The Best Bait For Trout Fishing During The Fall

If you are a trout fisherman you are more than likely aware of the fact that the fall is the most productive time of the year for trout fishing (especially if you like to fish for trout in the flowing waters of a river or stream) and if you weren't aware of this fact, you need to be. I have been fishing for and catching trout from rivers and streams in the western hemisphere for more than a quarter of a century and have learned through experience that the fall is by far the best time of the year to fish for trout.

One thing that is interesting about the fall is that it seems that the bait that you use to catch trout can be vitally important, which is why I am writing this post. Although the single "best bait" for trout fishing during the fall is impossible to determine due to things like technique and gear preferences, a group of the best baits is not, which is what you will find below. I am going to list the most productive baits that I have used over the last 25 or so years, so that you can make a determination as to which one might work for you and your favorite fishing style when you head out onto the water in search of trout this fall.

1. Zoom 3" Tiny Fluke - Although Zoom soft plastic jerk baits is most often used by bass fishermen, the 3" Tiny Fluke is also amazingly effective when used as bait for fall trout. The Tiny fluke imitates a bait fish as realistically as any crank bait. The bait can best cast into a lake and fished without a weight or a jig head can be added for weight if you want to "jig" your fluke along the bottom. The Zoom Tiny Fluke can also be 'drift fished" in a river or stream.


2. Live Worms - Live worms, especially when rigged on set of bait rigs and "drift fished" along the bottom of a small river could easily be the best bait to use for trout in the fall of the year. When trout are "stocking up" on calories before the onset of cold winter temperatures a live fishing worm can be hard to beat.


3. Berkley Gulp 'Alive' Minnows - This bait is much like the Tiny Fluke, except that rather than being made from soft plastic, 'alive' minnows are manufactured with fish attracting scents impregnated into them. Many anglers even say that these minnows out fish live minnows, if you can believe that? In any case they make an excellent bait for trout fishing during the fall.


4. In Line Spinner Flies - In line spinner flies or trout spinners that have feathers or "tails" attached to their back end are very effective baits for fall trout. These baits imitate the best of both worlds to hungry trout; insects and bait fish. When it comes to catching fall trout don't overlook in line spinner flies.

Among the many baits that can be used for trout during the fall, in my experience the aforementioned choices are among the best. I continue to have success each fall with every one of them, and depending on your favorite style of trout fishing, I know that these baits will do the same for you. At the end of the day the best bait for trout fishing during the fall of the year is more than likely among these choices.