Natural Trout Bait

Natural Trout Bait

A strict fly fisherman may scoff at the notion of using insects and worms as trout bait, but there are many instances in which using this type of bait as opposed to flies and lures can be just as, if not more, successful. By keeping an open mind and learning about the types of scenarios in which utilizing natural bait can be beneficial, you could end up catching more fish than your traditional fly fishing buddies.

Using flies is central to the sport of trout fishing. However, in some bodies of water, a trout might not be very interested in a fly meant to mimic a nymph or adult insect. If that particular body of water sees very little insects, it is unlikely that the fish in that water will often eat them or be interested in feed on them. This is where natural bait like minnows and worms can come in handy.

Even if a stream is rife with insects, in the early springtime months, they will not have hatched yet, making flies a difficult bait to use during this time. During months of low insect populations, natural bait can be used as a substitute.

Not all bodies of water are the same; some stream water is much clearer than others. If you are fly fishing in dirty, muddy water, your lure will most likely go undetected by a hungry trout. Trout use their sense of smell to find food. If your bait cannot be detected via scent or sight, the chances of getting a bite are pretty slim. Using natural trout bait in murky waters will allow your bait to be detected even if the water is opaque.

Nightcrawlers and minnows are great types of natural bait to use when fishing. Keep minnows alive until you are ready to use them by letting them swim in a small minnow bucket. This is something that could easily be attached to your fishing vest or waders. If you like the idea of mimicking insects but would rather not take up fly fishing, you can use a number of live insects to lure in a lunker. Stoneflies, crayfish, crickets, and grasshoppers can and have been used for catching trout.