The most productive rainbow trout setup we fish is a double rig: a 1/16 oz jighead carrying a 2-inch floating trout worm, with a small fly tied 10 to 12 inches above it. It imitates two natural food sources at once and lets the trout choose, which is why it outproduces single-lure presentations in streams, rivers, lakes and stocked ponds alike.
Quick Answer: The Rig We Would Fish Anywhere
| Component | What we use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jighead | 1/16 oz, #1 hook | Casts on light spinning gear while falling slowly enough to stay in the strike zone |
| Bottom bait | 2-inch floating trout worm, neon green | Bright enough to find, buoyant enough to wave while the jighead sits still |
| Upper bait | Small dry fly, nymph or soft hackle on a short dropper | Tied 10 to 12 inches above the jighead so it drifts naturally |
| Line | 6–10 lb braid, 4–6 lb fluorocarbon leader | Braid for distance, fluorocarbon for invisibility |
| Rod and reel | 6′6″–7′ light spinning, 1000–2500 reel | Casts light lures and protects thin leaders |
Instead of forcing trout to make one decision, this rig lets them choose. Some days they ignore the worm and inhale the fly. Other days they never touch the fly and crush the neon green worm. Either way, the jighead carries the rig while the fly drifts naturally just above it.
What Do Rainbow Trout Eat?
Understanding a rainbow trout’s diet makes lure selection much easier. They commonly feed on aquatic insects — mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies and midges — along with worms, minnows, small baitfish, leeches, crawfish and fish eggs. The best trout lures imitate one or more of those natural food sources.
Why Does Neon Green Work So Well?
Over the years we have experimented with nearly every trout worm color available. The one that continually stands out is neon green.
The bright color is easy for trout to locate without looking unnatural, especially in stocked lakes where fish are often reacting rather than selectively feeding. The floating material also gives the worm incredible action — even while the jighead sits nearly motionless, the worm gently waves in the current, creating movement trout struggle to ignore.
Why a 1/16-Ounce Jighead?
For most rainbow trout situations, a 1/16-ounce head with a small hook offers the ideal balance. It casts well on light spinning gear while still falling slowly enough to stay in the strike zone longer, and the lighter weight lets the floating worm work naturally instead of plummeting straight to the bottom.
In deeper lakes or stronger current we will occasionally move heavier, but the 1/16-ounce version remains the confidence bait.
How Should You Fish the Double Rig?
One mistake many anglers make is fishing trout too aggressively. This presentation works best with patience.
In rivers: cast upstream or quartering upstream, allow the rig to drift naturally, lift the rod occasionally to avoid hanging bottom, and let the current do most of the work.
In lakes and ponds: cast beyond likely holding areas, retrieve slowly, pause often, and allow the jighead to fall naturally between movements.
Many strikes occur during the pause. As the jighead falls, the fly hovers slightly above while the floating worm continues to move independently — and that combination often triggers fish that ignore single-lure presentations.
What Other Lures Catch Rainbow Trout?
Although the double rig catches the majority of our trout, several other lure styles continue to produce.
| Lure | When it shines |
|---|---|
| Inline spinners | The best search bait for covering water and locating active fish. Gold and silver blades work nearly everywhere, especially in moving water |
| Small spoons | Imitating injured baitfish at almost any retrieve speed, particularly in larger lakes where trout suspend over deep water |
| Trout crankbaits | When trout are feeding on minnows. Natural trout, shad, perch and silver patterns consistently produce |
| Soft plastic minnows | Larger rainbows that regularly feed on baitfish — small paddle tails and finesse minnows on lightweight jigheads |
| Marabou jigs | Colder water. The feather breathes with almost no movement, which is exactly what inactive trout want |
Where Do Rainbow Trout Hold?
Rainbow trout usually position around areas that provide both food and a current break. Look for creek mouths, current seams, deep pools, undercut banks, fallen timber, weed edges, rocky shorelines, dam tailraces, bridge pilings, points and drop-offs. In stocked ponds, focus on areas near aerators, inflows and deeper water.
How Do Rainbow Trout Patterns Change by Season?
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| Spring | Trout feed aggressively after winter and respond well to worms, flies and small moving baits |
| Summer | Fish early and late in the day, and look deeper as water temperatures rise |
| Fall | Cooling water increases feeding activity. Trout chase minnows and larger presentations |
| Winter | Slow everything down. Small flies, worms and marabou jigs become the best choices |
Final Thoughts
If we could only carry one rainbow trout setup, it would be simple: a 1/16-ounce jighead rigged with a 2-inch neon green floating trout worm, paired with a small fly tied 10 to 12 inches above it.
It imitates two natural food sources at the same time, fishes effectively in streams, rivers, lakes and stocked ponds, and consistently gives trout a reason to bite.
While there are countless trout lures on the market, confidence and simplicity often outperform constantly changing baits. Find a presentation you believe in, fish it slowly, and let the trout tell you whether they want the fly, the worm — or both.
Let them choose. Shop the Ebb N Flow Outdoors Upgrade Series →