Rainbow trout are among the most popular of freshwater game fish. These fish have a classic, streamlined trout body and are silvery with a distinctive iridescent stripe running down their sides, hence the name, rainbow trout. Rainbows are voracious feeders and are not particularly selective about what type of lures they take, so fly fishing anglers have a wide range of choices when targeting this species.
Dry Flies
In clearer, more shallow waters, dry flies often work well for catching rainbow trout. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recommends dry flies patterned to mimic stone flies or caddis flies. Other popular dry fly lures for trout include dragonflies, mayflies, grasshoppers, crickets or other terrestrial insect species. If possible, try to match the type of dry fly you select to the insect species that are both common to the area and potentially hatching at that time.
Nymph Flies
Nymph flies are a type of wet fly, which are worked below the surface of the water. Commonly designed to imitate the aquatic larval stage of many insect species, called nymphs, these fly fishing lures are particularly useful for catching rainbow trout in deeper, slower waters, Nymph flies typically lie on the bottom, moving slightly, as the angler twitches the line to impart a natural movement to the lure.
Streamers
Rainbow trout will also take small, swimming creatures, such as minnows or leeches, as prey. Streamers, another type of wet fly, are fly fishing lures made of larger, rather loose feathers that stream behind the hook in an undulating manner, giving the impression of a small, swimming bait. Anglers typically work streamers in quick, jerking motions to cause the lure to dart and flash in the water, attracting the attention of rainbow trout in the area.
Egg Patterns
The eggs of other species, such as salmon, are also common fare for rainbow trout. When you are fly fishing during spawning season, an egg pattern lure may prove successful. Egg patterns are flies with a rounded, egg shape and are typically made of a bundle of fine threads colored to match the spawn eggs currently in the river or stream. The threads, tied pom-pom fashion to the shank of a hook, are trimmed until round. Egg pattern flies are usually cast upstream and allowed to drift down to rainbow trout that often lie in wait in holding waters along riverbanks or around boulders, watching for passing eggs.
Catch and Release
When fishing for rainbow trout, if you do not intend to keep the fish you catch, practice good catch-and-release techniques. This technique includes using lures with hooks that are either barbless, or have the barbs flattened down. While this practice requires more attention to keep a fish on the line, it makes removing the hook without injuring a rainbow trout much less difficult.
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