Fishing for cold water trout with a spin cast rod and reel can be an art form based on many factors and variables in the environment and the rig you are using determines how this finicky fish will react when presented with live or artificial bat. What is the Best Rig for Rainbow Trout?
3 Main types of Rainbow Trout Rigs:
Rigs that present bait suspended underneath a float
Rigs that present the bait at/near bottom
Rigs that allow you to cast & retrieve artificial lures like the Rooster Tail based on color, baitfish, or insect type the best for catching Rainbow & most species of Trout
Using a sliding sinker allows the fish to grab the bait and not feel the weight, which could make the trout spit out the hook. The size of the weight depends on the season of the year and where the Rainbow Trout is in the water column.
What is the Best Rig for Rainbow Trout
There are three basic rig setups for catching trout. They include:
- Rigs that present bait suspended underneath a float
- Rigs that present the appeal at the bottom of the water column near the bottom
- Rigs that allow you to cast and retrieve an artificial lure.
These freshwater Trout fishing rigs are ideal for rainbow and other species of trout fishing. Study each rig to determine which will be most effective for the trout you are targeting and the fishing conditions.
Slip Sinker Rig- this trout fishing rig is perfect to use when fishing in shallow water approximately 10-15 feet deep when trout fish are sitting near the bottom. You can cast it a good distance from the shoreline which makes covering a lot of ground quick and easy.
Split Shot Rig-this trout rig is perfect for use when trout are being finicky which also makes it ideal for use in small waters and or clear ones too. Fishing this rig is simple, just cast out as far as you can and let it sink to the bottom. Slowly retrieve the rig back to you using jigging and pause movements. Keeping the lure moving and at different depths to tempt the trout. Try changing the retrieve speed to catch the attention of trout if a slow one doesn’t work.
Spinner Rig-The spinner rig is the most commonly used Rainbow trout fishing lure rig and it uses a spinner lure in conjunction with or without split shots. You can put any lyre on the end of this rig you like but the spinning action does make trout go a little crazy.
The shiny spinner makes a lot of noise and trout come from far to see what it is and eat it. To fish it, simply cast it out, let it sink for as long as you like, and then slowly retrieve it in to make sure the spinner is moving well. Don’t wind too fast or too slow as the spinner is designed for that and will jump or not spin enough to attract some fish.
How Do You Tell the Difference Between Species of Trout?
3 primary species of trout:
Brown Trout-brownish-yellow color-scattered black, red,& orange spots on their sides-12″ long or less
Brook Trout-(Speckled trout) brown with reddish fins & white tips-8″ long or less
Rainbow Trout-dark back & white belly-pink stripe down middle-up to 12″ long are common .……………………………………………………………………. Read more
In Lakes
Most anglers search for fish, and cast-and-retrieve spinners while working their way moving along the shoreline or from drifting in a boat. Cruising near the surface when water temperatures are cool, early in the morning, on overcast days, or in evening time periods is productive
Trout are more likely to be found near the bottom or at some level above it during the mid-day when the sun is bright or at times during the heat of summer when the surface water temperature is warm.
Use a “count-down” method, which is mostly used in lakes or other still water. In preparation for learning the “count-down” technique, realize that most weighted spinners will sink at a rate of one foot per second. Counting one-one thousand, two-one thousand, etc. until it touches the bottom making your mainline line go slack.
Using this simplified method will allow you to search for fish at different depths, reliably returning to the fish-producing ball-park level on subsequent casts.
In Rivers
The current will sweep your spinner downstream as you reel it back, so your location on shore is important; meaning, you should position yourself and keep track by marking it at or just above the most productive areas. Once your spinner swings in near shore, it’s time to reel in and cast again.
What is the Best Trout Bait For Stocked Trout?
Baits:
Wax worms
Red worms
Nightcrawlers
Salmon eggs
Powerbait- the #1 choice for catching stocked trout fed from pellets
Corn-old hands in the trout business swear by it
Minnows- It doesn’t take long for stocked trout to acclimate to their new environment.
Lures:
Shiny Spoons & the Famous Rooster Tail .……………………………………………………………………………………………… Read more
JimGalloway Author/Editor
