Best Trout Spinners: Top 7 Spinner Lure For Trout And How To Use Them

top spinner lure for trout

Trout spinner fishing is quite effective. Spinners are really basic yet efficient trout fishing lures. They are made up of a body that revolves around a wire arm attached to a blade. Flash and vibration from spinners simulate a wounded bait fish. The three most common types of trout are brook, brown, and rainbow.

This article will cover the fundamentals of setting up gear for trout spinning, as well as the best lures, strategies, and favourable spots to enhance your chance of success.

Best Trout Spinner Lure

There are many types of trout spinner lures to consider. After testing, we found that the five options yield the most impressive outcomes. 

Worden’s Rooster Tail

Worden’s Rooster Tail spinner

A great trout fishing lure is the Worden’s Original Rooster Tail spinner. It is Capt Jim’s go-to spinner for catching trout. 

The name Worden’s Rooster Tail suggests why it is popular among anglers. In order to pique the trout’s curiosity, the fluffy tail vibrates in the water on its own. The tail of a baitfish or the wings of a fly are only a couple of the natural foods that it resembles. 

They weigh extremely little, which makes it an option for anglers that prefer to fish in creeks and smaller streams. Compared to other heavier lures, they will snag significantly less frequently. On really light spinning gear, they cast nicely. 

Blue Fox Vibrax

Blue Fox Vibrax spinner

Blue Fox Vibrax spinner is another option many anglers go for. It’s easy to go down to where trout are holding because of its deep running. 

It produces a special vibration that attracts fish. These spinners are a little heavier and a better option for fishermen fishing deeper streams, rivers, and lakes. 

Another advantage is that it’s one of the best trout spinners for preventing irritating line twists. In darker water, the neon Vibrax spinners perform very effectively. A wonderfully dressed Vibrax by Blue Fox has a fluff around the hook that resembles RoosterTails. 

It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. The size 1 blade, which weighs 1/8 ounce, is a fantastic all-around option.

Panther Martin

Panther Martin spinner

Despite what they may tell you, size is not everything. As you can see, Panther Martin spinners feature a larger blade than conventional spinners. Due to the “louder” vibrations produced by the larger blade, trout are drawn to the spinner.

Panther Martins are also among the few spinners that can be trolled rather deeply without adding weight. They are a better option for deeper water because they are fairly dense and heavy. 

They are available in numerous styles and hues. There are countless alternatives. Panther Martin spinners can also be found with one hook variant.

Joe’s Flies Short Striker

Joe's Flies Short Striker spinner

If you look for a fly and a spinner, Joe’s Flies Short Striker is the ideal lure. They are drawn in by the blade’s vibration. In order to increase your chance of hooking and retaining fish, it also features a single and a treble hook.

Mepps Aglia

Mepps Aglia spinner

Since Mepps Aglia is a little heavier and denser than others, you can cast farther and get a slightly deeper run with it. Some of the smaller Mepps will still manage to catch enormous trout! Try one of their bundles with a wide selection of trout lures that combines spoons and spinners.

What Size Spinner Lures For Trout

All five types of spinner lures above are available in multiple sizes. You can select the best one based on some factors. 

We recommend a maximum of a 1/2 ounce for most trout fishing situations. Also, spinners as small as a 1/8 ounce are very popular.

Everything depends on the size of the fish you’re seeking and the fishing location. The 1/8 ounce will be best if you are in a tiny stream or lake. You may scale the baits correspondingly if you’re fishing for bigger brown trout in large ponds and rivers.

Trout Spinner Size Chart

Type of spinnerIn streams and ponds In rivers and large pondsRecommended use
Worden's Rooster Tail1/32, 1/24, and 1/161/16, 1/8, and 1/4Brook trout and rainbow trout
Blue Fox Vibrax7/64 and 1/83/16, 1/4, and 3/8 Brook trout and rainbow trout
Panther Martin1/32 and 1/161/8, 1/4, and 3/8Rainbow trout
Joe's Flies Short Striker1/161/8 and 1/4Rainbow trout
Mepps Aglia1/18, 1/12, and 1/81/6 and 1/4Brook trout, rainbow trout, and, brown trout

The Best Spinner Colors For Trout?

Choosing the ideal spinner color for trout on any given day is practically impossible. There are simply too many variables involved, and what kills fish in one stream might not even attract a single nibble in another. It pays to maintain a variety of colors on hand because it’s more art than science in many aspects. There are some guidelines you can adhere to while picking colors, though.

  • Consider the weather. A golden spinner will correspond to the sun’s beams, while a silver spinner will do the same for an overcast day’s grey skies.
  • Watch what the trout are eating. Try to match your spinner’s colors with any nearby baby fish if you can. The trout are interested in them. Remember that trout are cannibals as well! Wild trout that consume the offspring of other species can be attracted by a spinner that looks like a rainbow or brown trout fry.
  • Verify the clarity of the water. In gloomy water, bolder hues and a golden flash will stand out more. More subdued hues will mimic what the trout is accustomed to seeing in crystal-clear water.

In general, make sure your color palette is diverse. Put on the exact opposite (gold/silver, neon/brown, etc.) when you’re not having success with one, and see if it helps.

Don’t worry too much either. A spinner’s color certainly helps, but there are a lot of other elements that affect a trout’s willingness to bite.

How Do You Use A Spinner Lure For Trout? 

Depending on different fishing environments, anglers employ different techniques to yield the most productive results.

Streams

It can be tempting to let the current start the spinner on its own in moving water. However, casting the spinner upstream is actually the most effective method, as trout may transport across the stream. 

They’ll set up camp just outside the flow of the water, perhaps behind a boulder, and watch what happens. As a result, you should cast upstream so that the “meal” can reach them.

Then, it becomes challenging when you have to retrieve quickly enough to turn on the blade and stay up with the flow of water. Make sure to keep your line as taut and slack-free as you can.

You can learn more tips for using a spinner in streams from this video:

Ponds

Greater depth is typically more preferred in still water. Wait until the spinner has fallen after casting, and then attempt to retrieve it. Just before you begin reeling it in, give it a little wiggle to make sure the blade is spinning. To keep it down, keep the retrieve on the slow side. If you run the spinner too quickly, it will run too shallow to catch trout.

A spinner can be used as a trolling bait as well, however they frequently ride high. The solution is to gain weight. Attach your lure and line to the other two ends of a three-way barrel swivel, then tie a sinker to the top end. This enables the sinker to maintain the spinner’s low position without impeding the action of the lure.

The rig is good for both deep and shallow waters
The rig is good for both deep and shallow waters

Tip: A rig is the combination of terminal tackle used to catch trout.

Rivers

One of the recommendations made by trout fishermen for river fishing is also applicable to stream fishing. However, another effective approach is to cast across the current and bring in the entire river’s breadth. For this, casting a little upstream is still the best option. As you retrieve, let the river swing your spinner across the stream and down.

Single Hook Lures – Spinners 

When fishing with a single hook, the force of the strike is concentrated on a single spot, which improves penetration and creates a better grasp on the hook. This strategy is very helpful when pursuing fish with delicate mouths like trout.

Smith Niakis spinner

Smith Niakis spinner

The Smith Niakis spinner was suggested by a fisherman with international experience. ” They really don’t twist line and are dangerous on panfish, bass, trout, you name it”, in his words. Power swivel built-in, offset bodies, and clever design make the anglers’ experience even better.

Palms Spinwalk Clevis Spinners

palms spinwalk clevis gold salmon
Consider single-hook lures to avoid line twists

The Smith Niakis and the Palms SpinWalk Clevis spinners are similar in many ways, including built-in swivel, stirrup clevis, offset body, split ring hook connection, and single barbless hook.

Final Thoughts 

Finding the ideal trout spinner to cater your needs might waste time, just like choosing any lure. Study your fishing environment and opt for a possible option.

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