Soft Plastic Baits for Trout Fishing

Discover the best soft plastic baits for trout fishing, how to use them effectively, and proven tips to improve your catch rates in rivers and lakes across New Zealand.

A big brown trout taken on a soft plastic minnow. Savage Gear LB Cannibal Soft Bait Shad 6.8cm. Photograph courtesy of Lance Gill and Fish The Drift NZ.

Soft Plastic Baits for Trout Fishing: Tips and Techniques

By Allan Burgess

Why Use Soft Baits for Trout Fishing?

These soft plastic worms look and feel like the real thing. The hook is a Tiemco 2499SP-BL size 8. Fish these on a float rig of some sort to lift them off the bottom. The worm will have more life if hooked mid way along the body. — These soft plastic worms look and feel like the real thing. The hook is a Tiemco 2499SP-BL size 8. Fish these on a float rig of some sort to lift them off the bottom. The worm will have more life if hooked mid-way along the body.

Soft baits have revolutionised trout fishing in New Zealand. These flexible lures look and move just like real prey—worms, minnows, or insects—enticing even the most cautious trout to strike. Unlike hard-bodied lures or spinners, soft plastics offer a natural, subtle action that works in both clear and murky water.

Popular Types of Soft Baits for Trout

Worm Imitations
Classic and always effective. Fish them on a light jig head or drift them naturally under a float. Ideal for river and lake trout alike.
Minnow and Shad Soft Baits

Some of the soft baits available nowadays are very realistic. — *Perfect for imitating small baitfish. Cast near drop-offs or around submerged structure and retrieve slowly for best results.*

Grubs and Maggot Styles
Small soft plastics that mimic insects and larvae. Great for trout feeding on aquatic bugs in streams and shallow lake edges.
Creature Baits and Crustacean Imitations
These imitate small crayfish or aquatic nymphs—deadly around weed beds, rocks, or river mouths.

Soft Bait Fishing Tips

Match the Hatch: Observe what the trout are feeding on and select a soft bait that looks and moves similarly.
Go Natural: Use clear or earthy colours in clear water; switch to brighter tones like pink or chartreuse when visibility is low.
Light Tackle Advantage: A 1–3 kg rod with fine braid and a light fluorocarbon leader gives your bait lifelike action.
Add Scent: Pre-scented baits or a dab of trout attractant can make a big difference on slow days.

I spool my eggbeater reel with Suffix 832 Low-Vis Green 15 lb Test and at the business end I tie on a Black Magic fluorocarbon leader of about 2 rod-lengths with an FG knot. This is a good combo when the water is very clear. It is good for soft plastic baits, trout spin fishing and trolling. — I spool my eggbeater reel with Suffix 832 Low-Vis Green 15 lb Test, and at the business end, I tie on a Black Magic fluorocarbon leader of about 2 metres to 2 rod-lengths with an FG knot. This is a good combo when the water is very clear. It is good for soft plastic baits, trout spin fishing and trolling.

Effective Soft Bait Techniques

Drop Shot Rig: Keeps your soft bait hovering just above the bottom – ideal for lake edges.
Weightless Drift: In rivers, let your bait drift naturally with the current to imitate live food.
Slow Jigging: Gentle lifts and pauses can trigger reaction strikes from larger fish.

It is important to use the correct weight jig head when fishing soft plastics because it can make a big difference to your strike rate. — *It is important to use the correct weight jig head when fishing soft plastics. It can make a big difference to your strike rate.*

Where Soft Baits Shine

Soft baits work year-round but are especially productive in spring and autumn when trout are actively feeding. They’re perfect for:

River mouths and estuaries
Shallow lake flats
Weed edges and rocky areas
Deep pools with slow currents

For more trout lure options, check out Bibbed Trout Minnows and Trout Spinners & Spoons.

Final Thoughts

Soft baits give trout anglers a lifelike, versatile, and often irresistible lure option. With the right colour, rig, and technique, they can outfish traditional spinners or flies. Whether you’re exploring a backcountry stream or casting from the lake shore, soft baits deserve a permanent spot in your tackle box.

Use just enough weight to cast your jig head/minnow combo so that it swims and drifts naturally. For most rivers and lakes, 12g to 16g is all you will need.

A longer rod will give you better casting distance with light jig heads.

You may also be interested in Bibbed Trout Minnows and Blade Spinners for Trout Fishing

Here are some interesting soft plastic "lures" for trout fishing. — *Here are some interesting soft plastic “lures” for trout fishing. I checked with Fish & Game and it’s ok to use the soft baits pictured where bait fishing is permitted.*

Soft Plastic Baits for Trout Fishing