By Nick Simonson

While I’ve always appreciated the fly rod, and made it my go-to when fishing specifically for trout in just about any environment from stocked fish in a reservoir to wild ones in a river or creek, I’ve found that covering water in those larger impoundments and lakes where trout are present requires a little more chucking and ducking and the use of metal to make fish move. Thus, utilizing in-line spinners to cast out and crank back, eliminating unproductive areas, maximizing my time on the water, and finding fish on the feed is a big part of my spring efforts, and certainly when I’m helping new or younger anglers get a feel for trout, these baits pay big dividends.

The Style of Spin

Generally, most in-line spinners for trout will have smaller blades from size 00 to 3, but don’t overlook those options with larger blades in size 4 and 5, especially in those bigger waters that hold heftier trout.  While blade types vary – with split blades, willow blades, and other kinds available – a reliable, elongated French or in-line blade is the norm, depending on style of spinner being used. As long as you can feel the blade turn when you reel in, you know that the chosen setup is sending that vibration signal out through the water and drawing trout in with that rhythm and flash the blade creates.

Getting Heavy

In between the blade and its clevis is the body of the inline spinner.  Typically made of nickel, brass, or painted lead beads and cylinders, this weight is what helps get the bait out a good distance on each cast to cover water, and sink down to the desired depth to target where trout are holding.  It may only take a one, two, or three count to target fish holding higher in the water column, or it may take longer to find those holding deeper, especially as the spring warms up.  Adjusting to water conditions and light conditions with varied colors and hues can make a difference in how in-line spinners perform, and accented bodies to match the blades or stand out are all just part of figuring out the tackle formula for success when fishing trout. 

All Dressed Up

While regulations can vary limiting the number of hooks (single versus treble) on a lure, generally, one in-line spinner style can carry over from water to water; just make sure to be aware of those flows which require single-hook lures in your jurisdiction.  From there, the business end of any bladed in-line is usually dressed with a hair or synthetic option, there are even inline spinners with streamer flies like woolly buggers or small shad-style or curly-tail plastics on the hook end.  Some of my favorite options made at home include krystal flash dressed trebles too.  Across all dressing types of hair, flash and other accents, finding the right one for the conditions and that seals the deal with trout is part of the fun, especially when that perfect option gets established.

Understanding the parts of an in-line spinner and how it works to attract spring trout is a great way to increase angling success this time of year, as stockers hit their adoptive waters and holdovers come up to feed in the warming upper reaches of the column.  Take all of those facets into account as you select your baits for the season, going with lures that have worked in the past, others that look to be effective based on their qualities, and maybe a few that stand out which you may want to try.  All in all, experimenting with these fast-moving, effective search lures can help make spring trout fishing even more memorable.

Simonson is the lead writer and editor of Dakota Edge Outdoors.

Featured Photo: Seeing Red.  This brown trout came on a bronze spinner with red accents, a pattern that has become a go-to for the author when exploring the stocked waters of the upper Midwest each spring. Simonson Photo.