Best Bait for Trout Fishing in 2020: Complete Reviews With Comparisons
Fishing is not an easy feat. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to take on this activity.
However, no matter what the circumstances are, nothing can compare to the rush you get when you suddenly catch your first fish or your biggest one.
Whether you’re going fishing to have something to spend your summer with or you want to catch lots of fishes to cook over a fire with your friends, or you want to pursue your passion for this activity, you must have the right equipment with you.
Surprisingly, fishing actually involves using lots of different tools to help you in catching fish easier.
The pole, fishing line, and reel are all equally important to ensure that you get the best catch.
One of the most important things you need to consider is the bait you’re using when fishing for a specific fish, such as trout.
The best bait for trout fishing is what you need to lure the fish into your line.
If you’ve ever spent hours waiting for trout to bite without having any promising results, there’s a big chance you’re not using the right bait.
To help you with that, we’ve found and reviewed some of the best baits that you can use for trout fishing.
Best Bait for Trout Fishing
Comparison Chart
Best Bait for Trout Fishing Reviews
1. Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait
If you’re quite fond of our reviews, you’re probably familiar with this brand.
Berkley is one of the manufacturers we always make sure to include because they produce some of the best fishing equipment you may need in fishing.
If you’re a big fan of simplicity, you surely want to include Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait in your arsenal.
Product Highlights
The Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait is a kind of bait that comes in various colors.
Scientists at Berkley spent almost 25 years in trying to figure out how to come up with the perfect bait that will lure fish with its flavor and scent.
With this endeavor, Berkley was able to develop the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait.
Through years of research, Berkley found out a way to make a bait that doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
The quality of this product remains good even when not stored at a cool temperature.
With this type of achievement, fish tends to hold onto the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait eighteen times longer as compared to other baits like larvae and waxworms.
The Good
What really impresses us about this product is the years of hard work that went into its development.
When your bait has undergone the study and keen eyes of scientists, you’ll know that you’re getting more than what you paid for.
When you’re working on a tight budget, the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait is the way to go because you’re not just getting a silver bait, but also 25 years of tests and development.
The formula produced by the Berkley brand is remarkable, considering that fishes hold onto your bait longer than others.
This prevents the fish from getting away and allows you to reel in your catch with confidence because you know it’ll be holding onto your bait for a long time.
Another notable characteristic of the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait is that as compared to other baits, this one does not need to be refrigerated.
That makes the product an even better choice than worms or larvae because there wouldn’t be any need to bring a container to keep your baits cold.
The Bad
Although the qualities of the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait are good as they are, what we find lacking in this product is that you still have to provide a hook to catch your fish.
This bait must be attached to your hook in order to reel in a fish when it bites the bait.
While that’s nice in itself, we strongly feel that the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait could further be developed to have its own hook.
This will lessen the work you have to do when catching fish.
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2. Berkley PowerBait Glitter Trout Bait
Coming up second on our list is the Berkley PowerBait Glitter Trout Bait.
Another amazing development by Berkley, the Glitter Trout Bait comes with various colors to catch fish.
All of these efforts, of course, come with promising results.
Product Highlights
The PowerBait Glitter Trout Bait is another remarkable achievement from the 25 years of hard work from the scientists of the manufacturer.
As the name suggests, the Berkley PowerBait Glitter Trout Bait comes in various colors, all contained in a single container.
In much the same way as the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait, this other product is equipped with the exclusive formula from Berkley that gives your bait a distinct scent and flavor.
With its innovative design, fish tends to hold onto your bait for eighteen times longer as compared to your standard baits of worms and other insects.
However, instead of having an artificial-looking bait, the Berkley PowerBait Glitter Trout Bait is a moldable clay dough that floats above the water.
It’s equipped with various crystal materials that reflects light and turns it into different colors to attract fish.
The Good
Since Berkley also manufactures this product, we don’t have to reiterate how much attention was put into it.
Twenty-five years of research came with the development of this product.
What really struck us most about this product is that it’s moldable.
You can adjust how big your bait would be, and you could let it float above water, waiting for a catch.
Another advantage of having the Berkley PowerBait Glitter Trout Bait in your fishing arsenal is that it comes with its own container.
That said, you wouldn’t need a different, bigger container for your bait because this product already has its own.
The glittery quality of it also extends to a particular advantage because it helps the fish distinguish what its prey is and what is not.
As it reflects light and turns it into various colors, it’s quite easy to attract the fish into biting it, giving you plenty of catch.
The Bad
What we find difficult with this product is that because it’s moldable, you have to be mindful when getting your bait.
Since it’s not numbered, the amount of bait you’re getting is inconsistent.
As such, you may end up getting too much or too little of it.
When you do end up getting a large amount of bait from the container, it may run out too fast.
If you use too little of the bait, though, it may not be able to attract as much fish as you want it to, and when fishing, the last thing you really want to be bothering you is whether or not you’re using the right amount of bait.
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3. Berkley Johnson Silver Minnow Bait
While we’re on it, we’d like to present to you another amazing product from Berkley.
Brought to you by the brand that makes sure you get to improve your bite ratio, the Berkley Johnson Sliver Minnow Bait should definitely be on your fishing tools!
Product Highlights
The Berkley Johnson Silver Minnow Bait is a product from the old roster of Berkley.
It was patented back in 1923 and was called the Original Weedless Wonder.
The name comes from its tendency to come out clean and free of weed from under the waters.
The item is available in any part of the USA, with shipping options in other selected countries.
It’s intelligent design slants at a 35-degree angle, which allows it to wobble back and forth while underwater.
It’s also available in lots of various colors; some are plain, with other colors mimicking the color of small fish.
You may simply attach the Berkley Johnson Silver Minnow Bait at the end of your line and cast it because it comes with its own hook.
The Good
What sets the Berkley Johnson Silver Minnow Bait from all the other baits that came from Berkley is that it has its own hook.
That lessens the time and effort you have to spend in piercing your bait through your hook every time you cast your line.
Another quality that we liked about this product is that it’s available in plenty of colors, giving you lots of options.
Whether you like the plain, old solid colors, or you want something that looks more like a fish, they have it in their arsenal.
Lastly, the angle in which this item slants makes it wobble underwater.
This significantly helps in attracting the fish because instead of having an immovable bait underwater that looks dead and lifeless, a wobbling Berkley Johnson Silver Minnow Bait may be the better option.
The Bad
What we didn’t like about this product is that even though it wobbles to attract fish, it doesn’t have the same scent and flavor quality that the other baits have.
That means if a fish doesn’t get attracted to the look of your bait, there no scent and flavor that will attract fish.
Another thing that we didn’t find helpful is that if you do buy one, you would only have one bait color.
If it doesn’t work, you may need to use a different color to test it out.
That would mean you need to spend additional bucks for extra baits.
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4. Johnson Min-O Spin Hard Bait
Turning over to a worthy competitor, the fourth product we’ve decided to include in our list is the Johnson Min-O Spin Hard Bait.
You’re probably familiar with the brand Johnson, considering they manufacture lots of other products not just in fishing equipment but in health care as well.
With this exciting new venture into the world of fishing, you might want to try what they have to offer.
Product Highlights
The Johnson Min-O Spin Hard Bait is a bait with an attached hook that comes in various sizes.
The smallest size is around 1/24 ounces, while the biggest one is ¼ ounces.
It is also available in various colors, all of which are solid.
It has a tiny hole on one end to attach your reel to, while on the other side are two hooks.
It’s designed to look like a small fish, and Johnson took it upon themselves to attach 3D lifelike eyes and scales to make it look more natural.
On the hole from which you can attach your reel, there’s also a small tag with the name Min-O Spin.
The main purpose of this is not really for branding, but for the current to hit the bait and make it spin while underwater.
The Good
Although the brand Johnson is not usually something you come across in the world of fishing, what really impressed us about the Min-O Spin Hard Bait is the attention put into designing it.
The tag where the name of the bait can be found makes the bait wiggle under the water to attract fish.
Also, since it’s available in various colors, it gives you the liberty to choose your own color.
Black is the most popular, but it also comes in gold, silver, and other variations.
Another thing to note about the Johnson Min-O Spin Hard Bait is that it already has its own hook, which means you just need to attach it to the end of your reel.
There’s no need to pierce your bait onto the hook.
The Bad
What we find lacking in the Johnson Min-O Spin Hard Bait is the scent and flavor that other baits offer.
Sure, the fact that it wiggles underwater and the 3D eyes and scales make it look more lifelike, but some fish are actually able to distinguish what’s a bait and what’s not.
The lack of scent and flavor may scare other fish away.
Also, despite its availability in different color variations, having only one bait with you means you have to rely on your skills because when this bait doesn’t give you a lot of catch, you’re going to have to make do with what you have.
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5. Berkley Gulp Soft Fishing Bait
The last on our list is another proud accomplishment by Berkley.
The Gulp Soft Fishing Bait is yet another product developed from the 25 years of expertise of Berkley in manufacturing various fishing equipment.
With the quality of their products, you definitely don’t want to miss out on the Berkley Gulp Soft Fishing Bait.
Product Highlights
The Berkley Gulp Soft Fishing Bait is a small bait that you may attach to your hook to attract fish.
Speaking of attracting fish, this product is available in various colors and comes in a single 12.8-ounce container.
Some of the baits look like a small fish, while the others have a longer, extended fin.
It even includes a worm-looking bait if you want to go old school.
It also comes in different sizes, and the amount of baits in one container varies depending on the size you prefer to have.
The smallest Berkley Gulp Soft Fishing Bait is around three inches, while the biggest is around seven inches.
The Good
What we love about the Berkley Gulp Soft Fishing Bait is that its texture and lightness allow it to move underwater.
As compared to hard baits that wiggles underwater, soft baits actually have a more lifelike movement because of how freely it moves.
The variety of sizes and colors you can have in one container also helps because it gives you plenty of options as to what bait you prefer to use.
Having extended fins and even a wormlike bait is extra helpful as it attracts more fish.
The Bad
What we didn’t like about this product is that it doesn’t have its own hook.
The fact that Berkley managed to develop it to look more lifelike would be beneficial if it can lessen the amount of time and effort you exert like when you use baits that already have their own hooks.
Another thing that we find lacking is that even though Berkley produces it, the Gulp Soft Fishing Bait does not have the same flavor and scent that the brand usually offers.
The lifelike quality of the Gulp Soft Fishing Bait is kind of a loss because you can't maximize its potential.
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Buyer’s Guide
When getting an artificial bait for your fishing activity, you want to make sure that it helps a lot with your catch.
Using a poorly constructed artificial bait may only scare the fish away, and instead of actually helping, it might just ruin the experience for you.
When getting artificial baits, here are some things you need to look out for:
1. Appearance
When buying an artificial bait, you have to be mindful of its appearance.
If you put your mind in that fish, why would it bite something that it knows isn’t food?
Your artificial bait should look like its natural diet of smaller fish, insects, or worms.
2. Lifelike Features
Lots of fish are already able to distinguish what’s an artificial bait and what’s not.
With that in mind, when your bait is not moving underwater, it certainly wouldn’t help.
Baits with lifelike features and added features like the scent and flavor of natural bait should be present when you’re choosing an artificial bait.
3. Additional Features
Some artificial baits have been developed in making sure that your life gets easier.
For example, there are artificial baits wherein you don’t have to pierce them through the hook because they already have a hook in their design.
Although it’s a matter of personal preference, having this additional feature would definitely help.
FAQs
1. How Do You Bait a Trout Fish?
Baiting techniques for trout fish differ depending on what body of water you’re fishing on.
When you’re in a pond or lake, it’s best to have a bobber or a floater.
It should be attached to your reel, with at least 18 to 24 inches of the line for the hook and the bait.
When fishing in a river or stream, it’s best to have a sinker that allows the end of your line to swivel with the current.
2. What Kind of Bait Do You Use for Trout?
Trout have a huge appetite. They eat almost anything, from insects to worms and small fish.
Thus, you can always go old school by using live baits, but if you don’t have that much of live baits around, you can never go wrong with artificial baits.
3. What Is the Best Bait for Trout Fishing in Lakes?
Since lakes are often calm bodies of water and you sometimes fish a little further from land, it’s best to use baits not found inland.
Trout that stay in lakes have diets found near them, so it’s best to use worms or salmon eggs.
If you don’t have some around, use an artificial bait that mimics them.
4. Are Trout Bottom Feeders?
Trout are both bottom and surface feeders because they tend to run up and down a body of water.
If you’re fishing in rivers or streams, trout are often surface feeders, whereas trout that stay in deep lakes and ocean are bottom feeders.
5. What Bait Is Best for Rainbow Trout?
Rainbow trout are often surface feeders no matter where you fish for them.
Hence, the best bait for rainbow trout is minnows, fish eggs, and aquatic insects.
Final Verdict
After careful consideration of all the qualities each bait has, we strongly feel that the best one in our list is the Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait.
Despite its lack of a hook, the fact that it underwent the eyes of scientists and 25 years of research makes it hard to dismiss.
Equipping it with the scent and flavor, plus the addition of designing it with bright colors helps in attracting lots of fish.
Also, you don’t need to keep it refrigerated!
With that in mind, we know that there’s plenty of fish in the sea, and the best way to catch one is by having the best bait.
Try out Berkley PowerBait Fishing Bait!