Salmon eggs are one of the best baits to use when fishing for trout. But why are trout so attracted to these bright orange eggs? Here is a detailed look at why trout love salmon eggs so much, the best ways to fish them, and tips for making them an effective trout bait
Why Trout Love Salmon Eggs
Trout eat salmon eggs for a few key reasons:
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Natural Instinct – Trout have an instinctive drive to eat salmon eggs. They know that salmon eggs mean an easy, nutritious meal. This makes salmon eggs irresistible to trout
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High in Protein – Salmon eggs are packed with protein. They provide trout with an excellent source of energy. The high protein content makes the eggs nutritious and appealing.
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Scent – Salmon eggs have a strong fishy scent that trout can detect from a distance, The scent draws the trout in as they know a meal is near
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Bright Color – The bright orange hue of salmon eggs grabs the attention of trout. The color makes the eggs easy for trout to spot in the water.
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Taste – Trout love the flavor of salmon eggs. The taste reminds them of an easy natural meal.
So between the natural instinct, nutritional value, scent, color, and taste – trout cannot resist salmon eggs!
How to Fish Salmon Eggs for Trout
To catch trout on salmon eggs, the most effective technique is to drift the eggs along the bottom. This mimics how trout find loose eggs naturally drifting downstream. Here are some tips:
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Use a light rig with a split shot weight to allow the eggs to slowly sink. Attach a size 10-12 baitholder hook and thread 1-2 eggs on.
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Cast upstream and allow the rig to slowly drift down into deeper pools where trout hold.
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Set the hook at the slightest bump or tap. Trout gently mouth salmon eggs.
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Try different colors like fluorescent orange or pink. Add scents for more appeal.
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When drift fishing isn’t working, try casting out and twitching the eggs along the bottom.
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Use a bobber if current is slow. Let the eggs suspend off bottom a few feet.
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Fish pools behind rocks and below riffles where trout wait to ambush eggs drifting by.
Rigging Salmon Eggs for Trout
To rig salmon eggs, you’ll need:
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Light 6-8 lb monofilament line
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Size 10-12 baitholder hooks
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Small split shot weights
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Snap swivels for quick bait changes
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Fresh salmon eggs
Thread 1-2 eggs onto the hook and secure the barb into the egg to keep it from sliding down. Attach a split shot 12-18 inches above the hook to sink the eggs. Add a swivel for easy bait changes.
Make sure to match the weight needed to the current speed. In faster water use more weight to keep the eggs bouncing along the bottom.
Cured vs Fresh Salmon Eggs for Trout
You can fish salmon eggs fresh or cured:
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Fresh eggs work great but spoil quickly. Keep chilled.
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Cured eggs have been treated to last longer. Store in fridge.
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Popular cure brands are Pautzke, Atlas Mike’s, and Sure Cure.
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Cures add scents and colors to the eggs as well. Garlic, shrimp, and krill are top scents.
Both fresh and cured salmon eggs work. Cured eggs have the advantage of lasting longer and having added attractant scents. Fresh eggs shine when getting them directly from actively spawning salmon.
When to Use Salmon Eggs for Trout
Salmon eggs work well year round but are especially lethal during the fall through spring when trout are most active. Some top times to use eggs:
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Fall – Salmon are spawning, meaning fresh eggs are abundant. Trout gorge on the bounty.
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Winter – Trout become more sluggish and won’t pass up an easy meal like eggs.
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Spring – Use eggs as trout become active with warmer temperatures.
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High, Cold Water – When streams are high and cold, drift eggs along the bottom.
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Low, Clear Water – In low clear water, use light line and natural colored eggs.
Salmon eggs are a go-to trout bait whenever you need something effective for finicky trout. Follow these tips and they will help you catch more trout!
Bottom Line
Trout absolutely love to eat salmon eggs. The natural flavor and scent combined with the bright color make salmon eggs irresistible. Drifting eggs along the stream bottom is the most effective technique. But eggs can also be fished below a bobber or twitched slowly along. For trout success, always have salmon eggs in your arsenal!
How To Fish Salmon Eggs For Trout Fishing (SUPER EFFECTIVE!!)
FAQ
What kind of fish eat salmon eggs?
Several types of fish, including trout, Dolly Varden, and even some salmon, consume salmon eggs. The eggs are a high-protein meal that trout readily eat, especially when presented in a way that mimics how the eggs would naturally drift in the water.
Will lake trout eat salmon eggs?
Salmon or Trout eggs are one of the most effective baits for enticing Salmon, Steelhead and Trout to bite. When spawning fish are active in the streams, rivers, shoreline, or harbors they will often ignore all other baits and lures. Just float a egg spawn sack or cured skein past and tempt the salmon to hit.
Are salmon eggs good fish bait?
Any type of salmon roe can be good bait, as long as it is fresh and unfrozen. Once the roe skeins are removed from a fish, snip the membranes on one side so it spreads out. This allows the cure to work through all the eggs. I like to place the skeins in a container and sprinkle a few tablespoons of Fire Cure.
Do trout eat salmon eggs?
As you can see, trout are not the only fish that people catch with salmon eggs, and it might be more interesting to find out that salmon actually eat salmon eggs. Fish eat food based on the look, smell, taste, and instinct, so there are more factors that go into what a fish eats than what we think. Why Are Salmon Eggs So Popular for Fishing?
Do trout eat spawning salmon?
They’ll follow the migration of salmon up the river until the females lay their eggs on the reds. When those eggs are dislodged from the river bed, they’ll hang back and eat the eggs. Dolly Varden are another trout species that love to eat eggs from spawning salmon.
Do fish eat salmon eggs?
The trout is the main predator of salmon eggs because they are a cold water fish and are very common to rivers and streams where salmon will be spawning. So, What Types of Fish Eat Salmon Eggs? Why Are Salmon Eggs So Popular for Fishing? Are Salmon Eggs Good For The Fish? What Else Do Fish Eat? So, What Types of Fish Eat Salmon Eggs?
Do rainbow trout eat salmon eggs?
In rivers with salmon runs, rainbow trout and other species often feed on salmon eggs. They’ll follow the migration of salmon up the river until the females lay their eggs on the reds. When those eggs are dislodged from the river bed, they’ll hang back and eat the eggs.
Where to fish with salmon eggs?
A baitholder hook is also a preferable option since salmon eggs are on the soft side and can slide down the hook once threaded. The best place in a river to fish with salmon eggs when looking for trout is in the deep pools where trout like to hang out or where the fast running water begins to slow down.
How do you rig salmon eggs for trout fishing?
To rig salmon eggs for trout, use a single salmon egg hook on a 2-4lb leader. Since salmon eggs float, present your bait in a way that mimics their natural behavior to avoid missing fish.