Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Some guidance on spin fishing for trout

We typically wade upstream, against the current and throw the lures up ahead of us, reeling them back basically with the current. Fish are facing into the current and when the lure is coming at them at good speed they have only split seconds to commit to it.
If they get to follow it around and inspect it, like a downstream cast allows, they will often refuse it.
They position themselves so current carries food and oxygen to them, might as well show them some food!

pic from today, my fishing pard.

One trick I have tried that works, sometimes, is to cast across stream, let the spinner (typically Panther Martin!) sink a bit, tighten up the line and let it swing across the front of little pockets of good looking water. Theory being the trout sees it flash by (quartering downstream) and has a split second to grab it or miss out. It also allows me to ensure the blade is spinning before it enters the "good" water.
Much as I like flyfishing, a spinning rod is way easier on my bum shoulder and simpler, for me! I have had a lot of fun working smaller creeks/rivers with a spinning rod and a small container of lures. It is a pretty pleasant way to spend several hours!

I often cast quartering upstream and retrieve down and across, letting the current swing the lure.

Pat: ditto here on the shoulder with the fly rod. I love probing small streams for trout!

There is no finer trout lure than a #2 Mepps in gold...period. It takes some time to learn the feel of how it should be fished, but when you do it is deadly. The smaller versions work but don't spin as well in my opinion. Learning how to present it is the thing that takes practice. Cast a little up stream and let it sink a bit (depending on water depth and current), then take up slack and give a sharp little tug to get the blades spinning. Keep the line in contact with the lure as it drifts, you may have to reel slightly to do that. You will feel the spinner vibrate as it drifts, this is where you learn the "feel" of the lure- not too fast, not too slow.

I am with you on that. I suspect it lets us be kids again, for a while!

Excellent advice.

This info added to my post nails it.(except use Mepps instead of panther martin lol)

Huh....I thought for sure I replied on here yesterday, must've screwed something up.

Anyways, thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it. I'll be sure to try casting up stream the next time out.

Ingwe, your pard got a nice fish there.

I am happy to say thats a pretty average fish for us

We catch LOTS of those!

Ive got a zillion pics of all kinds of trout from creeks, large and small.

What is the preferred single hook size when swapping out your trebles? This seems to be a pretty good idea.

That one would be a monster for the streams I fish.

I've seen some of the pics you have posted in the past. I'm jealous to say the least

Heres the four trout teasers for you....


Rainbow...





Cutthroat ( West Slope)




Brown Trout...




Brook Trout...

I'm still trying to find those brookies! I'm thinking it might take a backpack and a camp.

I know where they live






How about a 17 incher?




If not that, how about an 18 incher?

Ok ok that's enough, hahaha.

I'd give anything to have native brookies like that around here.

Going after what will hopefully be bigger ones this fall....


Buttttt...I'll be trying for them with a fly rod.......

Dang Poob, your making me green. Those trout are beautiful, our trout are stocked trout for the most part and hardly have any color. I do catch a few rainbows and brooks in the mountains but they are small, gorgeous but small.

Ive got oodles of those pics....thankfully our F&G learned in the early 70s not to stock trout in flowing streams...they compete with the natives for food, to the detriment of trout overall.
I refuse to fish for stocked trout ( they still put them in some reservoirs...) We have here what Pugs called " an embarrassment of riches..."




Heres a big one in full spawning colors Ingwewife caught...

Some awesome fish there ingwe.... Love those brookies.. They are my favorite fish in the trout world... You certainly have caught come monsters.. I think the biggest I have ever taken was about 15-16"..
It was taken in a section of a creek on private land.. Best of luck this fall.. That is a beautiful fishing partner you have... Your daughter???