The Best Bait for Hatchery Trout

When many people think of the term "trout fishing" they automatically think of fishing for hatchery raised trout and there is a good reason for this. People think of "hatchery trout" because all over the country, local fish and game departments and conservation organizations, release trout (often rainbow trout) that have been raised in hatchery’s into rivers, streams, and lakes. The reasons for this are twofold. To replenish natural trout populations and to be caught by anglers.

So, what ends up happening is when most people fish for trout, they are fishing for hatchery trout and when these fish are released into a body of water they aren't the most discerning of customers. As a matter of fact they are used to eating "pellets", which are fed to them via humans in the hatchery and they have very few of the qualities that a "naturally born" trout has and almost none of the feeding habits. If these trout manage to survive a season or two without being caught and killed by anglers they begin to look and act more like "native" trout and thus feed on more "traditional" types of food. 

So what are the best baits for hatchery trout if you want to go out and catch a few of these "farm raised" rainbows? Well, since these trout aren't used to eating "natural" forage, but rather are used to being fed small pellets, the answer begins and ends with one word, Powerbait. This unique trout bait has been specially formulated with trout attracting scents that drive hatchery trout wild. There are two main types of Powerbait that are available; the traditional dough style , which is molded into a fishing hook or the very popular Hatchery Formula Trout Nuggets which are simply hooked onto a hook. Both of these baits are very effective when used for hatchery trout..

So, the bottom line is that the best bait for hatchery trout is Powerbait, but the style and color choice is completely up to you. These will vary from fishing trip to fishing trip, so it's a good idea to have multiple choices available to you anytime that you are fishing for hatchery trout so that you can change baits if one style isn't working. My general "rule of thumb" is to try one bait for 30 minutes or so and if I get no bites, reel it in and make a change. This system usually results in finding the best bait for the day you are fishing within an hour or two.