How to Use Salmon Eggs for Trout – The Ultimate Guide

Salmon eggs are one of the best and most effective baits for catching trout. Their bright color, strong scent and resemblance to a natural food source trout eat makes them irresistible. This complete guide will teach you everything you need to know about using salmon eggs to catch more trout on your next fishing trip.

Why Salmon Eggs Work So Well for Trout

There are a few key reasons why salmon eggs are such a great trout bait

• Trout naturally feed on salmon eggs – Trout egg feed on small eggs in the wild, so salmon eggs closely mimic a food source they instinctively recognize.

• Color and scent attract trout – The bright orange/pink color and concentrated fishy scent of salmon eggs triggers trout to bite, The scent especially helps them hone in on the eggs in the water

• Eggs stay on the hook well – Unlike some soft dough baits, salmon eggs firmly cling to the hook, allowing for longer casts and drifts without constant re-baiting.

• Drifts naturally in current – Salmon eggs lightly tumble along in river currents, drifting like natural food trout are used to targeting.

• Works in clear to stained water – The color and scent appeals to trout in a variety of water clarities from crystal clear to moderately murky.

So whether you’re trout fishing in a river, stream or lake, carrying a jar of cured salmon eggs is a must to catch more fish! Now let’s go over finding and preparing the eggs.

Finding and Curing Salmon Eggs

You can purchase pre-cured salmon eggs, but the freshest and cheapest way is to harvest eggs yourself and prepare them. Here’s how:

Harvesting Fresh Eggs

• Carefully slit belly of female salmon and remove egg sack. Rinse.
• Pick away any membrane, tissue, immature or discolored eggs. Keep the nice orange colored eggs.
• Rinse eggs in a colander until water runs clear.

Curing the Eggs

• Make curing brine of 1 cup borax + 1 cup salt per gallon of water.
• Soak rinsed eggs in brine for 5 minutes, stirring gently. Drain.
• Rinse eggs again – they are now cured and ready to use!

For longer shelf life, lay cured eggs out to dry on a paper towel. Store dried eggs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 months. Reconstitute in water before fishing.

Rigging Salmon Eggs for Trout

You can hook salmon eggs a few effective ways, but here are two top rigging methods:

Egg Sack

• Place eggs in a mesh sack made from spawn netting.
• Tie sack to the hook, leaving hook point exposed.
• The sack helps secure soft eggs during casting and drifting.

Egg Loop

• Skewer an egg onto the hook point.
• Tie a thread loop through the egg to the hook shank.
• Allows eggs to drift more freely and naturally.

No matter which way you rig them, make sure to use a size 8-12 baitholder hook so the soft eggs stay secured.

How to Fish Salmon Eggs for Trout

Let’s go over some tips for fishing salmon eggs for trout in rivers and lakes:

Rivers

• Target deeper pools and slow water behind structure.
• Add enough weight to make the bait sink near bottom.
• Drift eggs through seams where fast water meets slow.
• Dead drift without jigging the line for most natural presentation.

Lakes

• Balance eggs with a small float or bobber.
• Fish shallow drop-offs and weed edges.
• Slow troll eggs along structure.
• If still fishing, occasionally twitch eggs to mimic insect movement.

General Tips

• Check local regulations on bait. Some waters prohibit eggs.
• Try natural pink, orange and yellow egg colors. Switch it up.
• Add a tiny bit of scent or bait paste for extra attraction.
• Downsize to 2-4 lb. test line and #10-14 hooks.
• Be patient – trout activity varies day to day.

With the right techniques and locations, salmon eggs will help you catch more trout anywhere they swim! Carry a variety of colors to experiment with.

Pre-Made and Artificial Salmon Egg Options

If curing your own eggs isn’t an option, here are some good pre-made alternatives:

• Jarred cured salmon eggs – Most bait shops carry jars of commercially cured salmon eggs in various colors. These work well for trout.

• Pre-tied egg sacks – Many shops sell egg sacks pre-tied and ready for hooking. Quick and convenient for those short on time.

• PowerBait Eggs – Shaped and scented like eggs. The neon colors and scents work well despite being artificial.

• Beads – Plastic beads in natural egg colors can mimic real salmon eggs. Bonus is they’re re-usable.

Look for reputable brands and try various options to see what works best on the water. Change it up until the trout start biting!

Make Your Own Egg Sacks

You can save money by tying your own egg sacks at home. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Materials Needed:

• Plastic spawn mesh – Cut into 4″x4″ squares
• Thread – Fluorescent colors show up well underwater
• Scissors
• Borax powder & salt – For curing eggs
• Cured salmon eggs
• Small bait floats

Tying the Sacks:

• Place a pinch of eggs (6-15) in the mesh square.
• Add a few floats to help suspend the sack.
• Pull the corners together and twist shut.
• Tie tightly with thread – 5-7 wraps.
• Trim excess mesh and store cured sacks in fridge until use.

Following these steps will have you rigged up with fresh salmon egg sacks that catch fish for just pennies!

With their natural look, scent, and taste, salmon eggs are quite possibly the top bait for catching trout. Carrying eggs in various colors and rigging them properly for the conditions is a surefire way to get more strikes. Whether buying pre-made or tying your own, let salmon eggs help you trick more trout into biting your hook. Just don’t forget to check regulations in your local waters.