Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Some guidance on spin fishing for trout

I'm trying to teach myself how to use spinners for trout and haven't had much luck. I've been a life long bait fisher. I'm not looking to stop bait fishing just looking to add a new tool to the tool box so to speak. I usually fish free stone and sedimentary creeks that range anywhere from 3yds to 20yds wide. I'm using 1/32 oz and 1/16oz spinners are these adequate? Should I be using a swivel or not? I've been using mono, is there something better? Any other tips or tricks I would greatly appreciate.

I fish tailrace trout with #0-#2 vibrax spinners and joe's flies spinners in 1/16-1/8 oz. I use mono most of the time and I use a barrel swivel to add a leader and to keep line twist down.

Just some basic info that might help you a little. Colorado blades run shallow, french blades (like on mepps and vibrax spinners) run deeper, and willow type blades like on rooster tails run even deeper. I think the blades on panther martin type spinners run the deepest but don't quote me cause I don't use them, the rivers I fish are skinny and they stay hung up a lot.

Ingwe fishes spinners a lot from what I have seen him post and does well from the pics he posts. I'm sure he will be along in a while with some good info.

Best thing to do is to go with a few spinners and fish them till you hurt all over, you will find out real quick what works and what don't.

I like that idea of using a leader thanks.

How do you the size numbers such as Vibrax and Mepps compare with the weight?

I have Joe's, Panther Martin's, Mepps, Thomas, Rooster Tails and Kastmaster. Probably a few other also. So say if trout are rising for hatch should I stick with a shallow running lure?

I have fished a lot of creeks and small lakes for trout with spinners.
The Sierra Nevada Mt.s of central Calif. has countless creeks ranging from a few feet wide and inches deep, the 50 ft or more, with pools 20 +Ft deep.

Use quality 4 Lbs test, with light or ultra-light rods.
As far as what to throw, the #1 best trout catching spinner, no matter what anybody else says, is a Panther Martin. Bar none, no doubt about it
On sunny days, and 90% of the time, chrome/silver blade with yellow body, red spots.
Dark, cloudy days, try the brass blade, black with yellow spots body.
A good second choice is the Blue Fox, get the silver one.
Match the size of the spinner to the water and trout.
I throw the small ones in small creeks, up to ¼ oz in big creeks/ponds and lakes.
If the water is shallow, start reeling it back fast as soon as it touches down, in deep water, let it sink first.
Figure about 18” a second.
Walking a creek, throwing spinners is one of the best, most relaxing ways to spend a morning.
Learn to read the water, figure out where the trout are and cast your lure beyond them, reeling it back past them. This takes practice. Look for pools, any place where the water is deeper and slower than the rest of the creek. Sneak up on it, don’t make any noise or let your shadow fall on the water. Cast your spinner at the head of the pool, where fast water is flowing in. If you can find a small waterfall, don’t pass it by.
Be careful, if you over shoot you spot, and land the spinner in bushes or a tree, you can lose it real fast. Likewise if you let it sink too deep and get it in the rocks.

Can't add much to what's already been said. I've caught trout on all kinds of spinners but if I had to pick one brand I agree with Anaconda it would be a Panther Martin. Usually black or yellow for me too. 1/16th, 1/32d are good sometimes an 1/8th oz. depending on the size of the water. I use a swivel and 4 or 6Lb mono I've started getting the one hook Panther Martins as it's a lot easier to unhook the fish.

For stream fishing if the stream's big enough with reasonable current I'll throw it across and upstream reeling it just fast enough to keep the slack out and close to the bottom. Let it swing on past you and slowly reel it back upstream, sometimes with little jerks. Undercut banks and behind bigger rocks are good places to try.

So when I'm reeling it in should I be giving the spinner some slight jerks or vary the speed in which I reel it in?

You can if you want, but 99% of the time it makes no difference.

Ok. I've had quite a few fish follow (fishing clear water, sunny day) but no strikes. What does this mean?

How long will you fish a specific spinner before changing to something else?

It means the fish have seen that lure a lot. Change lures. It may also mean the fish are seeing you or your line.

4# mono and no swivel is how I run. I have always had the best luck with gold or silver Mepps, much less luck with Panther Martin, Blue Fox, Rooster Tail, etc.

Part of the 'best' lure what you are used to. If a Mepps is my go-to lure and I learn to fish it well, I will tie it on first and catch fish. If the fish aren't biting, I switch to a Panther but it has already been established the fish are off. When fishing is slow, I won't catch anything on the Panther either but in my mind, the Panther now sucks.

Anaconda goes to the Panther first and probably only uses a Mepps when all else fails, so his experience is a mirror image of mine. Have fun, spinner fishing for trout is one of my favorite types of fishing.

I've had my best results with 1/8th oz Panther Martins. Anything lighter or heavier has rarely worked well. Orange, yellow, red and black seem to be the best colors for me. Although green worked the best one time in a cold April.

Sometime I bounce it along and between rocks and other times rip it over the top of the rocks. The fish will let you know which to do. Also, I would say 95% of the time I fish upstream, especially on the size streams you mentioned.

Not sure if the same holds for streams as lakes, but I've found little cleo spoons and kastmasters handily outfish spinners.





And I've tried all the spinners out there before going to the spoons. I recomend trashing the treble hooks and replacing with single hooks.

Thank you all for the help.

So far I've actually had my best luck with kastmasters.

Years ago I used spoons quite a bit and had good success with them too. Fish were usually bigger than the average with spinners. Need to try them again. My brother started using 4" Rapala plugs and out-fished me using spinners 7-1 in the morning, but I caught up later in the day.

I did have to remove a treble hook from his thumb when the fish he caught thrashed around imbedding it there. I told him the same thing about getting rid the treble hooks. Better for the fish and him.

I'd been a spinner guy for years but am a tackle junky especially when I see something on sale. I'd picked up a red/silver little cleo and had it in my tackle box but had never tried it. I was fishing a lake one day years ago and could not get a bite. I'd tried every spinner in the box, nada. Then I figured, what the heck I might as well try this spoon.

Bam, first cast I had a bite and it wasn't the only fish that day. I don't know if the spoons yield bigger fish but it seems using the 1/4 oz little cleos and cast masters I don't hook small fish, seems like 12" or longer.

I tore the mouth up on a lake trout that was too small to be a keeper but the treble was imbedded in the top and bottom lips and after that I swore off of trebles.

I used to fish small stream trout with spinners frequently. My spinner of choice was the Mepps either 0 or 1 blades, with 2's being reserved for larger waters. I used silver, gold, copper, or some of the painted blades and did well with all; somedays better with 1 color than others. Also used Panther Martins, Roostertails, vibrax and other unknown brands. Of my main fishing partners at the time, one used Panthers, one used Roostertails, and one swore by silver Mepps. I think I got hooked on Mepps because they tended to be cheaper, but I learned how to use them and became pretty good. Also, the Mepps we used were the plain hook variety; never had as good luck with the feathered hooks. 458 Lott's comments on spoons is interesting as I've had good luck throwing large (1/2 to 1 oz.) spoons in big water for big trout and salmon, but never tried small spoons in small streams.

Well....I caught my first ever trout (native brookie) on a spinner this morning. Caught him on 1/16oz black and gold Panther Martin. It wasn't very big maybe 4" or 5", but hey it's a start. Had another one hit twice but I kept missing it. Had to quit for the day when Mother nature decided blow up a thunderstorm. Fishing with spinners is a blast!

Panther Martin Gold, black body, yellow spots....Most trout creeks do best with their #2PMR-G

Bigger water does well with #4PMR-G or even #6PMR-G

Second choice is Silver, yellow body, red spots in the above sizes...a distant second, often better on bright sunshine days.

I have also had great luck with their Rainbow trout pattern.

I never use spinners with hair or feathers, never use them with a swivel, and always fish them upstream, retrieveing with the current....gives the fish less time to recognize, and commit.

Panther Martins have a quick start up speed, which allows the downstream retrieve. Mepps and Rooster Tails will not start spinning easily enough for most downstream presentations.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll never use bait again.....it just plain is not effective in comparison. My protege' and new best fishing pard just started spinning late last year. She's been out twice this year, caught 13 on the first walk in a creek and another 16 today ( see pic)





We are heading out tomorrow to try and target some big ones. "Try" is the operative word.....

Yep...change the lure, preferably to something smaller, and move it faster.

Yep, I caught it on a gold with black and yellow spot one.

What do you mean by fishing it upstream?

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???

No...its Ingwewife....


Couple more of her creek fishing with me...


This is on our favorite creek...Notellum creek up by Scobey, MT.

Im headed for a couple lakes this fall that supposedly have brookies up to four pounds...we'll see.....

ingwe, best of luck with those four pound brookies... I knew that was Ms. Ingwe, you are a very lucky man.. You make a fine couple and great fishermen...

SHE is the manic fisherman! We are prepping for our annual pike trip next month, when she drives me like a rented mule to keep fishing all day, every day! No naps, no beer and BS sessions!

Ohhhh, the humanity!



P.S. I'll believe the four pound brookies when I see them, but Id be tickled with a 2-3 pounder!

ingwe, is keeping trout from moving water legal in Mt.?? Our limits have been slashed to only allow 3 fish in moving water.. In addition slot limits are often in place. The excepting is brookies as I have mentioned..
What is you favorite method for cooking those larger fish? I usually filet them, and pan fry..

Good luck with the big brooks..

Yes, we can keep trout. Varies by district and stream, and since F&G views brookies as an invasive species the limit on them is 20 everywhere I think.
I don't keep the bigger fish as I don't like to eat fish (!!!! :D)
We will occasionally keep some mid sized brookies ( 12 inches) to pan fry in butter for Ingwewife...she likes fish.
I will eat fresh caught pike, cooked Canadian shore lunch style, once each year on our annual pike trip...otherwise I wouldn't eat a fish on a dare... ( though I like the ones with claws and shells )

Smart man..

Well, you see it comes from being a poor starving college student. If we didn't catch something on MANY occasions, there would be no dinner.

Anybody have some advice for when the water is high? We've had rain 29 out of the last 40 days. Water just looks like chocolate milk and some of my favorite spots I can't even get to. I'm just dying to get out but is it even worth trying with conditions like this?

go shoot gophers or woodchucks....

go shoot gophers or woodchucks....

ingwe, I looked up Scobey!! Good one!!!!

You may note from the pics I post, there isn't any identifiable background. Nobody needs to know where i go fishing....

With those trout, I cannot blame you one bit... Good luck..
It surprised me when you mentioned a town.. That is why I had to check it.. Pretty crafty.. But if you tell you have no trout..

My new fishing pard is just learning the ropes. After a really nice morning of fishing we ran into a couple friends whilst getting a burger for lunch. When they asked how the fishing was I told them it sucked. when they asked where we went, I told them a location that was the polar opposite of where we were.
She was flabbergasted!

You know how to keep fishing spots in good shape.. I usually don't tell folks here that I have been fishing.. It is expected fishermen and hunters never tell their best spots...

Ditto. I met a fly fishing guide and outfitter at a dinner party one night. We got along famously until he asked " So, where do you fish?"
My retort was a hearty belly laugh and a " You aren't from here, are you?"


He wasn't...

Great reply!! At least you didn't suggest Scobey!!

Actually.......



I did!

You must have an evil side!!!

Ingwe, you sound like me when I show some one a picture of a mess of huge bluegills and shellcrackers and they ask where I caught them my responce is always the holston river which is very long and has a dozen reservoirs along it.

Ridgerunner, while your learning to fish hardware you might as well buy some Rapalas, original floaters, count downs and flat raps. Brown trout around here like meat better than bugs. Minnow eating browns get BIG.

Rapalas, in my neck of the woods, the jointed one are the way to go.

There aint much more fun than catching brim on a flyrod or an ultralight...we might have to exchange info....under the table of course

You are correct friend! I use a 4wt 7' with a popping bug and a dropper with a black ant on it. I also tie the most deadly jig ever and use a long UL spinning rod and #2-#4 line. The word FUN doesn't fully define the experience.

About the exchange of info, how can I be so sure you won't slicker me into a bad trade, my honey hole for your dead end road in the middle of Montucky somewhere?

PM Sent.

THATS RIGHT! I got a few jointed minners too. Rainbows like'em too I see. You western guys really live in a trout mecca.

You throw the dice and take your chances!


We used to use a mini-beetle spin safety pin lure a lot on bluegills...but the popping bug was the fave...

Mini beetle spins are my favs for fishing around woody cover. I already miss may but look forward to october.

May and September were the months where we were at too.....Used to bass fish down there but honestly found we caught as many bass fishing for brim....so that was a no brainer.
Working a shoreline would be brim after brim...then a short quiet stretch, which simply meant " Get ready!" theres a bass in there!