by John Kruse, May 08, 2007

I’ve got to admit that when it comes to trout, I’m a spinner and spoon junkie. I can cast flies well enough to fool the occasional cutthroat and can troll for rainbows as well as the next guy, but casting for trout with spinning gear remains my favorite way to hook into these fish.

It must be the way I was raised. My first lessons in trout catching occurred on the Poudre River in Colorado, where I used spinners to catch these silvery fish while the grown-ups cast dry flies. As a teen my father and I would venture over to the Yakima River for day trips where I would catch feisty rainbows and whitefish with brass spinners. As a Boy Scout, I discovered the joys of hiking to alpine lakes, and catching fish with spinners and spoons came naturally.

Today, I still enjoy fishing in lakes for trout. Some of these lakes are alpine lakes I fish in the summer months. Others are Eastern Washington desert lakes that offer good fishing in the spring and fall. For both types of lakes, I’ve often found I need a small lure I can cast a great distance. The reason why is simple; many of these lakes are basin shaped, starting off shallow and slowly dropping off. The majority of the fish are hanging in deeper water and you need a lure that can get out to them.

I’ve been disappointed by several popular spinners. They work great for small streams, but their non-aerodynamic shape or lack of weight works against them when it comes to casting for distance. Because of this I started fishing spoons more and more. They were sometimes not as effective as a spinner, but at least I could get them out there. Two of my favorites are Acme Kastmasters and Luhr Jensen Krocodile spoons. The Krocodile spoons have also worked well as a trolled lure. Not a bad deal – troll it, stop the boat, and cast it. Either way, it catches fish.

A few years ago I discovered the Mack’s Promise Keeper spinner. I’m glad I did. The 1/8 oz spinner is shaped in a way that I can cast it much further than any comparable spinner. This extra distance – coupled with the nice spinning of action of the mylar blade even at slow speeds – has been a Godsend. I can cast it, let it sink for a bit, and then either reel it in at a steady pace or by using a stop and pause retrieve. Both ways work well for drawing strikes from hungry alpine trout, big Lahontan cutthroat, or chunky 14-inch Dry Falls Lake rainbow trout like the one I caught, photographed and released this April.

Promise Keeper spinners, as well as Krocodile spoons and Kastmasters all come in a variety of colors and patterns. If one color is not working, don’t be afraid to switch to another until you find the pattern the trout are looking for. Be sure to try one of these lures the next time you go fishing at your favorite trout lake. Chances are, you’ll be glad you did.