Catching trout is always a challenge, but fishing them in a lake takes a real understanding of their movement, habits, and appetite. Trout can be difficult to find in a lake, and when you find them, they’re not always hungry.
For this reason, it’s important for any skill level angler to know the best lake trout lures out there to have a successful day out on the water.
Putting the time and research into your lure will save disappointment and hassle once you are all packed up and ready to hit the lake. Sometimes a great lure can overcome even sleepiest trout.
Lucky for you, I’ve put together a list of my favorite lake trout lures!
My all-time favorite lure for lake trout is the Luhr Jensen Krocodile Spoon. This lure is a nice mix of high quality and affordability, with the results to make it a go-to in your tackle box. The color and finish selections are plentiful, giving every lake trout a chance to land in your boat.
There are a couple things we have to go over first, because even the best lure works better with an informed angler casting it.
Table of Contents
- What Time of Day Should I Fish for Trout in a Lake?
- Where Do I Look for Trout in a Lake?
- What Color and Size Lure Should I Choose for Lake Trout?
- TOP 8 Best Lake Trout Fishing Lures
- Choose the Right Lure for the Right Job
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What Time of Day Should I Fish for Trout in a Lake?
Trout hate the light and they like the cold. You’ll have to fit these two bits of information together to get a judge for your particular circumstances, but there are some general guidelines to follow for fishing trout in a lake.
The first is that any time at dawn or dusk is the best time of day for fishing trout. Not only is it cooler these times of day, but the light is low. There is also a lot of prey activity, meaning they are already looking to feed.
Secondly, if a stretch of your day is meant to be more overcast than the rest, this would be the best time of day to catch lake trout. It’s always more pleasant to fish in the sun, but the fish don’t really care for it.
Sunlight makes it difficult for trout to see prey on the lake’s surface due to the glare. Even if you have a great lure, they may not even see it if the sun is shining too brightly.
Where Do I Look for Trout in a Lake?
Trout that reside in a lake go deep, especially during the summer. They love cold temperatures and will often be found 30 feet or deeper.
Look for structures and shoals with deep drop-offs nearby. Of course, if you are unfamiliar with the area a depth finder is crucial to hunting trout in a lake.
Sometimes trout can also be found near cold-water inlets. If you can ask some locals at the bait shop where cold water pours into the lake, you may find a big school of trout.
What Color and Size Lure Should I Choose for Lake Trout?
Conventional trout anglers know that trout like small lures with a lot of flash. If you’re picking up bait, eggs and small worms are a great bet. Hooks will be smaller for the same sized trout as other fish in that particular habitat.
However, lake trout can be very large compared to other species in the same lake. So, if you’re looking to catch a large lake trout, you’ll need to fish with a large lure.
Spinners, crankbaits and jigs work great, but spoons are arguably the best for lake trout.
Of course, if you are fishing a massive lake, and have the ability to get to depth (sometimes over 150 ft!), you can fish with massive lures.
Because you’re fishing deep, you’ll want to choose brighter colors for them to pick out against the dark water. Whites, pinks and chartreuse are some great options. The most important thing is that the trout will notice your lure at depth; It’s hard to see at the bottom of a lake!
It’s Time to Talk Lures
Now that we’ve gotten some basics out of the way, let’s take a look at my favorite lures. There are good lake trout lures for every scenario, so we’ll dive into which lures fit which, what colors to choose, where to fish them, and how to cast them.
TOP 8 Best Lake Trout Fishing Lures
Luhr Jensen Krocodile Spoon
Let’s get the all-around best lake trout lure out first. This lure is a killer on monster lake trout, with bright colors, great movement, and huge flash.
The heavy spade shape produces a movement that really makes trout mad. The smaller sizes come with a red magic flipper tail that does even more work attracting a bite, and the trailing treble hook will make sure you don’t lose your bite.
The Krocodile Spoon has 9 sizes to choose from for even the biggest trout in your lake and the color selection is unmatched.
I like to go with the silver/blue combo for deep trout. Check out your local prey fish population and match up the perfect Krocodile Spoon. Don’t forget trout will eat their own, this lure comes in both a brown trout and rainbow trout color pattern.
The corrosion resistant chrome over solid brass means this lure will keep going and going, even after getting hit hard all season. It is also one of the most affordable lures on the list, giving angler’s an opportunity to own a few.
Pros
- Tough brass/chrome construction – can also be used in saltwater.
- Big flashy movement with added red magic flipper tail.
- Huge color and size selection.
- Very affordable, grab a couple colors and sizes.
- Versatile spoon for lake trout.
Cons
- None! This is my favorite lake trout lure.
Takeaway
If a spoon is what you’re after, and most lake trout anglers are after spoons, then this is a great place to start. This tough little spoon is very affordable with great flash and tons of colors and sizes to choose from.
Pro-Troll Trout Killer Spoon with EChip
Now here’s an interesting lure built specifically for trolling. The Trout Killer is already a solid spoon, but has had EChip technology added in to make it even deadlier. It’s the perfect lure for muddy, dark water or less than ideal lake conditions.
The EChip simulates the voltage discharge of prey fish, drawing in lake trout from even further away than sight would.
This pre-installed chip mimics the same vibration that would attract a trout to his normal dinner, and comes in the matching prey colors to complete the mirage. Isn’t technology great?
This lure ships with a 36” leader and 10lb weight, with a red flicker tail to really encourage a hit. The Trout Killer is set up to go right out on the lake and catch a big trout, as long as you have a boat to tie it behind.
My favorite color is the holo rainbow, which will pull in shy rainbow trout from a distance. It’s my go-to rainbow trout lure.
Pros
- Echip mimics the electronic vibrations of bait fish.
- Specifically for trolling.
- Pulls trout from further away than traditional spoons.
- Ships with 36” leader and 10 lb weight.
- Bright, realistic colors.
- Surprisingly affordable for an EChip Spoon.
Cons
- Requires a boat.
- Only four color options available.
Takeaway
If you enjoy trolling for lake trout, this lure is right up your alley. Even if you only troll to find the trout, the EChip’s increased range will have you locating the school in no time.
Acme Kastmaster Fishing Spoon
Arguably the most versatile and affordable lure on the list, the Kastmaster Fishing Spoon is perfect for finding lake trout. It has a long, efficient casting profile and a durable build. These little lures are ready to spin all day long, until you’re on top of the big guys.
This fishing spoon is designed for efficiency and cost consideration. There are multiple sizes and colors to choose from, so you can get the most ideal lure for your situation. I prefer the 1 oz on a baitcaster looking for big lake trout.
What sets this lure apart is its castability. This thing zings out exactly where you want it.
Even the lighter versions on smaller rigs really get some distance. On top of that, the lure won’t spin your line once you start to reel.
The movement on 10-15 lb test is just what you’re looking for if you’re out fishing lake trout, and you can either take advantage of the long casts or troll it behind.
The Kastmaster’s Fishing Spoon is solidly constructed, machine-cut brass and chrome, you can even take it out to saltwater if you’re interested.
Pros
- Affordable and versatile.
- Long and precise casting, even in the smaller sizes.
- Won’t spin your line.
- Trolling or baitcasting lure for lake trout.
- Tons of colors and sizes available.
- Solid machine-cut construction.
- Great for finding trout.
- Optional bucktail version for even more trout appeal.
Cons
- Relatively predictable movement.
Takeaway
The Kastmaster Fishing Spoon is a great all-around lure and a staple in my tackle box. The price point is low for such high-quality construction, and it casts better than much more expensive lures.
Luhr Jensen Super Duper
Now this is a lure to tie on if the trout are really sleepy, or if the angler pressure is particularly heavy on the lake you’re trying to fish. It is a unique design with underwater movement unlike any other, which is always a bonus when fishing such a popular game fish.
The bent u-shape on this spoon creates a big wobble and a ton of flash. It creates a side-to-side erratic action that trout can’t get bored of.
This makes it one of the best lake trout lures for trolling in my book, creating a diverse display without interference or jigging.
There are several color options to choose from, my favorite is the chartruese/fire dot for lake fishing. It’s nice and bright, and makes the big guys really angry. The super-duper comes in five different sizes, so you can size the lure to the size of your lake.
Pros
- Wild, unique movement.
- Great for over-fished, sleepy lake trout.
- Nice, bright colors and flash.
- Great lake trout trolling lure.
- 5 different sizes to choose from.
Cons
- Less flash than a traditional spoon.
Takeaway
This is the most unique spoon on my list. The movement will be something your trout haven’t seen. It’s a solid option for trolling, due to its erratic movement at any speed and without jigging.
Lunkerhunt Straight Up Jig Fishing Lure
While I recommend bright, vivid colors for deep water lake trout, there is always a time and a place for a realistic lure. The time is usually winter when the water is clear (check out my top winter trout lures for other ideas!) The place is a pristine clear water lake.
If you’re one of those lucky anglers fishing a clear gravel bottom lake for trout, it’s worth a look at this Straight Up Jig by Lunkerhunt.
Lunkerhunt makes some of the most realistic colors and patterns on the market, and this jig is a great example. With big 3D eyes and beautiful color gradients, it’s almost as good as tying on an actual bait fish.
What makes it possibly better is the absolutely crushing number of hooks included with this lure. There are upturned hooks both front and back, and a treble hook dangling from the bottom. Your coldwater lake trout can hit from any angle and still get snagged.
If you choose the brown trout color pattern, this is a great brown trout lure for fishing clear, cold-water lakes. With such realistic looks and movement, you can reel it quickly for territory strikes just to find the trout.
Pros
- Very realistic looking lure with 3D eyes and great colors.
- 3 different hooks: front, middle, and back for hooking every bite.
- Good movement on the way down and with any speed reeling.
- Realistic color and shape encourage same species territory hits.
- Great for cold, clear water.
Cons
- No flash or bright colors, may be hard for trout to find.
Takeaway
If your lake is clear and you’re looking to reel in some big trout, you’ll need to find some more realistic options than traditional trout lures.
It’s easy to match your prey fish, or trout species, when picking out a Lunkerhunt Straight Up Fishing Jig. A hook on the front, back, and middle will give you a fighting chance of pulling up a trophy trout.
If you’re tired of spoons and considering switching it up this season, the Berkely Atomic Teaser is my best jig for lake trout. Berkely has taken the guess work out of rigging your own jig head, this thing comes pre-rigged and ready to cast.
This power bait has great movement after it lands, floating gently to the bottom with both tentacles and a trailer to entice fish to bite.
I like the bleeding pearl color combination; it’s got just enough pop to wake up your local lake trout. This is my pick for best lake trout lure for ice fishing. The action on the way down is too much for cold water trout.
As a soft bait, trout are less likely to spit this thing out once they grab on, but there is only one hook for them to catch. It’ll take a little practice using this in your local waterway, but once you get the hang of finesse fishing this power bait, the trout will come.
Pros
- Small profile to encourage bites.
- Tentacles and trailer for great movement while sinking or being reeled.
- Bright colors and soft body.
- Pre-rigged, no jig head or hook shopping required.
Cons
- Expensive for only 3 set-ups, cheaper to build yourself.
- Soft baits are only semi-durable, and will only be good for a few fish.
Takeaway
While there are other, cheaper lures to try if you’re ready to enter the world of lake trout jigs, this is a great one to start with. Berkely has taken a bit of the hassle out of soft baits, with a great all-around trout jig.
Panther Martin Weed Runner Spinner
It’s not a lake if it doesn’t have heavy cover. Panther Martin is a trusted brand with top trout lures, for a price. I chose this Weed Runner spinner/soft bait combination because at least the intention is not to lose it.
With a buried hook, this lure should only hang up after a fish has crushed it (hopefully on them).
This lure has great movement, even swimming through heavy cover. It comes as one-part jig head, spinner and hook, one-part soft tail with a split fin.
Panther Martin sends an extra tail with your order, for when this one hopefully gets shredded by a big trout.
The concave spinner puts off enough flash to attract lake trout, and the soft bait is appealing to them once they bite. The hook will come free when a serious enough fish attacks, though you won’t be snagging any with this lure.
Pros
- The best of both worlds, a spinner and a soft bait jig.
- Many loud trout-attracting colors to choose from.
- Perfect for lakes with heavy cover, the hook is embedded in the bait.
- Lots of flash with a realistic tail.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Not very durable.
Takeaway
Panther Martin has a solid track record with trout lures, and this one is no exception. This is the perfect lure if you’re looking for trout in thick cover. It’s got great action even in the toughest conditions.
Strike King Pro-Model XD Crankbait
Sometimes a deep diving crankbait is the only move when you’re looking for a monster lake trout. I love Strike King and I love this crankbait.
You’ll get 19’ of dive from the XD series crankbaits, and best of all, once it hits the bottom the action gets even better. It skitters around like a real prey-fish and attracts big bites from passing trout.
Not only will this thing get you down where the action is, once you’re there, the internal chamber of the bait rattles to attract lake trout from further away. This combined with the classic crankbait wobble is hard for trout to miss.
A slow reel with this lure in the citrus shad color is perfect for my shy lake trout. Not only are there a ton of color options in this crank bait, but they are all realistically and brightly painted.
Pros
- My best lake trout crank bait.
- 19’ of dive.
- Nice erratic action along the bottom.
- Rattle feature to attract trout from further away.
- Lots of realistic and bright color options.
Cons
- Big lake trout can be over 30’ deep (up to 200!), if you’re fishing these a crank bait will be difficult to find.
Takeaway
This is a great trout crankbait at a reasonable price. The bottom action is an added bonus after a splashy trip to depth. This little lure will plow down almost 20’ in search of lake trout.
Choose the Right Lure for the Right Job
We’ve gone over lures for muddy water, clear water, heavy cover, and everything in between. To catch a big lake trout I like to have a lure for every situation in my tackle box.
Lucky for us, many of these lures are highly adaptable and great for other species, applications, and even saltwater!
Trout are aggressive, intelligent predators, and keeping up with them is a challenge, especially in a lake where it’s difficult to even see the terrain, much less the fish. If in doubt, go with a spoon, and always keep a couple spare on the boat!