3 simple, non-traditional—and very effective—tactics for spring trout

I’m not a morning person, but what I’m watching unfold makes getting out of bed in the early-morning darkness worthwhile—the sun is poking its head over the blue horizon and waking up the big brook trout. I can see small scouting parties of two and three fish cruising the shallow margins of the lake, their reddish-orange bellies contrasting brilliantly with their white-trimmed black fins. It’s a sight to behold, and I wonder if I should disturb it with a cast. Oh, what the heck.

I pitch my lure beside the half-submerged bald branches of a red pine tree that long ago toppled into the water. A stout brookie hears the subtle splash and feels the ripples. It immediately whirls around, spots the falling lure and charges in without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, I feel it hit, then I set the hook and watch the water boil.

I could have just as easily picked up one of the fly rods I have with me, but I chose the spinning outfit instead because it’s much faster, more accurate and—on more days than I care to admit—more productive. And my lure of choice? A minuscule 1/16-ounce black marabou jig.

Yes, the same deadly piece of fluff that has taken the smallmouth bass world by storm over the last seven or so years is also a highly effective lure for trout. Along with Ned rigs and blade baits, marabou jigs are among my favourite, though untraditional, trout lures. Try these outlier baits yourself and you’ll also see how it pays to fish differently for brookies, bulls, cutties, rainbows, splake and tigers. Here’s what you need to know…