Expert anglers share their favorite stream trout lures that go beyond flies

Outdoor News may earn revenue from products shown on this page by participating in affiliate programs. Click here to learn more.

If you spend enough time on a trout stream chasing browns, rainbows or brookies, you’ll inevitably come across three different types of trout fishermen.

There are those who cast flies, those who dunk worms and those who spin lures, the latter of whom are often obsessively on the prowl for big, burly trout, regardless of the size of stream they’re fishing.

Like any other angler, lure-centric trout anglers have their favorite offerings, which can change based on several variables: time of year, size of stream, water conditions, species composition, and other factors.

So, what are some of the great lures that will consistently put more stream-trout in your net and creel basket?

In a recent story in Outdoor Life, writer, avid trout angler, guide and native New Englander Kubie Brown wrote about the 10 best trout lures in 2025. These lures, he says, are “proven catchers” of all trout species, from small streams to larger waters.

“There are a lot of things that make a good trout lure, but certain ones just stand out,” Brown writes. Some work on small streams better, he notes, while others work better on larger rivers. Ditto for large, and small, fish.

MORE TROUT COVERAGE FROM OUTDOOR NEWS:

Jeffrey Frischkorn: Streams say a lot for those willing to listen

Study shows brook trout may be able to adapt to heatwaves

These three overlooked fly patterns have earned their respect on the water

What’s also true: For every angler you ask, lure preferences often vary wildly. After all, the marketplace is replete with trout lures, some more expensive than others. Many anglers have go-to lures they’ve used for years. Why? Because they work.

Brown’s best overall trout lure is the Worden’s Rooster Tail. He calls it extremely versatile for big and small trout, in rivers, lakes, and ponds. It’s not the best lure, he noted, for small streams, or waters that are “extremely cold.” Another Brown favorite, for smaller streams: the Acme Phoebe Spoon, which imitates a fat, full-bodied baitfish. His favorite large-water lure: the well-known Rapala Husky Jerk.

What the experts say

We asked three experienced stream-trout anglers which lures were their best of the best. The greats, if you will. Those lures that consistently attract trout.

Keep in mind, though, the best trout lures don’t miraculously catch fish. You have to know your way around a trout stream – and these anglers do. They’ve spent countless hours on the water honing their craft, including the necessity of learning to cast well.

• Mark Taylor is the Eastern communications director for Trout Unlimited. He lives in western Virginia and has fished stream-trout throughout North America. He’s a fly fisherman and spin angler. When he’s spin-fishing with lures, he’s most often prospecting for larger trout.

“I think spin-fishing for trout can be more difficult than fly fishing,” Taylor said. “Decent fly anglers can be more precise with their flies. More accurate with them. When you cast a lure, once it’s gone, you really don’t have a lot of control over it. That’s why it pays to practice a lot. Accuracy matters. In general, spin-fishing is a challenge.”

Like other trout anglers, Taylor has a soft spot for Rapala lures, and one of his favorites is the Rapala Ultralight Minnow. He calls it a “neutrally buoyant” lure that he describes as a twitch or jerk bait. “I fish it with a twitch-pause-twitch-pause action,” Taylor said. “If I cast to bank, for example, the strike usually comes on the pause.”

Taylor said he most often fishes the 2½-inch version. It runs at a depth between two and three feet. “I’ve caught a lot of small fish with it, but big fish like it, too,” he said. Taylor said the lure comes in a variety of colors. That allows anglers to match the forage fish on a particular stream.

Another go-to for Taylor is the Rebel Wee Craw series of lures. Taylor said they have the profile of a fleeing crayfish, with a tucked tail and claws streamlined behind the head.

His favorite is the Teeny Wee Craw, which is 1½ inches long. “It has the best action in the series, with a super tight wiggle,” he said. “It’s good lure for smaller trout, but you can catch bigger fish, too. One of my favorite methods is to slowly back reel the lure downstream into pockets and runs.”

In addition, Taylor pinches the barbs on all his lure hooks. He recommends you do, too. “Makes it easier to release your fish and unhook if you get snagged, which will happen,” he said.

• Dan Traun lives in Red Wing, Minn., on the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. He’s been chasing trout with lures (and flies) for more than three decades in western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota. His favorite: the Panther Martin, which has several different types of lures. Traun uses the spinner pattern.

“Panther Martins are all I use for spinning,” Traun said.

In general, Panther Martin spinners have one blade with several small bumps on it, which, in sum, reflect sunlight well. The design, Traun said, consistently attracts trout in small and large waters. They come in several colors (Traun likes gold and silver; he uses brighter colors in stained water).

Generally speaking, smaller sizes work best in smaller streams, with larger lures working best in larger waters. A slower retrieve works best early and late in the season when waters are coldest. Anglers often increase retrieval speeds when waters warm.

Traun said trout respond to Panther Martin spinners because of the vibrations they create and the bright flash they give off. “They work,” he said. “They excite trout.”

• Jeff Broberg, former president of the Minnesota Trout Association, lives in the heart of the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota – a region replete with spring-fed trout streams.

Exclusively a spin-casting lure angler, Broberg said he’s used countless lures over his decades of trout fishing. “Too many to recount,” said Broberg, laughing. “Lost my fair share, too.”

Broberg wade-fishes smaller streams for brook trout, larger rivers for big browns, and other waterways the Minnesota DNR stocks with adult-sized rainbow trout.

Broberg is a devotee of the original floating Rapala lure, which can be twitched as a surface bait, retrieved as a slow runner or weighted with spilt shot for fishing deeper. The action mimics a wounded minnow/baitfish. It can be irresistible to trout. Ambush strikes are common.

If Broberg is fishing a brook trout stream, he uses a Rapala lure that’s painted like a brook trout. Ditto for brown and rainbows. Lure size also matters. In fact, Broberg said the time of year dictates the size of the lure he uses. “Smaller sizes earlier in the season and larger sizes as the season progresses into summer as trout continue to grow and get bigger,” he said.

In larger streams that hold big brown trout, Broberg said he loves prospecting with the large Rapala lures, 6 inches or longer. “Big fish like big things to eat,” Broberg said. “And big browns like eating their own.”