When you’re looking for trout fishing baits for your trip, it can be hard to know where to start! There’s plenty of bait out there, so knowing what you can use is crucial for a successful fishing trip. Today, we’re going to be looking at 6 essential Trout Fishing Baits, how to use them, and in some cases, how to acquire them! Read on to learn everything you’ll need to know for bait fishing trout.
The Classic Trout Fishing Bait: Nightcrawlers
A good bait fishing tackle box will always include nightcrawlers as an essential staple. Nightcrawlers are easy enough to acquire, either at a local store or in the ground (particularly after rainstorms, look for these guys then).
Sometimes they can be a bit too big for standard trout. Other worms like red worms or mealworms can be effective too. You can also try cutting up your nightcrawler into smaller pieces.
Garlic Marshmellows
These may not seem like a natural choice, but the stench of garlic marshmallows and their ability to float at trout feeding level make them a surprisingly good bait for trout fishing.
These can be bought in a few different varieties, but we recommend a salmon color that’s immediately ready to go for fishing. If you use these, they tend to dissolve after about 15 minutes, so be sure to keep rotating them!
Fresh Trout Fishing Bait: Sucker Meat
For those of you who are going after the trophy fish, sucker meat is a classic. This bait cane be used for Mackinaw and is incredibly effective all season.
Sucker meat is easy enough to come by—simply fish a few off the bottom of the lake with a worm and then fillet them into 4–6 inch strips. These may be too big for other trout species, but you’ll find no more effective bait than sucker meat for the Big Macks.
For a guide on rigging the sucker meat, and more on fishing up Mackinaw, check out our guide here!
Grasshoppers: Live Trout Fishing Bait
Grasshoppers are as natural a part of a trout’s diet as minnows, so these are an incredibly effective bait to catch trout.
You’ll want to thread the hook through either its collar or one of its wings. It can be a little tricky to manage, but this bait will produce incredibly well. Let it drift on the top of the water for the greatest effect.
The hardest part can be catching these guys. Many fishermen struggle with it on extended fishing trips. One idea is to take a wool blanket, have you and a friend each hold an end open, then run through some weeds. The grasshoppers will stick to the blanket and you’ll have plenty of supply for your day of fishing ahead!
Crickets: More Live Bait
Similar to grasshoppers, crickets are an excellent bait that might be hard to find. They’re often available at pet stores or bait shops, but should you not be able to procure any, try grabbing a loaf of uncut sourdough bread, cut out a piece, hollow it out so there’s only one entrance, and set it out overnight. Crickets should be filling your hole for you to use!
Try hooking it through its collar and out through its back. This should keep it secure enough to survive the cast, but lively enough to attract trout.
Salmon Eggs
Salmon eggs don’t work all season. They’re best in the fall and in the spring, but during those times, they produce like no other bait. Salmon eggs are a huge part of a trout’s diet during spawning season, both for salmon and sucker fish. Putting 3 or 4 of these on your hook is sure to lead to plenty of success.
Look no further than the salmon egg for a successful fishing trip during the spring and the fall. If you want to know more about other salmon eggs, or other items to include in your tackle box, read our comprehensive guide here!
In Conclusion: The Best Trout Fishing Baits
Of course, these 6 baits are not the only effective baits you can use to catch trout. There’s a whole world of bait fishing waiting to be explored. Experiment and figure out what performs well for you!
But these essential baits are the backbone of any good bait fisher’s tackle box. With these at the ready, you’re prepared to go out and catch all the trout you could want!
So good luck, and happy fishing!
