In this article, I will share my best trout fishing lures along with some useful tips on how to recognize and catch them. Trout is one of the most popular fishes in North America. Since they are fighters, catching them will be an accomplishment in itself and they make for a delicious meal too.
I still remember drooling over a fat, delicately textured lake trout, which a friend of mine cooked over the campfire grate with butter all over it.
Trout Fish Lures Comparison
| Images | Name | Price | Ratings | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | YAZHIDA Realistic Flies Kit | $35.99 | 4.6 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Barnsley 100 Assorted Dry and Nymph Fly Fishing Flies | $54.99 | 4.3 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Panther Martin Lure Kit | $19.99 | 4.3 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Piscifun Dry/Wet Flies 40pcs | $19.98 | 4.3 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Goture Soft Lures Shrimp Bait Set Kit | $7.99 | 4.1 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | FISHINGGHOST Spoon Set | $19.95 | 4.7 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Outdoor Planet Assorted Trout Lure Pack + Box | $12.99 | 4.4 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Dynamic Lures Trout Fishing Lure | $5.99 - $7.19 | 4.3 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Mepp's Plain Lure Assortment Trouter Kit | $22.16 | 4.9 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
 | Rapala Original Floating Lure | $6.96 | 5.0 out of 5 stars | Buy on Amazon |
How to select the right trout fishing spot?
Whether it is moving stream or river, or a still lake or pond – you can find trout fish in large numbers provided the water is cool and clean and there is enough food available. During hot summers, they tend to go deeper in water, to get to cool water and to protect themselves from predators. You can also find them on high mountain lakes during summer.
Trout are the most active during spring and fall because the water is favorable. Most lakes are stocked during this time. During rains, it is good to find trout in moving water where they move downstream and don’t have to fight the current. Some rivers are full of trout almost throughout the year. If you are an experienced angler, you could try your hands at them during winters – in the freezing cold – for a brave experience!
What is the best way to catch trout?
You can fly fish or spin fish for trout, but as per my experience, you can get more trout with fly fishing than using spinners. Well, the debate goes on and on. Trout are the happiest with lures (imitation insects, worms, etc…). I did have a one-time experience of catching a trophy (sized) fish using a spinner! So, my 2 cents on this – try both and decide which works for you better!
There are certain rules and regulations for fishing set by the government. Do adhere to those to have safe and fulfilling fishing experience.
Top 10 Best Trout Fishing Lures
(Perfect for Lake, River, and Pond also usable in Winter, Summer, and Spring)
1. YAZHIDA Realistic Flies Kit
This combination of wet and dry fly-fishing lures looks quite realistic and are considered to be the best trout lures. I haven’t had luck with a giant one as yet, but have got medium and small in good numbers every time I put this one in. These are handmade, so even the tiniest of details are taken care to make them look like real flies. I love the way the eyes have been made.
Features:
- Handmade, realistic insect bodies
- The silicone material is high quality and food-grade
- You get 12 pieces in the box
- Strong barbed hooks, made of high carbon steel
- Beautiful 3D laser compound eyes
The flies are extremely lightweight (around 700-800 grams). The collection has a great variety and color and is ideal for river and stream fishing. You would get them in nice packing. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned angler, this kit is surely going to be a good asset for catching rainbow trout.
2. Hand-Tied Dry Flies, Nymphs, Streamers
This is one essential assortment you should take especially when you are planning for a couple or more days of angling in faraway places. I love this kit for its wholesomeness. You get different varieties as well as sizes and can go fishing with them during any season. For every season, there are flies – for example, you can use the streamers and nymphs for winter, and dry flies for the summer.
Features:
- Comes in a nice waterproof box that has neatly placed 32 flies
- Different sizes from 10 to 16 available, to target different varieties of trout
- The flies look very real and are well-known lures to catch trout
- Ideal for all climatic conditions
The streamers like Muddler Minnow and the San Juan worms are particularly well-made and catch trout easily. The kit comes at a very reasonable price but the quality is very good. The lures don’t fall apart and the case is strong too. The customer service is quite professional and knowledgeable. It is a perfect buy for a beginner and an experienced angler both.
Looking for lures to get some Bass fish then check this article out.
3. Panther Martin Lure Kit
Though I am not as great a fan of spin fishing as for fly fishing, this particular brand works well for catching big and medium sized trout. (You must be wondering, why then, I don’t prefer spinning rods?). Well, that’s just me! Anyway, these spinners send sonic vibrations and create good spinning action. The trout find this enticing and they pounce over it.
Features:
- Comes in 3 unique colors and 2 different sizes
- Great for east lake fishing
- Convex/Concave Blades give out Sonic Vibrations that instantly attract fish
- Reasonably priced
The blades are good. If you want to change the vibration speed, you can replace the blade. When you cast spinners, try different distances and speeds to know on which speed you get the maximum trout. All you need to check is if the blade is spinning right!
Sometimes live baits are preferred over lures, here are some baits suitable for catfish fishing.
4. Piscifun Dry/Wet Flies
This is one of the hottest selling lure packs. Firstly, because they look real and secondly, they are of good quality. Last, but not least, you get 40 pcs for just about $20. It is a perfect deal. You will get lures of varied sizes. You can choose different colored flies as per your convenience. The flies are light. Use these lures in rivers and streams for a great angling experience.
Features:
- Set of 40 pcs wet flies in a nice fly box
- Shorter flies are 1.5cm/0.59″ each and longer flies are 2.8cm/1.10″ approximately
- Lifelike patterns and realistic colors
- Size 10 hooks that are hand-tied by professionals
Sometimes I have felt that if the hooks could have been sharper, I might have got more trout. Nevertheless, this pack never fails to impress. I could easily get rainbow, brook and golden trout on different occasions with different colors and sizes of these lures. It is compact to carry and also one of the best options to practice fishing and get some experience for your future bigger trips!
Read about rockfish baits that are easily available in homes.
5. Goture Soft Lures Shrimp Bait Kit
This set of 3 lures has been carefully made with high-resolution patterns and looks very real. As a brand, Goture is one of the best and these lures are quite easy to use. The plastic is of high-quality, the hooks are sharp and strong, and these lures can easily get you some fat trout. Each lure comes in a separate packet, so you can open each when you want.
Features:
- High-quality plastic to make the lure soft and allow for flexible, life-like actions in water
- Colors are extraordinarily beautiful and realistic
- The artificial shrimps are luminous
- Can be used with any fishing rod
- Durable
Although the leaders are of the right size, you can cut off the leaders if you wish to use rigs or tackle. That also gives a more natural look to the shrimps. The shrimps glow all the time and look so real, especially to the brook trout, they are easily attracted to these lures. If you feel the brightness is less after some time, keep them under the sun or show some torchlight to get them back on.
Did you know about the most ideal saltwater lures, if not then check this one out.
6. FISHINGGHOST Spoon Set
Other than flies and minnows, spoons are considered to be very effective to fish for trout. They are attractive and colorful for the trout. These spoons from FishingGhost are of good quality and come in nice packing from Amazon. The first impression was nice. The size of spoons is perfect for trout to bite and get hooked.
Features:
- High-quality sharp hooks and barbs
- Good running characteristics leading to high biting by game fish
- Comes in 5 different patterns and flashy colors
- Each lure weighs 0.07oz and has a length of 1.1in
You will get a lot of bites with these spoons because their movements and looks both are quite real and attractive to trout. They look smaller when you first see them with the packaging, but they work well. Give them a steady retrieve once you cast them for the spoons to give good wobbling motion.
7. Outdoor Planet Assorted Trout Fly Fishing Lure Pack
The most impressive part of this entire pack (for me) was the fly box. Frankly, I bought the pack for the high quality, double-sided waterproof box! As it turned out, the flies worked well to catch trout, which was a double treat. If you see the price, you will probably be more amazed. It is extremely inexpensive (grab it… grab it… grab it… my heart says). The pack has a collection of 15 most popular and effective lures. The colors are great. The box is easy to store in your pocket. Use a 5x leader wire for best results.
Features:
- 15 pcs of assorted colorful flies
- Well-built and sturdy flies
- Pocket-size box; easy to transport
- Strong size 10 barbed hooks of 15 mm length
Once you purchase, you will definitely go for more. Not only is the selection of flies good, but the customer service is highly professional and friendly. They even sent extra flies along with a hand-written note, which was a nice gesture. The quality of flies at this price is surprising! It is a great choice especially for beginners who want to practice fly fishing.
8. Dynamic Lures Trout Fishing Lure
This lure is specially designed for trout (and bass). The best part is the hooks that are super sharp treble hooks that never lose any trout which comes to bite. You can use this lure in moving or still water. It is available in multiple colors but the ones that work best are the natural fish colors like silver, pink, gold and blue.
Features:
- Very good quality ABS plastic, well-built
- Multiple rattles to imitate real life baitfish
- Topwater, slow sinking lure
- Has a small front lip
You can buy one or more of these lures. They catch rainbow and brown trout like a pro, most of which are large-sized. The lure works well for night fishing too. If you are confused about which colors to buy, start with the silver and orange ones. The slow sink is perfect and matches with an actual fish. Use a light gear and slow retrieve for the perfect swimming action.
9. Mepp’s Plain Lure Assortment Trouter Kit
As a brand, Mepp is a good name and their products are of high-quality. This assorted spinner blade collection is hand assembled and perfect for both moving and still waters. You can easily get 12” to 14” trout with these lures. The way the lures flash makes it irresistible for trout, particularly cut-throat and brown trout.
Features:
- Gold or silver plated, brass or copper polished spinner blades
- No chance of cracking or chipping as the beads are hand-turned
- Do not fade even after a long time
- Lure body is made of solid brass
- Each lure is about 1/8oz.
This is a must-buy spinner for you to get some good trout. Try using them in Upstate NY and you will never get disappointed. I have been there a couple of times with friends and we could catch a lot of trout. The only downside is the higher price but the product is well worth it.
10. Rapala Original Floating Lure
I have kept one of the best for the last. That’s because I don’t want you to miss this one. These floating minnows are beautifully built and have an original profile. You get them in good colors and patterns so choose whichever color you like better. For me, gold worked best. This lure is perfect for rivers and streams during the winter months.
Features:
- Sturdy construction with Balsa wood
- Strong and sharp hooks with VMC black nickel
- Well tested (tank tested) and hand tuned
- Realistic patterns and colors
- Reasonably priced
Choose your stream or river fishing spot where there is shade so that the water is cooler. Rapala as a brand is awesome and you can catch some very big (like even 20”) brown trout or rainbow trout with ease. The lure floats and gives a nice dancing motion. The hooks are sharp, so you will never miss a fish. You would surely buy more of these once you start using them.
Conclusion,
I have included all the key brands and products that actually work, whether they are spoons, flies, minnows or spinners. There are frog lures too available in the market, but I stick to the above tried and tested lures. Your experience may be totally different and once you get a good hold on basic angling skills, you can experiment with different types of lures as well. To go for trout fishing in unexplored places, make sure you are fully equipped and prepared. Try both spin and fly fishing to enhance your angling experience.
Don’t forget to take all the essentials – make a fishing checklist of all the important gear and equipment that you need to pack and ensure you have everything in place before you set off!
Take a variety of lures along. If you are planning to catch large fish other than trout, plan accordingly and have your tackle filled with lures and baits. It is important to take time in selecting the lures appropriately during your trip planning.
Further, since trout are aggressive, it is important to handle them with care. They dance and jump and try to escape. Use nets or gloves to avoid the fish slipping from your hand.
Most importantly, relax and enjoy the beautiful trout, cool water and the breathtaking views of nature on your next fishing adventure with trout.
