The 8 Best Trout Baits in 2023 that Work Better Than Expected

The best trout baits you can get are ones that closely resemble the natural food eaten by trout. Some of the best trout baits are worms, fish eggs, bait fish, and trout nuggets.

There are many other trout baits that are as effective. Anything that attracts their attention works fantastically well.

Here’s a compilation of some of the top-rated trout baits available on the market to help you choose the best one for your trip.

The 8 Best Trout Baits in 2023

1. Mad River Scented Eggs – Best Overall

The Mad River Scented eggs come in different colors including red, yellow, orange, pink, and more. These make the perfect bait for trout since they are vibrant and smell pungent enough to attract trout. They work great in dirty water as well as clear water thanks to their vibrant colors.

They are impregnated with special, formulated shrimp oil and come in two different sizes for anglers to choose from. These eggs come at a great price depending on the size you choose. This has been an angler favorite for trout and has been proven to be very effective.

Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Vibrant
• Pungent
• Comes with size options
• Easy to use
• Many color choices

Cons:

• Small variety of scents

Bottom Line

Your first choice of bait for trout should be hands down the Mad River Scented eggs. They come in a variety of colors and scents that are perfect to catch the attention of the most aggressive trout. They also come in different sizes to your liking.

2. Berkley Gulp! Floating Trout Worm – Runner-Up

When trout fishing, one of the best baits to use is worms. Artificial baits are sometimes just as good as natural baits. In this case, the Berkley Gulp! Floating trout worm is a great option. It comes in three different colors including bubblegum, chartreuse, and natural.

To keep each trout worm’s unique form and motion, Gulp floating trout worms are packaged in a tray. They come in a unique shape that is great for wacky rigs. They replicate the shape of real worms to make them seem more lifelike.

These worms will provide scent dispersion 400 times more than plastic baits, which will increase your strike zone. They are short but fat enough for trout to be able to bite on with ease. Their size is perfect for almost all types of hooks.

Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Bright color options
• Great for deep hooks
• Easy to use
• Lifelike

Cons:

• One worm per pack

Bottom Line

The Berkley Gulp! Floating trout worm is a great artificial bait for trout. It will attract many trout in deeper water because of its bright color and lifelike mobility. It can catch you the biggest trout in many different bodies of water.

3. Berkley PowerBait Natural Glitter Dough – Best for Scent Options

The Berkley PowerBait Glitter trout dough is easy to use and moldable. It also enhances the dispersion of flavor and aroma in its floating formula and contains the flavor and taste of live bait. This bait has been proven to perform better than many other dough baits.

This bait is boosted by adding natural components to traditional trout bait to increase its ability to draw trout effectively. Some of the scents include corn, garlic, pumpkin, bubblegum, cheese, and more.

Their glittery appearance makes them shine through deeper waters, which is perfect for attracting even the biggest trout. This is the perfect bait for any angler who likes to have scent options as well as anglers who fish in deeper bodies of water.

Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Various scent options
• Easy to easy
• Pungent
• Flavorful

Cons:

• The scent might stick to your hand, multiple hand washes are recommended

Bottom Line

If you are looking for an excellent trout bait that is pungent, vibrant, and easy to use, the Berkley PowerBait Natural Glitter dough is your best bet. This bait is perfect for deep can bigger fish are able to spot this glittery bait better. It’s also flavorful and will attract many trout.

 4. Pro-Cure Trophy Trout Gel – Most Pungent

According to many anglers, the Pro-Cure Trophy trout super gel seems to have scents that appeal to trout the most. This gel is made of real baits and is also UV enhanced. It is also packed with amino acids that are perfect for trout to feed on and fit perfectly into their diet.

This gel is also very sticky, very strong, and best of all, very effective. It is best paired with artificial baits because it sticks to them particularly well. This is definitely the perfect addition to your trout fishing kit. Using this gel will not let you down.

 Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Pungent
• UV enhanced
• Great for nighttime fishing
• Easy to use
• Strong

Cons:

• Feels sticky on the hand
• Relatively expensive

Bottom Line

The Pro-Cure Trophy super gel is like a trout magnet. It pairs incredibly well with artificial baits, giving them a pungent smell that is perfect when attracting wild trout as well as many other types of trout.

5. Panther Martin Vibrant Spinner Bait – Best Action

The Panther Martin vibrant spinner bait contains digital colors that are imprinted on blades permanently. It also has strong durability and fine detail that is provided by vibrant hues. This bait is incredibly clear in many water conditions.

This bait comes in a pack of three, and their UV digital colors make them great for nighttime fishing and cloudy waters. Not only that, but this bait is also best used for trout, and can also catch you some other types of fish such as crappie and bass.

They vibrate, giving off a lifelike type of movement that usually attracts many types of trout. They also come in realistic colors to further resemble natural trout baits. Many anglers like using this type of bait because of how easy and effective it is.

Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Incredibly lifelike
• Great for night fishing
• Great for cloudy waters
• Vibrant

Cons:

• May attract other species of fish

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a type of bait that contains a lot of movement, the Panther Martin Vibrant spinner bait will land you many trout. Each bait in the pack of three moves very lifelike and is vibrant enough to grab the attention of many different types of trout.

6. Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer – Most Rigging Options

The Berkley PowerBait Power swimmer’s new 2″ size is perfect for trout and many other species of fish. This is a multipurpose bait that can be used in a variety of water conditions. Its realistic color resembles live bait, and its size is perfect for treble hooks.

A variety of rigging options include weighted swim baits, jig heads, A-rigs, spinnerbaits, Texas rigs, and Carolina rigs. This bait is perfect for anglers who prefer having many rigging options, or beginner anglers who simply prefer to explore and learn about more fishing techniques.

Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Easy to use 
• Many rigging options
• Versatile
• Perfect size

Cons:

• One per pack

Bottom Line

If you are an angler who prefers to have many rigging options, choose the Berkley PowerBait power swimmer. This bait is mostly great for brown trout but can catch other trout as well. It is extremely easy to use and easy to pair with many types of hooks.

7. Berkley PowerBait Egg Cluster Bait – Best for Freshwater Fishing

This bait is a soft, long-lasting egg cluster that comes in a bag with fluorescent orange 25, and is great for baiting trout. It can also attract other types of fish such as salmon and steelheads. These egg clusters are soft, productive, and resilient. They are also strong and do not tear easily.

They are made of a blend of high-quality materials and are lightweight enough to carry easily on your trout fishing trip. Furthermore, they are also vibrant enough to catch the attention of many types of trout and are very easy to use for beginner trout fishermen.

Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Vibrant
• Easy to use
• Great for freshwater
• Versatile

Cons:

• Only good for freshwater

Bottom Line

If you are an avid freshwater angler, the Berkley PowerBait Egg Cluster bait is going to work wonders for you. Using this in freshwater is a great way to attract many trout. The bright orange color makes it easy for you to catch the biggest trout in rivers, lakes, and ponds.

8. Atlas-Mike’s Super Scented Shrimp Mallows – Best Value for Money

The Atlas and Mikes Marshmallows offer the best value for money. This bait is simple to use and can be combined with other types of bait, such as night crawlers or salmon eggs, or used alone.

To bait trout, these mallows float bait off the bottom and away from weeds, and rocks, keeping it at levels that trout can easily get to.

There are many options for colors and smell combinations. They are brightly colored, which is highly appealing to trout, especially brown and stocked trout. They also contain a shrimp taste, which is one of trout fish’s favorite scents.

Pros VS Cons:

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Great for beginners
• Ideal for brown and stocked trout
• Good value for money

Cons:

• Not as sturdy as other baits

Bottom Line

The Atlas-Mike’s Super Scented shrimp mallows are the perfect shrimp-scented bait for trout. They offer good value for money as they are easy to use, affordable, and versatile.

How to Pick the Best Trout Bait?

Trout fishing can be made really easy with the right type of bait. To choose the right type of bait, there are some factors that you will need to consider.

Let’s break down these factors in more detail:

Scent

Trout are attracted to smelly baits. It is not always necessary to buy pungent, smelly baits, but it sure does help. Some of the smells that trout prefer include garlic, corn, cheese, and much more. As mentioned above, there are many types of bait for trout that offer pungent smells.

Color

Trout are not only attracted to smells but they are also attracted to bright colors. You might want to consider investing in a type of bait that is vibrant. Most trout prefer pink and yellow colors, depending on the type of trout you are fishing for.

There are also some other types of baits that provide UV coating, which can be great for nighttime fishing or dirty water conditions. You can be sure that you will attract even the biggest type of trout if your bait is colorful enough.

Size

You should also consider the size of your bait because different trout species vary in size. Creek chubs, for example, might not provide you with the same size of trout as worms would. It is good to research the type of trout you are after and then choose your bait accordingly.

Handling

For beginner anglers, the gross aspect of live bait is its main disadvantage. Strangely enough, many anglers, including experienced anglers, dislike handling live bait. This is something that should be taken into account when looking for trout bait. It is all up to personal preferences.

That being said, there are also some safety concerns. Grasshoppers, for example, can be challenging to handle without getting pinched. If you’re trying to bait your hook with this sort of bait, you should consider the dangers of doing so.

The Type of Trout

As mentioned earlier, it is also important to consider the type of trout you are after. Although many trout fish are not going to be extremely picky, some baits work better for certain types of baits compared to others.

For example, rainbow trout fish prefer bait nuggets and maggots, while brown trout prefer bait worms. Always make sure you know what type of trout you are seeking to be able to get the best type of bait for them. If you are a beginner trout angler, however, it is okay to buy different types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does Garlic Attract Trout?

Trout are attracted to garlic because of its sulfur content. Garlic also contains amino acids that are useful for trout. These are the two main reasons why trout are attracted to garlic scents. Many baits with garlic scents work great for trout fishing.

Does Cinnamon Attract Trout?

Cinnamon can attract trout if it is mixed with some other types of bait such as boilies, pop-ups, and other artificial baits. The reason cinnamon is good for trout is because of its strong, spicy flavor, which is one of the main aspects of bait that trout are attracted to.

What Kind of Cheese Do Trout Like?

Cheddar cheese is one of the best cheese scents to use for trout. Cheddar cheese can be melted, molded, or used naturally. All forms of cheddar cheese work just as well. Trout are also attracted to other types of cheese.

Level Up your Trout Fishing

• Gear up with the best Trout Fishing Rods here
• Check out the best Trout Fishing Reels here
• Find the best fishing lines for Trout here
• Get larger trouts faster with these trout baits that NEVER fail
• Learn about hook sizing for trout here, and the best baits for rainbow trout here.
• You can’t go wrong with these powerbaits for trout.
• Get larger steelheads with these baits
• These Steelhead Lures are the experts’ picks for the year, and it’s easy to see why

Helpful Resources

Trout Fishing: How-To Techniques and Tips to Catch More Fish

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