Spinners for rainbow trout

Few baits are as easy to succeed with as the spinner, and it is a safe first choice for rainbow trout. The rotating blade sends out flash and vibration that a hunting fish feels at a distance, and you need no more technique than to cast out, reel in and vary the pace a little. That is why it is often the first lure you put on the leader as a beginner.

The right size

Stay around size 1 to 3, about 3 to 10 grams. That covers most put-and-take waters. Shy fish in clear water can need you to go down a size, while a heavier spinner helps when you need to cast far or reach deeper on open water. A small spinner in size 2 is a good all-round start if you only want to take one along.

Colour after the water

In clear water the natural flash from silver, copper and gold is often best. If the water colours, or the fish are freshly stocked, it pays to switch to something that shows: red, chartreuse or pink. A simple trick is to start with silver and switch to a signal colour only if nothing happens, rather than starting loud.

Technique

  1. Cast out and let the spinner sink a while so you reach the right depth.
  2. Reel fast enough for the blade to rotate. You feel it as even resistance.
  3. Vary the pace and put in a reel-stop now and then. Rainbow trout often follow and hit when the tempo changes or when the bait sinks in the stop.

Search the water at different depths and distances before you write a spot off. A common fault is to reel too fast and too high, so count the bait down a couple of seconds after the cast and fish a bit slower.

Swivel against line tangle

A rotating spinner blade twists the line, and after a while it becomes twisted and starts to tangle. Put a small swivel between the main line and the spinner, preferably with a short leader between. That solves the problem and lets you fish all day without standing there picking out tangles. A leader of fluorocarbon is also less visible in clear water.

Gentle unhooking

Switch to a barbless single hook if you want to be able to release fish. Spinners usually hook shallow in the mouth, which makes them easy to unhook. More bait choices and colour tips sit in the bait overview, and a selection aimed at the species in best lures for rainbow trout.

FAQ

Which spinner size for rainbow trout?

Size 1–3, about 3–10 grams, covers most of it. Go smaller for shy fish in clear water, larger when you want to cast farther or reach deeper.

Which colour works best?

Silver and copper in clear water, bright like red and chartreuse in coloured water and on freshly stocked fish.

Why does the blade sometimes not rotate?

Usually because you reel too slowly, or the line has twisted in the cast. Pick up the pace a little until you feel the resistance from the blade, and use a swivel to avoid line tangle.

How do I stop the spinner twisting the line?

Put a small swivel between the main line and the spinner. The rotating blade otherwise twists the line, which in time becomes twisted and tangles. The swivel solves most of it.

Related

This page can contain affiliate links. Read more in our ad and affiliate notice.