Fishing for Rainbow trout

My favorite pre-spawn tactic for catching Rainbow Trout is to jig on very light tackle. I like to jig with a 1/32 oz or a 1/64 oz jig head on 2lb test monofilament line, I like to jig with 2lb test so that you can cast further and the line is less noticeable to the fish. I like to put anything on the jig from 2-3" plastic worms, 1" plastic minnows, and 1" maggots, these are just some example and my favorites to use.

For post-spawn rainbow trout fishing: I like to fish post-spawn the same way I do with pre-spawn but sometimes the fish aren't as aggressive and are more timid. If they are shy I like to use Berkley's power dough bait or Berkley's floating power eggs on a Carolina rig with a size #8-14 treble hook, hook size depending on the average size of the fish at the fishing location. Berkley's Powerbait on a Carolina rig seems to work year round for me and all of the places i've been to, there isn't a trout fishery I have fished and haven't caught a trout. I like to jig first and then try Berkley's Powerbait if I get desperate because it's basically cheating. My preferred rig for bait fishing is powerbait and for jigging I just tie on a jig head (1/32-1/64oz) with a simple Palomar knot.

Best pre-spawn tactic for catching rainbow trout: For spin fishing...rainbow trout love the HD trout lures, Tasmanian devils and cast-masters (silver and gold). For flyfishing rainbow trout love eating bugs that are in their system like San Juan worms and eggs and scuds and midges and pheasant tails and nothing beats catching a rainbow trout on a dry fly... the key is to see them rising there’s a lot of stalking and scouting and hunting and sighting that goes into successfully catching rainbow trout.

Post spawn tactics for catching Rainbow Trout: Post Spawn rainbow trout are hungry and love to eat whatever is in their system at the time like worms and eggs and midges and stoneflies and pheasant tails. Rainbow trout feed 80% of the time under the water. Nothing beats catching a rainbow trout on a drive fly the key is to find them while they’re rising. The best way to catch rainbow trout year-round is to see them feeding before you fish at them ... to sneak up on them and be very stealthy so you don’t spook them ... wear clothes that blend in with your surroundings keep a low profile and try not to disturb the water around them. The best setup is fly fishing with dry flies