Alternate Trout Baits?

[Kayak Fishin]

Hey all. We all know that when it comes to spin fishing you can't beat inline spinners for small creek trout. However, I find that my hookup ratio is pretty weak sometimes. They are super aggressive and when they hit, they hit hard. Don't get me wrong though, I catch a ton of browns and brooks on mepps #0, #1, and other brands, but I feel like a lot of them either short strike or that the treble hook is holding me back.

Does anybody fish anything else for trout? Would a 1/32 or 1/64 ounce jig with a 1-2" curly tail grub or something like that work well? Tiny balsa wood type crank baits? A few fly fishing flies tied inline? That'd be pretty cool to try. 

Just thought I'd ask. Might be able to take a trip to some trout water in a week or two. Thanks.

[spokey9]

 

A small marabou jig under a float is fun and effective. Rig it just like float and jig for steelhead but size it down

[roadwarrior]

Panther Martin, black with chartreuse spots. gold blade.

Rapala Countdown, rainbow trout pattern.

[ATA]

1 hour ago, Kayak Fishin said:

Does anybody fish anything else for trout? Would a 1/32 or 1/64 ounce jig with a 1-2" curly tail grub or something like that work well? Tiny balsa wood type crank baits? A few fly fishing flies tied inline? That'd be pretty cool to try. 

Of course all of them will work,

This is some of my creek trout fishing lures.

[Kayak Fishin]

1 hour ago, spokey9 said:

 

A small marabou jig under a float is fun and effective. Rig it just like float and jig for steelhead but size it down

 

46 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Panther Martin, black with chartreuse spots. gold blade.

Rapala Countdown, rainbow trout pattern.

 

44 minutes ago, ATA said:

Of course all of them will work,

Very cool, thanks guys. I have a little creek box myself but never really ventured out of the inline spinners for the trout. I was getting so many hits, but I wonder if something else will hook more fish. 

With the float, do you just do an unweighted bobber with a couple feet of line and a fly/hair jig? I won't need a slip bobber as the creeks are a foot deep. I'd like to try this technique too!

[VolFan]

Bead head wooly buggers are great on UL. Go big and get it wet before you try casting. Work it like  a jig or like a soft plastic jerk bait. I also like the spoons and rapalas mentioned above.

[Kayak Fishin]

45 minutes ago, VolFan said:

Bead head wooly buggers are great on UL. Go big and get it wet before you try casting. Work it like  a jig or like a soft plastic jerk bait. I also like the spoons and rapalas mentioned above.

So those will sink, right? Slowly? How big? Do they have weights or just hook sizes?

[mrpao]

Dont forget powerbait.

I usually use the nuggets or nibbles fished under a small float. Pretty deadly when the bite is tough. Sometimes I'll put a Berkley honey worm on there too.

I'll usually start off with spinners or jerkbaits then switch to powerbait once the bite has slowed down.

And rarely do they ever get gut hooked because i set the hook as soon as the float goes down.

[VolFan]

@Kayak Fishin the weight will depend on the size of the bead or cone at the head. I fish 6/8/10 on ultralight. You can add split shot above it if need. That actually goes for pretty much any streamer.

[bulldog1935]

Japan makes a whole range of small trout plugs, both sinking and floating.  

On these, I swapped the small trebles for salt singles to imitate glass minnows in winter tide passes (which is stream fishing in tide current).  These also work for river bass.  

 

[TnRiver46]

Yes they will hit little curly tails and paddle tails too 

[spokey9]

Another thing that helps get solid hooks up (and is easier on the fish) is to swap out the trebles with a siwash hook on spinners and spoons. The hook will hang back a tad bit more and will hold better if you hook something with an attitude ?

[Bluebasser86]

The smallest size micro chatterbait is a trout killer here. I take the stiff plastic minnow off and tie a piece of yarn on the hook shank in whatever color I want, usually white or pink though. 

[redmeansdistortion]

Crankbaits are by far my favorite trout bait.  The best patterns are trout patterns, since they tend to hit more out of aggression than hunger.  A word to the wise, swap your trebles for single barbless hooks.  Not only will you get snagged far less, but they penetrate easier than their barbed counterparts, the fish will often hook itself providing you're running sticky hooks.  I prefer the Owner Cultiva hooks, but the Daiwa Presso hooks are also very good.

 

This is what I always have in tow with me on the streams and creeks.

 

and the hooks I run on them.  These all range in size from #10 to #4, with #10 going on my smallest baits and #4 typically used on those of about 3/16.  On baits that run two hooks, I sometimes omit the front hook and run the rear only, typically a #6 or #4 depending on the size of the bait.  Front hooks like to get hung up in the wood.

[Kayak Fishin]

Thanks everybody! Such great answers.

[Dorado]

On 8/15/2021 at 10:52 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

The smallest size micro chatterbait is a trout killer here. I take the stiff plastic minnow off and tie a piece of yarn on the hook shank in whatever color I want, usually white or pink though. 

Smart

I’ve tried it all. Now all I use are small crappie tubes. Berkley Atomic Teaser in grasshopper color is my #1 lure for stockers. I highly recommend using a technique specific trout rod to handle those micro jigs through. Such a good investment. 
 

Last trout season, in AZ, I had multiple 30-40 fish days just on that tube alone. 

[NHBull]

On 8/16/2021 at 1:52 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

The smallest size micro chatterbait is a trout killer here. I take the stiff plastic minnow off and tie a piece of yarn on the hook shank in whatever color I want, usually white or pink though. 

What micro do you go with?  Zman gets mixed reviews..thanks 

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, NHBull said:

What micro do you go with?  Zman gets mixed reviews..thanks 

I have the 1/16 and 1/8oz in 3 colors but probably use the 1/8oz gold the most. 

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/z-man®-flashback®-mini-2-1-2-chatterbait®?gmc_feed=t&campid=71700000050238199&adgroupid=58700004916746674&device=m&keyword=92700057163983511&Channel=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpf2IBhDkARIsAGVo0D1k_STKewiAGZQyILhm3_s7hjDrVb-TKLuIcdCZVjIPD9XlKbFvFVwaAuKyEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#repChildCatid=168437&ogmap=SEM|PLN|GOOG|SHOP|m|OUT||NonBrand-Shopping-HighIntent-Outdoor|Outdoor-Fishing||71700000050238199|58700004916746674

[Kayak Fishin]

Well I am indeed going brookie fishing next week. Plan to go with small mepps, 2" curly tail grubs, floating rapalas, berkely gulp style soft plastic minnows, and the float and fly. Packing very light as I plan on trekking off the beaten path!!

[addicted2fishing]

One other suggestion is the Megabass Hazedong Shad - 3 inch version.  I'm not a trout fisherman by any means, but this year I caught quite a few trout sight casting to them when the bass weren't cooperating.  I fished it on a drop shot with a #2 or #4 Owner mosquito hook.  The trout went ballistic for this bait as soon as it hit the water.

[Kayak Fishin]

5 hours ago, addicted2fishing said:

One other suggestion is the Megabass Hazedong Shad - 3 inch version.  I'm not a trout fisherman by any means, but this year I caught quite a few trout sight casting to them when the bass weren't cooperating.  I fished it on a drop shot with a #2 or #4 Owner mosquito hook.  The trout went ballistic for this bait as soon as it hit the water.

Too funny you say that! I saw these on my last trip to bass pro and my wife goes "If I were a fish I'd eat that." I have a 3" on a jig head tied on one of my spinning rods currently. Haven't actually fished it yet but they do look awesome. I'll bring them along.

[PigFarmer]

I’ve done pretty well with the Trout Magnet crankbait, in the Hawk pattern. I fish it in creeks like a small jerk bait. Catches smallies and rock bass too.