Top 5 Trout Fishing Gear Essentials

Trout fishing is one of the most popular forms of sport fishing. The beautiful scenery these fisheries are often located in and the vibrant colors and patterns of the fish make trout fishing a rewarding endeavor. Because of the nature of trout fisheries, some extra gear besides just a rod and lure can be nice to have and make the experience more comfortable and successful. With all the gear in fly shops and online, however, it can be hard to determine what you need, what is nice to have, and what gimmicks you’ll use once and wish you hadn’t bought. Below, I’ll go through five categories of fishing gear, telling you what is important and nice to have for your best fishing experience.

Trout Fishing Gear Essentials

Fishing Rods and Reels:

A fishing rod and reel are a few of the must-haves for trout fishing, whether spin fishing or fly fishing. Having a rod suited to the situation makes the trip easier and more enjoyable. 

A good spinning rod for trout fishing will depend on the kind of water and size of trout you plan to catch, but I would recommend a light action five-and-a-half to six-foot rod. This will allow you to have a good casting distance with light lures, and the rod will be suited to the size of the average trout. 

For reels, anything in the 1000 to 3000 range can be good, but just make sure it isn’t too big for the rod you’ve chosen. If you are planning to fly fish, I suggest a nine-foot, five-weight rod. This rod is well suited to mid-size water and is very versatile, allowing you to throw numerous different flies and rigs. If you plan on fishing smaller creeks in harder-to-cast places, pick a smaller rod like a seven-foot three-weight, but for most, I would suggest the 5wt. Fly reels tend to be much less important than reels on a spinning rod. Because you don’t need to use the reel to cast, all it really becomes is a line holder, especially for those catching trout less than fifteen or so inches. Because of this, I recommend spending a good amount on the rod but less on the reel. There are some very good options for under forty dollars.  

Fishing Line and Hooks:

Trout are finicky fish, and this is mostly because they have excellent eyesight. This is why if you walk up to a pool and your shadow casts over it, you might see the fish spook. This is also why trout fishermen use lightweight lines and small hooks, which may be the most important gear for trout.

For the spin fishermen, I would put four to six-pound monofilament on your reel. If you plan to fish for twenty-plus inch trout, go with ten to twenty pounds, but for almost every scenario, the lightest line you think won’t break off is the best option. 

Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Trout Fishing Rig: Techniques, Tips, and Tackle

Hooks are not as important as they are typically hidden by the bait or lure, and this is a good measure of whether you have the right size hook. When bait fishing for trout, ensure the hook is just bigger than whatever bait you have on it. I also recommend using barbless hooks if you are doing catch and release, as trout are notoriously frail fish (you can also pinch the barb with a pair of pliers). Any hooks will do, and you don’t need anything heavy, as trout are a smaller species of fish. 

Fly line is a bit more complicated, but there are really only a few important things to know. One is to get a fly line (color does not matter, just choose your favorite) that matches the weight of your rod, so a 5wt line for a 5wt rod. You will see people tell you to ‘overweight’ your line by getting a heavier size, but this is not necessary and will make your casting worse. For leaders, the same principle applies to spin fishing. The lighter the line, the more strikes you will get, though it is important to remember in both scenarios to put the strongest line you can get away with on your reel or leader.  

Baits and Lures

Next to the rod and line, bait and lures are the most important pieces of trout fishing equipment you can have. Natural bait like nightcrawlers and corn are tried and true bait that will catch fish about anywhere. 

Depending on the species of trout, I like to vary my lure selection a little bit, but for the most part, you can catch whichever species is in the system you are fishing with the lures I’ll mention. 

For spin fishing, I recommend small crank baits, jerk baits, or inline spinners. The most effective of these in my experience, is a simple inline spinner like a panther martin. 

When fishing catch and release, it is best practice again to pinch the barb on the hook and use a single hook instead of a treble. 

When fly fishing, there are thousands of different lure patterns that you can use, and none of them will work if fished correctly. As we already have an article about the best lures, including flies, I won’t go into too much detail here. If fly fishing, I recommend bringing a basic nymph fly pattern and a larger dry fly pattern like a chubby Chernobyl. These will allow you the variety needed to target all depths of water, including the surface, and maximize your chances of catching a fish. Having a good lure selection and the essentials will mean you have the trout fishing must-haves and can focus on the gear that is not essential for catching trout. 

Read also: The Best Trout Lures: A Comprehensive Guide

Fishing Accessories

When trout fishing, one of the most crucial tools to make your life easier is a net. While it is not necessary to land fish, without it you are far more likely to break off or lose fish just before you are able to land it. There are dozens of different net options, from small wooden ones to large boat nets, but for the average fisherman, I recommend a smaller wading net that won’t inhibit your movement too much if you have it on your body. 

Some people prefer to carry a backpack instead of wearing a vest which I will talk about below. I personally use a backpack because I can throw whatever I need in it and don’t have to worry about how much I can carry. I also use it to hold my net, so it has a double purpose. Most dedicated trout fishing backpacks or sling bags will have easy access pockets so you can access lures and flies easily while wading. You will have to decide how much you want to be able to carry before you pick a bag, and this is really up to personal preference. I like to carry a few extra flies than I need and a rain jacket so I have a bigger backpack, but if you just want the essentials, then a smaller sling bag will do the trick just fine. 

A good pair of pliers is also good to have for trout fishing. Because the fish are delicate and have small mouths, it is much easier to remove hooks with a pair of needle nose pliers than by hand. I have a pair that has a small nose for hook removal and a scissor section for cutting line, so I only need to carry one pair. There are countless spin or fly-fishing-specific accessories, but as long as you have a net, bag, and pair of pliers, you have the trout fishing essentials.

Apparel for Fishing

The final category of essential trout fishing equipment contains waders, boots, and other apparel. 

Waders are a super nice addition to your trout fishing collection, as trout waters are often quite cold. Getting the perfect cast or even accessing the hole you want to fish often requires you to get in the water and walk to it, and the comfort of not having to get wet to do that is often taken for granted by us who have waders. 

There are several different kinds of waders, ranging from below-the-hip to chest waders. Chest waders are probably the most popular, and they provide water resistance all the way up to your chest. Though I almost never go that deep as it is difficult to stand in water the deep, the added protection is good to have for splashing and in case you slip. The two common wader materials are Gore-Tex and neoprene. Neoprene waders are much cheaper but are also quite hot, while Gore-Tex waders are typically more comfortable and cooler, much better for warmer weather. 

Waders sometimes also require you to get boots. Some waders will come with a built-in boot, while others (called stocking-foot) do not. In this case, you will have to get a pair of wading boots. Felt and rubber are the two most common sole options, and I prefer rubber over the other two. It is much more comfortable if you must hike in to have rubber soles, though felt does provide a better grip on rocks in some conditions. Both are great options, though, and a good wading boot will last you forever. 

Some trout fishermen elect to wear a vest instead of carrying a backpack or sling bag. These have pockets on the front that allow you to carry all the gear you need, like pliers and lures, in a convenient location. 

Another piece of clothing that is in my collection is a sunshirt. I find a good, hooded sun shirt to be my favorite thing to wear for fishing in the warmer months. Not only does a good sun hoody keep you from needing sunscreen, but it also helps to keep you cool.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the things that are marketed toward trout fishermen, but I believe the things I’ve mentioned above are the best pieces of gear for trout fishing. 

Having a rod and reel with appropriate lines along with the correct lures for your style of fishing will ensure you have the bare essentials, while a net, waders, and backpack or vest will ensure you have the most comfortable and successful time on the water. 

It is important to not get caught up in having all the pieces of gear above. The most important thing that will help you catch fish is experience. Also, consider purchasing any gear you need from a local fly shop, as they are frequently located just minutes from great trout waters and carry everything I’ve mentioned above. 

Now you know what you need and what you don’t, get out on the water and catch some trout!