Non-Fly trout?

Northern

Northern

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So, my sister is coming out in September to kayak fish some basin lakes with me - but she doesn't fly fish.
We grew up fishing, but there were no trout around, just warmwater fish. (So we're fine on the bass front!)

So, my question to you native PNWers: what would be the best spin lures for trout in those lakes, both casting and trolling?
Just standard Mepps spinner types?
Jigs and curly tails?
(Not looking for powerbait type options)

Thanks for any advice!
 
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Northern said:
So, my sister is coming out in September to kayak fish some basin lakes with me - but she doesn't fly fish.
We grew up fishing, but there were no trout around, just warmwater fish. (So we're fine on the bass front!)

So, my question to you native PNWers: what would be the best spin lures for trout in those lakes, both casting and trolling?
Just standard Mepps spinner types?
Jigs and curly tails?
(Not looking for powerbait type options)

Thanks for any advice!
Click to expand...
I'd pay attention to how you plan to fish and then gear her accordingly. If you're casting and stripping, rooster tails and spinners. If you're trolling, small baitfish plugs and spoons. Indicator fishing? Casting bubble and the same flies youre using.

My experience is that mixing gear and flyfishing is easy if you can both target the same water without interfering with each other. But if someone's fishing bobbers while another needs to cover water, that's a problem
 
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Flatfish
Triple teasers
Kastmasters
Krocodile spoons
Dick Nites

A keel weight with a bugger or leech pattern behind it will work for trolling as well.
Have fun.
SF
 
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Stonedfish said:
Flatfish
Triple teasers
Kastmasters
Krocodile spoons
Dick Nites

A keel weight with a bugger or leech pattern behind it will work for trolling as well.
Have fun.
SF
Click to expand...
Hmm... I may or may not have a small pile of dick nites and some tiny flatfish, for no particular reason 🫣
Oddly, I didn't think of using them on spinning gear 😆
Thanks!

Is a keel weight like a lindy rig?
 
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Northern said:
Hmm... I may or may not have a small pile of dick nites and some tiny flatfish, for no particular reason 🫣
Oddly, I didn't think of using them on spinning gear 😆
Thanks!

Is a keel weight like a lindy rig?
Click to expand...

IMG_3182.png
 
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troutpocket said:
In addition to everything already mentioned, a 1/32 oz crappie jig can be good. Cast to weed edges and other structure, let it sink and hop it back. They also work trolled for whatever reason. I used to fish ultralight spin gear quite a bit.
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Excellent- she probably has lots of those.
Thanks!
 
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Scudley Do Right said:
Trolling a salmon spoon as a dodger with a fly behind it works as well as anything.
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In that same vein, my go to lake trolling set up for non-fly folks is a wedding ring spinner, but instead of tipping the hook with bait, run a small nymph, Carey fly or hair leech about 24” behind the lure.

Edit- just checked my spinning rod upstairs to refresh my memory of the set up. Looks like I used a slip sinker + bead + swivel, then 24” to the wedding ring spinner, which seats against another swivel. Then 24” more leader to the fly. The 24” between the sinker and spinner could probably be shortened up.

I tried to get a pic but you’ll have to zoom in to see each component of the whole shebang.
 

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1) Luhr Jensens "Super Duper" or...
2) Shoffs "Triple Teaser" as was already mentioned.

I caught a lot of trout in local lakes with those two lures fifty years or so ago. Both are still made and available.
I would just pinch a split shot or two 18" above either one and either cast and retrieve, or troll behind the boat.
 
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Merle said:
In that same vein, my go to lake trolling set up for non-fly folks is a wedding ring spinner, but instead of tipping the hook with bait, run a small nymph, Carey fly or hair leech about 24” behind the lure.
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I like that idea! She has tons of beads & blades for walleye spinners (similar to pop gear or wedding rings.) We can make some with terminal flies instead of bait hooks :)
 
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