Rainbow / Brown Trout: Where and How to Catch Them by Season
Where Rainbow / Brown Trout hold, what to throw and when the bite peaks, season by season, with lakes to try.
When the bite is on
Across 239 lakes in our guide that list this fish, the bite rates highest in April, May, October. Bars show how strong the bite is, month by month (tallest bar in red is the peak).
Season by season
In spring, lakes at 45-55F bring trout to shallows and inlets, 3-15 ft. Small spoons, spinners and PowerBait draw strikes. Browns often feed at low light.
Warm surface water pushes trout down to the thermocline at 15-40 ft, where it is cooler and there is more oxygen. Trolling spoons, flies, and crankbaits are best; fish early and late.
As water cools to 50-55F, trout head to shallower water and river mouths. Browns spawn in fall; rainbows follow bait. Spinners and minnow baits are great.
Cold-water lakes remain productive. Trout feed at 10-30 ft under ice on small spoons, jigs and bait. Midday is the best time.
Rainbows spawn in spring and browns in fall, in gravel streams at 45-55F. Do not wade or fish on redds, where eggs are buried.
Baits that work
- Small spoons
- Inline spinners
- PowerBait
- Nightcrawlers
- Flies
Common mistakes
- Using heavy line
- Fishing in direct sun at the top
- Walking on spawning gravel
- Letting fish sit out of the water
Lakes to try
Lakes in our guide where this fish rates at its best, with maps, boat ramps and bait shops on every page.