Short Answer
There is no single best bait for trout. Stocked fish in lakes and ponds often take prepared dough bait, worms and salmon eggs readily, while wild trout in rivers and streams tend to prefer natural offerings, small spinners and anything that looks like the insects and baitfish already in the water. If you have to pick one all-around option, a worm or nightcrawler presented naturally is hard to beat.
Stocked Trout vs. Wild Trout
Hatchery trout are raised on pellets, so they often respond to bright, scented, pellet-like offerings soon after they are released. Wild trout feed on insects, crustaceans, small fish and whatever washes down the current, and they are generally warier. Matching your bait to which type of fish you are targeting is the biggest decision you will make.
Natural Baits
- Worms and nightcrawlers: They work in lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks. Thread a small piece or a whole worm on a small bait hook, and let it drift or sit under a float.
- Salmon eggs: Single eggs on a small hook are a long-standing choice, especially in lakes and in rivers where fish are used to seeing eggs drift by, the same idea behind salmon drift fishing. Check local rules, since some waters restrict bait.
- Insects and minnows: Grasshoppers, crickets and small minnows can be effective where legal and where they occur naturally. Some waters limit live baitfish, so confirm before you use them.
Prepared Baits
Dough and paste baits such as Berkley PowerBait are popular for stocked trout in lakes and ponds. They are usually molded onto a small treble or single hook and fished off the bottom or suspended with a sliding sinker rig and a long, light leader. Garlic, natural and bright colors such as chartreuse and rainbow are common choices.
Will brown trout eat them? Brown trout will eat a variety of prepared baits, particularly stocked browns, but wild browns are usually more selective, so natural baits and lures are often more productive for them.
Lures That Work Like Bait
If you prefer to keep moving, several lures cover water well:
- Inline spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail, Panther Martin and similar) in small sizes are a standard for streams.
- Spoons such as a Kastmaster-style spoon cast far and work well in lakes and bigger rivers.
- Micro jigs and soft plastics, including marabou jigs and small tube-style baits, suit clear or pressured water.
- Small minnow-style plugs can be good where trout feed on baitfish.
For more on tactics in specific rivers, see our guide to fishing for rainbow trout in a river.
Basic Rigging
Keep it light. A small hook, thin line and as little weight as you can get away with usually draw more bites. On a lake, a sliding sinker with a leader of a couple of feet lets fish pick up bait without feeling much resistance. In a river, use just enough split shot to let the bait tick along the bottom at roughly the speed of the current.
Does Color Matter?
Trout can see color, though how much it matters depends on light, depth and clarity. Natural tones often work in clear water, while brighter or high-contrast colors can help in stained water; reading water and structure helps you decide where to put the bait in the first place. There is no color that is invisible to trout, so rather than hunting for one, vary color until you find what is working that day. In dirty water, see our notes on fishing for trout in muddy water.
Best Time of Day
Trout often feed most actively in low light, around early morning and evening, and in cold weather the warmest part of the afternoon can be best. Overcast days can extend good fishing. In summer, trout may move deeper or into cooler water during midday heat. Seasonal changes matter too, as covered in our articles on trout fishing in fall and trout fishing in winter.
Can You Eat Trout Raw?
Raw fish can carry parasites and bacteria, and wild freshwater fish carry a higher risk than commercially handled fish sold for raw consumption. If you are considering it, consult food safety guidance from a health authority. Properly cooked trout is the safer choice.
Check Local Regulations
Some waters limit bait, scent, hook type or the use of live fish, and some are artificial-lure or fly-only. Check your state or provincial fishing rules and licence requirements before you go.
Related Guides
Gear matters as much as bait, so read our guide to the best trout fishing rod when you are building a setup.