Rainbow Trout Colored Lures

[professioneat]

I've just recently gotten into fishing for trout in the river (used to only try for SM), and while I see the beauty in fly-fishing, I want to stick with my spinning reels. I'm fishing in a an area that gets a lot of traffic (Nance Ferry), and I would assume that most of the trout are starting to get wise to the basic rooster tail. I've got a number of variations such as some of the Blue Fox stuff etc.



Yesterday I went to Walmart to check out what other bait choices I had, and I found a pretty good selection. Has anyone tried the flies that have a spinner attached to an elongated shaft, saltwater tackle bag similar to a rooster tail but with actual flies at the end instead of just the tail? I also got a small Rebel Teeny Craw crankbait that I'd like to try out. Do trout even feed on crawdads?



All in all, what are some good trout lure choices that you've found (rooster tail or otherwise)? Preferred weights and colors would also be very helpful. I'll be glad to share any info from my trial and error experiences as I go along. Thanks for all your help!

[Johnsfolly]

30 minutes ago, professioneat said:

I've just recently gotten into fishing for trout in the river (used to only try for SM), and while I see the beauty in fly-fishing, I want to stick with my spinning reels. I'm fishing in a an area that gets a lot of traffic (Nance Ferry), and I would assume that most of the trout are starting to get wise to the basic rooster tail. I've got a number of variations such as some of the Blue Fox stuff etc.



Yesterday I went to Walmart to check out what other bait choices I had, and I found a pretty good selection. Has anyone tried the flies that have a spinner attached to an elongated shaft, similar to a rooster tail but with actual flies at the end instead of just the tail? I also got a small Rebel Teeny Craw crankbait that I'd like to try out. Do trout even feed on crawdads?



All in all, what are some good trout lure choices that you've found (rooster tail or otherwise)? Preferred weights and colors would also be very helpful. I'll be glad to share any info from my trial and error experiences as I go along. Thanks for all your help!

Whether they actually feed on the crayfish in that area, they should hit those Rebel teeny craw crankbaits. I have caught a few and know a couple of guys that do really well in the smaller rivers with those baits. You have to get it near bottom. Don't pass up on larger size jerkbaits. Brown trout eat other fish including other trout, especially stockers that can be 6 to 10 inches in length. I have great luck with trout patterns, e.g., brown trout or rainbow, or colors that mimic the bait fish. Don't think that you have to use small baits to catch them, especially borwn trout. Marabou jigs in natural colors, olive, brown, orange, tan, combos of multiple colors, etc. in 1/32, 1/16, 3/32, up to 1/8 oz work well, especially if you are in a boat drifiting over and along structure. Again it needs to be near the bottom to be effective. Just give it a few slight bounces and pause, etc. as you are drifting. Once you start catching fish they will let you know what cadence and colors they prefer that day and those flow conditions.

Good luck and post a report with some photos when you are successful.