Blue/Black, and Brown Trout
- Weight: 0.004 pounds
Pros
- Unique shaft through blade design
- Convex-concave blades that generate fish-attracting sonic vibrations
- Body weights that are heavy cast like bullets and sink deeper
- High-quality, razor-sharp hooks keep fish on them
Cons
- It might scare off timid fish
- May have issues with line twist
- Too light
OVERVIEW: Rivers are one location where we really like to fish with these holographic spinners. The Panther Martin may be used in water at any depth, from deep pools to nearly dried-out river sections, and in water that is moving quickly or slowly.
It may be retrieved at a variety of rates without the bait ever slamming on the river bottom. This will not only provide you with more strike zones to deal with, but it will also keep you out of a lot of aggravating snags.
FEATURES: The flash and vibration of the blade, together with the novel holographic coating that gives these new spinners a wild look, are intended to tempt more fish to strike.
To complete the eye-catching new design and set it aside from the current market’s options, the weighted component of the inline spinner has a holographic finish as well.
Mack’s Lure
WHY WE LIKE IT: This Mack’s Lure in-line spinner is weightless and has all the right flash in the right spots. The Wedding Ring is lethal to any fish that comes into your line of sight thanks to its hammered metal blade and traditional “wedding rings” band nestled between vividly colored beads. Numerous color schemes and blade designs let you customize your presentation to maximize the bite.
- Hook/Test Sizes: #4/10 lb., #6/8 lb.
- Colors: Hot Pink/Yellow Chartreuse, Nickel/Ruby, Brass/Chartreuse
- Weight: 0.01 pounds
- Material: Rhinestone
Pros
- The lightweight spinner gives more movement
- Creates brilliant reflection
- Super sharp red hooks
- Hand-painted metal blades that are highly visible under ultraviolet light
Cons
- A bit on the pricey side
- It may need changing with a sharper and larger wide-gap hook
- Poor leader line quality
OVERVIEW: For a range of lighting situations, both the hammered brass and hammered nickel blade designs perform admirably. When trying it out, we noticed why this lure is one of the best speckled trout lures. However, the hooks are not the best feature, so we advise switching them for premium wide-gap finesse hooks.
FEATURES: Since its invention, the Wedding Ring spinner has helped fishermen capture a lot of trout and kokanee. It is a hand-tied line twist that has more motion in the water than trout lures constructed with wire.
Kokanee, trout, perch, walleye, and many other game fish are drawn in by the bright reflection produced by the finest diamond rhinestones.
Acme Kastmaster Spoon
WHY WE LIKE IT: The slab-shaped Acme Kastmaster body is made of solid brass that won’t corrode or bend, and it’s finished with a jewel-quality plated or painted finish. Fishermen benefit from being able to accurately mimic the size and color of local forage in any freshwater or stained water fishing environment.
- Size: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 3/4, and 3/8 oz
- Weight: 0.2 pounds
- Color: Chrome, Gold, Chrome/Blue
- Material: Bucktail
Pros
- Even after frequent exposure to seawater, it won't shatter, bend, corrode, or lose its brilliance
- Achieves great casting distances
- Metal trolling spoon lure
- Machined from solid brass
Cons
- You can be exposed to chemicals like lead
- Rusts quickly
- Hair might fall off
OVERVIEW: There is no incorrect way to fish a Kastmaster, as many anglers can confirm. With any pace of retrieval or trolling for trout, its distinctive shape produces a wild swimming movement to reduce line twists and get more fish.
We found that the Kastmaster always swims true, unlike other metal lures that spin out of control when hauled in too rapidly or lose all motion at slow speeds. Aside from trout, we also caught some snook. But for these fish, it might be better to get one of the best snook lures.
FEATURES: The bucktail teaser is attached to a split ring and a treble hook on each lure. The Kastmaster is produced in 11 different sizes, from 1/2 ounce to troll slowly to a substantial 4 ounces for big game saltwater angling. It comes with a variety of hook types, including plain treble, treble with bucktail teaser, single hook with bucktail teaser, and single hook with surgical tube tail.
Rapala Original
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Rapala Original is a balsa lure in the shape of a missile with painted eyes and a transparent plastic lip. VMC treble hooks on split rings are used in the lure’s rigging. It comes in several different colors with plenty of options to choose from, so you can lure deeper and in any setting.
- Sizes: 3 (1 ½ inches), 5 (2 inches), 7 (2 ¾ inches), 9 (3 ½ inches), 11 (4 3/8 inches), 13 (5 ¼ inches), and 18 (7 inches)
- Weight: 0.007 pounds
- Color: Firetiger, Clown, Bleeding Hot Olive, Multi, Silver, Yellow Perch
- Material: Wood
Pros
- Black nickel VMC hooks
- Available in standard and bleeding designs
- Balsa wood structure
- Minnow natural profile
Cons
- Not recognizable in larger parts
- Might need to replace the hooks
- The front hook rubs the cover off after a couple of uses
OVERVIEW: We’ve put this lure to the test, and it has proven to be one of our favorite lures for most trout because of its ability to swim great. The balsa structure makes it effortless to slink into the sneakiest places and makes it a great floating lure.
FEATURES: The maimed minnow motion continues to be attractive to fish everywhere, whether it is jerked on top as a surface bait, retrieved as a shallow runner, weighted with a split shot for medium depth, or bottom walked with a 3-way swivel or bottom bouncer. It is carefully tuned and tank-tested and guarantees world-famous action right out of the box.
Yakima Bait with Multi-Spec Design
WHY WE LIKE IT: The iconic Yakima Bait is still among the best-selling lures ever created. Its superb balance and buoyancy, which increases its distinctive, wide-wobbling swim even on extremely slow retrieves, are the key to its success.
- Color: 11 available, including Fire Tiger, Frog, and Rainbow.
- Weight: 0.02 pounds
- Material: Steel
- Size: 1 – 2.25 inches
Pros
- Perfect buoyancy and balance
- Unusual, swaying swim
- Effective even on extremely sluggish returns
- Able to be cast or trolled
Cons
- The paint wears off after a while
- Hook configuration is different
- The action appears to be weak
OVERVIEW: When we tried this lure, we found that it is extremely adaptable. It may be cast or trolled on any body of water and is likely to yield results wherever you are trolling for trout. Yakima Bait’s Flatfish Trout and Panfish line features smaller bodies with finishes that have been shown to draw these fish.
FEATURES: The Yakima Bait is unrivaled when it comes to luring fish. When trolling, this plug-style lure thrashes from side to side, producing loud vibrations that trout can’t ignore. Each of the 11 colors is field tested and has been shown to attract fish in all weather situations.
Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ
WHY WE LIKE IT: Another significant advancement in soft bait technology with the launch of these scented baits that are totally gangbusters on saltwater species. Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ is very soft and buoyant and has lifelike details, in contrast to many other scented baits that are infamous for their rigid, lifeless feel.
- Size: 4 – 7 inches
- Color: 6 available, including Electric Chicken, Pearl, and Houdini
- Dimensions: 7 x 1 x 9 inches
Pros
- Extreme durability
- Great in the harshest saltwater environments
- Tough bait that won't get torn to shreds by toothy fish
- Buoyant baits
Cons
- Not advised to be stored with other scented baits or plastics
- Float because it is too light
- A bit pricey
OVERVIEW: It has a dynamic split-tail shape that precisely mimics irregular baitfish activity. We used it and saw that it could be rigged weightless for a slow, flutter presentation or bottom bounced on a weighted hook or jighead.
FEATURES: What separates this bait from the competition is the fact that each bait contains 100% natural fragrances that come from actual baitfish. The aroma makes fish more inclined to cling on after striking, improving the likelihood of a successful hookup.
Yakima Bait Flatfish
WHY WE LIKE IT: One of the earliest trout lures made specifically for uniformity in swimming movement was the Yakima Bait Flatfish. This is a superior fish attractor that also prevents the fish from immediately recognizing and dismissing the lure as artificial because it can replicate a lifelike swimming movement.
- Size: 1.75 inches
- Color: 20 available, including Frog, Bleeding Frog, and Rainbow
- Weight: 0.02 pounds
- Material: Aluminium
Pros
- Multi-specific design
- Creates relentless trolling action
- Curved treble hook
- Available UV finishes
Cons
- Very small bait
- Too loud for timid fish
- Deceptive patterns
OVERVIEW: The Yakima Bait Flatfish is a favorite among fishermen all over the world because it is made to generate an alluring broad wiggle when drawn slowly. When we took it for a spin, we found it makes an ever-increasing “sonic thud” when pulled at or close to maximum speed.
FEATURES: The fact this lure looks exactly like a worm or larva is what sets it aside from the competition. You can find several colors of the Yakima Bait Flatfish, each suited for a different setting and species, including panfish, trout, walleye, pike, steelhead, lake trout, and salmon.
Rapala Scatter Rap Minnow
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Rapala Scatter Rap Minnow has a tapering tail and a scatter lip pattern. These balsa-made floating lures have an elusive sweeping movement that makes them ideal for casting or trolling.
- Size: 9
- Material: Blend
- Weight: 0.04 pounds
- Color: 4 available, including Rainbow Trout and Yellow Perch
Pros
- Internal rattle on a tapered tail
- Unpredictable and evasive action
- Premium curved VMC hooks
- The appeal of true multi-species gamefish
Cons
- Too aggressive
- Not recommended for shallow waters
- Not the cheapest bait
OVERVIEW: Having the tapering tail and a scatter lip pattern made the Rapala Scatter Rap Minnow enticing to any game fish by combining wide swinging tail motion with unpredictable lip movement. We used it and liked how it simulates the nervous movements of a genuine bait fish that is running away.
FEATURES: Featuring a tapered tail, internal rattle, and two No. 4 VMC black nickel round bend hooks, the Rapala Scatter Rap Minnow runs 11-to-19 feet, depending on line size and boat speed. You can use it to catch fish of any length – larger trout or any other big fish. For maximum efficiency, you can couple this lure with one of the best spinning rods for trout.
What Are Trolling Lures?
Trolling lures for trout are lures used as part of the trolling fishing technique. These are specifically made to look like dying or injured fish so that when angling, you can catch more without much effort.
These can come in different sizes, colors, shapes, etc. For example, there are surface lures used mainly to catch prey that comes out to the surface, spoon lures that look like a spoon, spinnerbaits, etc.
Trout Trolling Lures Buyer’s Guide
Action
When compared to straight-bodied (minnow-type) lures, trout lures with a bent body frequently have a broader action. Because their buoyancy competes with the diving force produced by the bib, floating lures typically have a more lively motion.
And that’s a crucial point: competing forces that strive with one another, neither of which is dominant, are what drive a lure’s behavior. Action is diminished or lost if one of the forces takes control. Where the opposing forces are of equivalent strength, the trout lure is most effective.
Color
Depending on the lake you are fishing in, the color can be meaningful. Trout, in general, seem to favor gold, red, and fluorescent pinks and greens.
In contrast to rainbow trout, which prefer bright, vibrant colors, brown trout appear to favor more muted hues like green and brown. If you are interested in catching this specific trout type, make sure you get yourself one of the best brown trout lures.
Size
The best approach is to match the hatch when deciding what size lure to use. We use 3–4′′ lures during winter and spring, as baitfish are at their smallest then. We often increase the size of the lure to a 4-5′′ size in the late summer and fall when the baitfish are at their largest.
Season
Wild water temperature fluctuations in the spring can have a real impact on trout activity. When the temperature rises, trout fishing is at its optimum because fish become more active and hungry. The bites may stop when the temperature begins to fall.
Water Conditions
You probably will have to deal with some sort of current whether you’re trolling for trout in a river or out at sea. If you go up current or down current while maintaining the same trolling speed, your results will be radically different. When the trout lure or bait begins to swim naturally, you’ll know you’ve reached the proper pace and can start spinning the reel.
Personal Preference
It’s crucial to recognize that this sport as a whole becomes that much more pleasurable and thrilling once the technical components of it become second nature. For instance, choosing, establishing, and adjusting a pattern of lures should take far less time. You also need to find a good rod to go with your lure, so research the market for the best fly rod for trout and make a perfect combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since trout like drop-offs, you should troll parallel to the chain of shoals rather than over it. Count the number of times you let out the line as you lower it to the bottom. Try to keep within 30 to 60 feet in deep water while trout fishing for large trout.
Trout usually go deep in the summer months, looking for colder places. If you want to go trolling for trout, you can find them around cave-like structures and the places where the riffle drops into deeper water.
In the summer, lake trout bite best between dawn and 10:30 in the morning.