Rainbow trout fishing in put and take

Rainbow trout is the species most people meet first in put and take, and the most common in Swedish waters from Skåne to Norrland. It is hardy, takes many methods and is stocked to be caught — which makes it a generous fish whether you are new or used to it. This page gathers what you need for rainbow trout fishing: method, bait, fly, season and where you find the waters.

Method – bait fishing, spinning or fly

All three methods work on rainbow trout, but which is allowed sits with the water. On some waters only fly fishing is allowed, others allow everything.

Bait fishing is the simplest way in and suits children and beginners. PowerBait that floats up from the bottom, or worm under a float, takes fish without long casts. Read more under bait fishing and ledger rig.

Spinning covers the water quickly. A small spoon, a spinner or a small wobbler goes a long way, and it is easy to work a pond from the bank. See spinning and counting the bait down to find the right depth.

Fly fishing is effective on fish near the surface and on active fish. With a Woolly Bugger, a Buzzer or a nymph under an indicator you take rainbow trout even when they are choosy. The basics are under fly fishing and indicator fishing.

Best bait and fly

You do not need a stuffed box. A couple of searching baits that cover water quickly, plus something slow for the sluggish days, is enough. For spinning and bait fishing, PowerBait, worm and a small spoon are a safe start — the full overview is under baits for rainbow trout. On a fly rod, Red Tag, Woolly Bugger and Buzzer are classics that take fish year round; more tips under flies for rainbow trout.

What decides it is the change between bait, depth and tempo — not how many lures you carry. Change size and colour with the day and the water, and try both fast and slow before you switch completely.

Season and when they take

Spring and autumn, when the water is cool, often give the most even fishing with takes through the day. In summer the rainbow trout goes deeper and takes mostly at dawn and dusk — read the water and fish deeper in the middle of the day. In winter you can ice fish where the ice holds and the water opens for it, but checking the ice is on you. More under season, winter fishing and when they take.

Handle and cook what you keep

If you mean to keep fish, kill it quickly and keep an eye on the catch quota — it sits on the permit. Rainbow trout is excellent on the plate: smoked, in foil, pan-fried or grilled. The whole recipe collection sits under cook.

Where you fish and how you start

Rainbow trout live in put-and-take waters across the country. Open the map or the list of waters with rainbow trout, filter by method and landscape, and buy the permit from the seller. New to it? Start with what put and take is and the first trip, and read how permits work before you go.