How To Catch Trout : Tips For Choosing The Best Trout Bait

Whether you are new to the world of trout fishing or are wondering how to catch more and/or bigger trout, many times the key to success lies in using the best trout bait. The problem is that the best trout bait to use on a given day will vary from situation to situation and there isn't one particular type of bait that will be effective every time that you fish for trout. One of the keys to success when it comes to catching trout is to choose the correct type of trout bait for the situation that you find yourself in.

In this article I will draw upon my twenty plus years of experience fishing for trout to list some tips for choosing the best trout bait to use for whatever situation you find yourself in. By learning these simple tips and committing them to memory you will know how to catch trout no matter what trout fishing style you choose to employ and what type of trout fishing situation that you find yourself fishing in. There is no doubt that these tips will help you to choose the correct trout bait the next time that you head out in search of our multi colored friends.

1. What Kind Of Trout Are You Fishing For? - When I refer to the kind of trout, I'm not referring to the species of fish such as rainbow, brown, or brook. Rather, I'm referring to whether of not the trout that you are fishing for have been stocked or not. Knowing whether the fish that you are fishing for have been stocked or not is important because trout that have been stocked (especially if the "stocking" has happened recently) eat very different things than trout that are native to a given body of water. Trout baits such as dough baits, corn, or marshmallows are most effective for trout that have been recently stocked, whereas these types of baits are less effective for trout that are native, or have lived in a body of water for an extended period of time. Natural or live baits are generally not a good choice for stocked fish, whereas they are a good choice for native fish.
2. Are The Trout Actively Feeding? - If the trout are actively feeding, meaning you can actually see them feeding with your eyes or you are fishing during a new moon phase or moon rise/set (which are both times when trout feed actively) trout baits that cause a lot of flash or natural trout baits tend to be the most effective choices. In other words spinners, spoons, and streamers or live baits such as worms or minnows are all effective trout bait choices and will catch trout when the trout are actively feeding.
3. Is There a Hatch Taking Place? - If you see a lot of insects flying around in the air or nymphs actively "hatching" from rocks you will have a difficult time catching trout unless you employ an artificial fly that matches said hatch as trout bait. Fly fishermen love hatches for this very reason. If you are a spin fisherman you can use a casting bubble or similar fly casting device to fish with an artificial fly, but the bottom line is that if a hatch is under way an artificial fly had better be your bait choice.

The bottom line is that when it comes to learning how to catch trout or catching more or bigger trout the type of bait that you choose to use is of the utmost importance. Commit these simple tips to memory, choose your bait wisely and you will be catching fish in no time.