Put and Take Sverige
Best lures for rainbow trout
You do not need a stuffed lure box to take rainbow trout. A couple of searching baits that search the water quickly, plus something slow for the sluggish days, goes a long way. It is the switch between bait and tempo that decides, not how many lures you carry, and the same setup works in more or less every put-and-take water.
A small box that covers everything
| Bait | Size/weight | When it comes into its own |
|---|---|---|
| Spinner | size 1–3 (3–10 g) | Searching bait on hunting fish |
| Spoon (Toby) | 7–10 g | Long casts, different depths |
| Small jig / soft plastic | small | Slowly, passive fish |
| Tasmanian Devil / through-runner | – | Fish a set depth |
Read the fish
Start with a searching bait, a spinner or a spoon fished with pace changes. That shows where the fish stand. From there you adapt:
- Is the fish passive? Drop the tempo with a small jig fished slowly.
- Does it stand at a certain depth? Count the bait down or use a through-runner to hold the depth.
- Freshly stocked and willing? Switch to a signal colour and raise the pace.
Colour and tempo
Silver and copper are the first choice in clear water, while coloured water and freshly stocked fish often want red, chartreuse or pink. When it comes to tempo it is the variation itself that does the job: reel unevenly, put in stops and let the bait sink, because the take often comes in just that second. Rainbow trout likes to follow a bait a good way, and a sudden stop or a speed-up just before it tires often triggers the take.
Jig for sluggish fish
When the searching baits give no takes it is often because the fish is passive and will not hunt. Then a small jig or soft plastic is the rescue. Fish it slowly, with small jerks and long pauses where it is allowed to sink, preferably near the bottom. The calm, sinking movement tempts fish that refuse everything fast. Count it down to the right depth in the same way as a spoon.
If you want to start with a single bait, take a small spinner in size 2. The whole method with casting technique and playing sits under spin fishing, and more bait types in the bait overview.
Our pick – lures for rainbow trout
If you want to get going with proven lures without guessing:
- Ready pack – Rapala öringset, 3 lures (4.5★). Three classic Rapala lures in one pack, a handy start for new put-and-take anglers. See price on Amazon
- Sinking all-round – Rapala CountDown (4.6★). Controlled sink so you can count down to the right depth. See price on Amazon
- Paste for bait fishing – Berkley PowerBait season pack (4.8★). If you want to bait-fish instead: several colours to switch between. See price on Amazon
FAQ
What is the best lure for rainbow trout?
A small spinner (size 1–3) or a spoon of 7–10 grams are the safest searching baits. Complement with a small jig for passive fish and a through-runner for different depths.
Fast or slow retrieve?
Vary. Rainbow trout often follows the bait and takes on a change of pace or in a reel-stop. Start medium and try both faster and slower.
If I may bring only one bait?
Take a small spinner in size 2 in silver. It is simple to fish, takes fish on most waters and works from shallow to mid-depth.
Do I need different lures for different lakes?
No, the same handful of lures works more or less everywhere. It is size, colour and depth you adapt to the day and the water, not the whole lure box to the lake.
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