5 Best Ice Fishing Lures For Brown Trout
So you’ve ventured out on the icy lake to snag yourself some brown trout, one of the heftiest and most delicious fish that you can catch. But what is the best fishing lure that you can use to grab one of the underwater beasts?
The brown trout is probably one of the smartest fish that lurks under the water. These creatures thrive off eating smaller fish and insects, so you’ll want to make sure that your lure mimics its most sought-after prey.
You’ll want a lure that you can control and maneuver in various different ways. You’ll need something that you can sink right to the bottom of your water bed, stirring up sediment along the bottom and whipping your fish up into a frenzy.
So where can you find the right lure for hooking in a brown trout? How can you find something that will trick this larger fish and get it into your catch bag?
What lure will last you for the longest and what is made from the most durable material? How much will you have to pay for a decent ice fishing lure?
Well, if you want the answers to these questions and a whole lot more, then we would suggest that you keep reading. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best fishing lures that you can currently find on the market. We also have a buyer’s guide that will help you find what you are looking for.
Table of Contents
Best Ice Fishing Lures For Brown Trout Reviews
Acme Kastmaster Fishing Lure
This first lure is one that you can use in both fresh and saltwater scenarios, with a versatile range that allows you to troll, jig and cast from the shore confidently into open water.
This is made from a solid metal composition and you can be sure that it will last you for years of consecutive fishing - introducing the Acme Kastmaster Fishing Lure.
This fish is made with solid plating that is fused using electromagnets. When it comes to handling and jigging capacity, you can’t go far wrong with this lure.
It weighs half an ounce, which makes it perfect for sinking to the bottom of the icy depths. This will not fracture or crack after extended exposure to the ice.
This lure is amazing at replicating the movement of one of the brown trout’s favorite prey: the minnow.
With a little jigging, you can be certain that brown trout will be coming very close to investigate this fish’s behavior. Combine this lure with some live bait and you’ll be certain to pique a trout’s interest.
Pros:
- This lure is one of the strongest on this list. Made from solid metal, you can be sure that it will be both resilient and highly visible in icy waters.
- This is a very durable lure, not only will you be able to use it for months after purchase, but it is the perfect artificial bait for you and any trout that happens to wander into its path.
- Hungry trout will simply not be able to resist this fish - this resembles a lot of the key prey that a brown trout will be more or less drawn to.
- This is a very heavy lure, which is important if you are using it to cast your line out deep into the water.
Cons:
- With top quality comes a pretty hefty price. You’ll want to be sure that you want to catch trout if you are going to hand over money for this premium lure.
Swedish Pimple Jig
This next lure is another very crucial one for fishing. All you have to do is wrap a worm or a maggot onto the line and you can be sure that your trout will come flocking.
This will mimic the movement for dying fish bait which is the most attractive thing to a trout - introducing the Swedish Pimple Jig.
The best method of luring in your trout with this artificial bait is by jigging it repeatedly until you get a bite.
The trout will think this is a dying fish and will soon swoop in to gobble the whole thing up. This comes in plenty of seductive colors, not only giving you a very vivid lure but only one that reflects your style.
This is probably one of the most flamboyant yet resilient lures. You can be sure that you’ll have everything you need to get a trout on the hook, although some users might be against using this one as it is slightly more garish than other brands.
Pros:
- The flipper will add to the bounce of the lure in the water, which is exactly what you’ll need to draw this fish in.
- You’ll have a high degree of control over this fish lure, it will give you everything that you need for a realistic fish motion.
- This is very heavy and will sink in the water nicely. Most fish have flippers that will mimic the natural bob and weave of fish in real life.
- This is a very solid lure, you can be certain that it will last you a while in your fishing tackle box, even if you plan on using it regularly.
Cons:
- The price - ice fishing lures are very expensive, so you can be sure that you will be paying a hefty price for one of the gadgets
Northland Tackle UV Buck-Shot Spoon
This next lure is great for vertical fishing, allowing you to drop the line fast and firm even into the most challenging of water conditions.
You can get either the super-glo rainbow trout color or the super-glo fire tiger, either will give exactly the level of visibility even in the murkiest of waters - introducing the Northland Tackle UV Buck-Shot Spoon.
This lure is meant to replicate the look of foraging minnows, and it really is very good at beckoning your fish that little bit closer.
You might have to start by aggressively jiggling your lure to get the attention of your trout.
Once you have your trout’s attention, you just need to dial down the attack and initiate the final pull.
Pros:
- This is what is commonly called ‘an attack lure’, which means that it is very aggressive when it comes to tricking your trout out of the water.
- This is a very heavy lure, not only is it great for straight vertical fishing, but you can be sure that it will plumb the depths of most oceans.
- This versatile fishing lure will give you everything that you need for ice and deep lake fishing. Some fishers have even stated that this one works well with their river fishing game.
- You should try and get this lure to replicate a dying minnow, as this will certainly excite any trout in the nearby area.
Cons:
- This might be too garish for a lot of fishers who prefer to keep their fishing game a lot more toned down.
Rapala Jigging Shad Rap
This next fishing lure has plenty of bite when it comes to hunting out brown trout.
This lure can be used as an aggressive vertical lure with a sharp bite or you can let it descend into a slow spiral, allowing the trout to get closer before you do that amazing final pull - introducing the Rapala Jigging Shad Rap.
This is probably the most versatile of fishing lures, giving you everything that you need for fishing at different depths.
As you can see by taking one look at this fish, it has all the colors you need to make it very visible to your target.
You can make this lure dance and jig, giving you everything that you need to catch your trout in any way you like.
Pros:
- This will mimic a striking or flailing minnow. The varied nature of the movements will allow you to lure in all different types of fish, not just brown trout.
- This will trick most trout into striking, so all you have to do is work on your pulling technique to make sure that the fish gets out of the water nice and clean.
- This fish lure is very brawny, making it great for snagging bigger fish such as the trout.
- This fish comes with staccato twitches, which is what you need to get your trout on the side and towards your line. It also blends in nicely with the clear blue and white of ice water.
Cons:
- This lure is slightly too hefty for a lot of fishers to use, especially if they are casting their line out into deep water. You might want to make sure that your line is thick enough to reel in this larger fish.
Leland Lures Trout Magnet Neon Kit
Our final lure is designed to skewer trout in streams, although we have found that it provides you with just as much success on the ice.
This comes with a very impressive jig head that you can combine with some bait to make it irresistible to a lot of larger trout - introducing the Leland Lures Trout Magnet Neon Kit.
This fishing lure is designed to replicate the movement of fish in the natural environment, with a split tail that does not result in much movement in the head.
This bait comes in a variety of different colors, which makes it a great trout lure. You can be sure that this fish will show up and move like a lot of fishes do in the wild.
Pros:
- This fish will come with plenty of wax-like colors, although we would recommend using bright rainbow colors to lure in a particularly aggressive trout.
- This is great for using to attract bait from the very bottom of the river bed. Not only does this come with the realistic movement of a flailing fish, but it has everything you need for that strong pull at the end.
- This is great for hard water trout anglers, coming with plenty of resilience that can resist even the hardest bite from your prey.
- This resembles a lot of the prey that trout are susceptible to out in the colder Northern water regions.
Cons:
- The price - this is another very expensive lure, so make sure that you are 100% committed to the brave task of ice water trout fishing before splashing out on an expensive pair of these.
Buyer’s Guide
When you are buying fishing accessories for retrieving trout from the bottom of the deep ice lakes, then there will be a few must-have attributes for your lure.
You’ll want to make sure that your lure is durable enough to weather the icy temperatures over and over again. Here are a few things you’ll be looking for from your next trout lure:
How Visible Is Your lure?
It is widely known that trout really go for smaller and more brightly colored fish. If you get a lure that comes in a whole host of different colors, then we would recommend using the brightest ones when you go out ice fishing.
How Much Does Your Fishing Lure Cost?
Ultimately, you’ll only want to be buying one lure every few months. Ideally, you’ll want to have a few in your arsenal that you can switch between. Having this versatility in your tackle box will enable you to catch more fish and switch it up if you feel like catching salmon instead of trout.
How Strong Are Your Lures?
You’ll want to have some lures that are able to withstand the repeated icy temperatures. If you have lures that were made from plastic, then you can expect them to crack pretty quickly even after one fishing session.
We would recommend that you have lures made from metal, as they will be able to conduct the cold temperatures a lot better.
A lure is one of the most important things that you can have for your fish. You’ll want to make sure that you have something that can last you at least 6 months of continuous use. We would also recommend that you regularly clean your lure to avoid erosion.
How Does It Move?
The main thing that attracts your trout to the lure is the way that it moves. Ultimately it needs to look like the prey that the trout commonly feeds on.
Minnows are one of the things that are commonly drawn to a trout, so make sure that your lure moves like one of these creatures either dying or struggling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Live Bait To Use On A Lure?
Live bait only adds to the appeal of your lure for a fish. We would recommend putting something like a nightcrawler on your lure to make sure that a trout will immediately sniff this out and be drawn to the prey.
What Is The Best Method Of Presenting Your Lure?
You should try and set up two rods beside each other, one baited with live food and another baited with one of the lures we have listed above. This way, you can be sure that if the trout has no interest in one, then they might be taken with another.
You should also start by dangling your lure in a very shallow part of the river. Trout need around 2 to 6 feet of water, so make sure that these fish have plenty of room to maneuver, teasing them out into the shallower end before encouraging them to take either your lure or some live bait.
One more method we would use is electronic fish finders. Don’t be afraid to use these amazing devices to detect all the fish that you can see in the surrounding area. This won’t be cheating, as you are still using a natural method of trying to snag a trout or other similarly large fish.
Our Final Say
We hope that our list of the above lures has helped you to determine which ones are the best for your trout fishing needs. Remember the more durable that your fishing rod is then the better you’ll be able to use your lure. Pick a lure that is made from solid steel, so it will be able to resist the cold temperatures much better.
Do not spend too much on your first ice lure, although you can be certain that these will cost more than your average shallow water lure. You can even try a cheaper lure and then graduate upwards as you get more confident with your line.
If you’re new to trout fishing you should check out our latest guide: Trout Fishing 101: Ultimate Guide To Trout Fishing For Beginners
