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Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)

Salvelinus fontinalis, Salmo trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salvelinus namaycush · also: speckled trout, speck, truite, laker

Cold, clean water fish. From brook trout in a beaver pond to lake trout in 100 feet.

Where to find them

Stream trout across the Shield, the Laurentians, the Maritimes, the Rockies and BC. Lake trout in deep, cold Shield and mountain lakes.

Rigs by season

SeasonWhere and what to tie
Spring (opener)Streams and rivers: worms on a split-shot rig, spinners, nymphs. Lake trout shallow and catchable on spoons right after ice-out.
SummerStream trout in the coldest, most oxygenated water — spring holes and shaded riffles. Dry-dropper and nymph rigs. Lakers deep: trolling spoons on downriggers or jigging tubes.
FallBrook and brown trout coloured up and aggressive before the spawn (check closures). Lakers shallow again.
WinterLake trout through the ice on jigging spoons and tube jigs; stocked rainbows on small jigs and waxworms.

Gear

Ultralight to light spinning (5'6"–7', 4–6 lb mono) for streams; 4–6 wt fly rod for the same water; medium-heavy trolling or jigging gear for lake trout.

Bait and lures

Worms, salmon eggs, small spinners and spoons, nymphs, dry flies, small tube jigs and big spoons for lakers.

Tips

  • Approach streams from downstream and stay low; trout face into the current.
  • Cold water is everything in summer — find the springs.
  • Brook trout limits and seasons vary enormously by zone; small lakes often have special rules.

Rigs for trout (brook, brown, rainbow, lake)

13 rigs

Fixed Bobber Rig diagramMono 4–6 lbClip-on float (fixed)1–4 ftSplit shot6–10"#6–#10 hook + worm

Fixed Bobber Rig

A clip-on float, a split shot and a baited hook. The rig that catches everyone their first fish off a dock — and still fills a bucket with perch and sunfish.

panfishBeginnerSunfish & Rock BassYellow Perch
Lindy Rig (Live Bait Rig) diagramMain line 8 lbWalking sinker (slides) Barrel swivelLeader 3–6 ftOctopus hook + leech

Lindy Rig (Live Bait Rig)

A walking sinker slides on the main line above a swivel and a long leader to a plain hook with a leech, crawler or minnow. Feed line to a biting walleye and it never feels the weight.

walleyeBeginnerWalleyeSauger
Three-Way Rig diagramMain line Three-way swivelLeader 2–5 ftHook + minnowDropper 6–24" (lighter line)Bell sinker

Three-Way Rig

A three-way swivel splits the line into a short dropper to a sinker and a longer leader to a hook, minnow or floating crankbait. The rig for holding bait in the strike zone in river current.

walleyeBeginnerWalleyeSauger
Split-Shot Rig diagramMono 4–6 lbSplit shot (1–2)12–18"#6–#10 baitholder + worm

Split-Shot Rig

One or two split shot pinched on the line above a small baited hook. The simplest bottom rig there is and the standard for drifting worms for stream trout.

troutBeginnerTrout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)Yellow Perch
Slip Sinker Rig diagramMain line 15–30 lbEgg / no-roll sinker (slides)Bead Barrel swivelLeader 12–24"Circle hook + cut bait

Slip Sinker Rig

An egg or no-roll sinker slides on the main line above a swivel, bead and leader. Fish pick up the bait and run without feeling the weight. The universal bottom rig for catfish, carp and stocked trout.

catfishBeginnerChannel CatfishCarp
Quick-Strike Rig diagramTip-up line / braid Barrel swivelWire leader 30–45 lbFront treble (head)3–5"Rear treble (dorsal)

Quick-Strike Rig

A wire leader with two treble hooks spaced to hook a large dead bait at the head and mid-body. Lets you set the hook immediately on a pike instead of waiting for it to swallow the bait.

pikeIntermediateNorthern PikeMuskellunge
Wire Leader and Spoon Rig diagramMain line 12–17 lb Ball-bearing swivelWire leader 9–12"SnapCasting spoon 3–5"

Wire Leader and Spoon Rig

A snap swivel, a short wire or heavy fluoro leader and a red-and-white spoon. The rig that has caught more Canadian pike than any other, and still the first thing to tie on at a new lake.

pikeBeginnerNorthern PikeMuskellunge
Tip-Up Rig diagramDacron tip-up line Barrel swivelFluoro or wire leader 18–24"Split shot12"Hook + live minnow

Tip-Up Rig

The line, leader and hook that go on a tip-up so a live or dead bait hangs at a set depth and a flag pops when a fish takes it. The rig for a day on the ice with a few holes spread across a flat.

iceBeginnerNorthern PikeWalleye
Ice Jigging Rig diagramIce fluoro / braid Micro swivelFluoro leader 12–24"Jigging spoon + minnow head

Ice Jigging Rig

A light braid or fluoro main line, a small swivel to kill twist, a short fluoro leader and a jigging spoon, tungsten jig or lipless bait tipped with a minnow head. The active rig for hole-hopping walleye, perch and crappie.

iceBeginnerWalleyeYellow Perch
Nymph Indicator Rig diagramTapered leaderStrike indicator1.5× depthSplit shotPoint nymph (weighted)Tippet 12–18"Dropper nymph

Nymph Indicator Rig

A strike indicator, a tapered leader, split shot and one or two weighted nymphs drifting dead along the bottom. The fly-fishing rig that catches trout 90 percent of the days when nothing is rising.

troutIntermediateTrout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)Steelhead & Salmon
Dry-Dropper Rig diagramTapered leader 3X–4XBuoyant dry fly (floats)Tippet 12–30" off the bendBeadhead nymph

Dry-Dropper Rig

A buoyant dry fly acts as the indicator with a small nymph hanging 12–30 inches below it. Two chances on every drift — one on top, one underneath.

troutIntermediateTrout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)Grayling
Steelhead Float Rig diagramMain line 8–10 lbDrift float (fixed with caps)AAA shotBB shot#1 shot#4 shot Micro swivelFluoro leader 18–30"#8–#12 hook + roe bag

Steelhead Float Rig

A fixed float, a shot pattern that tapers down the line, a swivel and a light fluoro leader to a roe bag, bead or jig. The Great Lakes tributary rig fished on a centrepin or long spinning rod.

troutIntermediateSteelhead & SalmonTrout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)
Flatline Trolling Rig diagramMain line 10–12 lb Ball-bearing swivelFluoro leader 4–8 ftCross-lock snapFloating stickbait / crankbait

Flatline Trolling Rig

A crankbait or stickbait tied to a short fluorocarbon leader and a small snap, trolled behind the boat with no added weight. The easiest way to find fish in a new lake.

multiBeginnerWalleyeNorthern Pike