Summer Trout Bait – Utilizing Crayfish as Trout Bait

On of the most effective baits that can be used for trout fishing (especially during the summer

months) are crayfish, but often these freshwater crustaceans get overlooked by trout fishermen. The main reason that this is the case is because they are difficult to utilize as live bait, but the truth of the matter is that crayfish crank baits and soft plastics often work quite well as summer trout bait as well. When I was growing up in Central Pennsylvania, my friends father Mr Widman, used to have me go out to the creek behind my house and gather live two to three inch crayfish that he would then use to catch HUGE rainbow trout.

It has been over twenty years since then and I have done the same thing as an adult fishing in Montana. The truth of the matter is that large trout love to feast of crayfish, especially during the summer and early fall. Going out and catching live crayfish, then transporting them on the river while you are fishing is an ordeal, so often I opt to fish with a crayfish crank bait or soft plastic crayfish imitations and experience a ton of success with these baits as well.

The Berkley 3" Powerbait Chigger Craw rigged on an 1/8 jig head is my soft plastic choice when it comes to crayfish imitations. Bounce these little buggers along the bottom of your favorite river in area's of the river where the current isn't "raging" and you will be in for some summertime trout fishing fun.

When it come to crank baits for trout fishing my hands down favorite is the 1 1/2 or 2 inch Rebel Crawfish . The pulsating action and darting moves of the original Rebel Crawfish looks just like a mudbug that's trying to get away. The hard plastic body is finished in detailed crawdad colors for the ultimate in lifelike realism that hungry summertime trout find difficult to resist.

The bottom line is that crayfish are an excellent summer trout bait and if you happen to have a LARGE trout located, these little freshwater crustaceans can be just "what the doctor ordered". For trout fishing I have always found the "natural" color patterns to be the most effective choices when it comes to fishing crayfish for trout.