CRASH TEST FOCUS: Trout Tackle
UPDATED July, 2009

We admittedly live in salmon and steelhead country, but trout is still the king. According to surveys conducted by Oregon and Washington Fish & Wildlife, more Pacific Northwest anglers will spend time fishing for rainbows, browns, cutts, Lahontans and tiger trout in a typical year than any other species.

Now that the heat of the summer is here and family vacations include trout lakes, rivers and streams, it's time to load up the tackle box with some new trout treats.

Here are some cool new pieces of gear to add to your trout tackle this summer:

8PAUTZKE Yellow Jacket, Orange Deluxe eggs
There's no denying that Pautzke's famous Balls o' Fire eggs have been the standard bait for trout fishermen for decades. Every one of us grew up with a couple of the old green-label jars rolling around in our tackle boxes. But iit's about time to update your tackle box with two Pautzke products that perfectly complement the old tried-and-true red egg: Yellow Jacket & Orange Deluxe eggs.

More colors, more options: When you think about it, there's really nothing natural about a bright red salmon egg. Matter of fact, the original Balls o' Fire color was borrowed from an Easter Egg. The red serves as a visual attractant, which, of course, works in many, many water conditions.

But if you're looking for the most natural presentation - for example, on small streams where wild trout spawn, or in creeks where trout are spooky - Orange Deluxe and Yellow Jacket eggs are your best options. They're the perfect addition to the bright-red presentation of the original egg.

Key attractants: In addition to the natural look of Orange Deluxe and Yellow Jacket eggs, these eggs provide the bite-enhancing qualities of the original Balls o' Fire, thanks to Pautzke's patented cooking and curing process. The formula is the most trusted in America, with natural sugars and scent components that have been part of the Pautzke egg-preparation process for four generations.

Keep the old Balls o' Fire around, for sure, but if you're looking for an extra edge this trout season, introduce Orange Deluxe & Yellow Jackets to your tackle box.

Ave. Retail: $3.50-$4.50; www.pautzke.com

8US REEL SuperCaster 180 XL
US Reel’s SuperCaster 180 XL spinning reel was designed with the ultra-light trout fisherman in mind (and, it might've had some influence with the panfish angler in mind, too).

US Reel's signature has been their patented wide-spool design, which casts farther and creates less line twist than other spinning reels. We've actually tested this claim live on the air on Northwest Wild Country, and found that, yes, the SuperCaster DOES cast farther then similar-sized long-nosed spinning reels.

The SuperCaster 180 perfectly handles the 2- and 4-pound micro-light lines favored by West Coast trout anglers, and it's especially effective for light superlines. It weighs in at a scant 6.8 ounces, and is backed up by US Reel’s water-shielded SDS Drag System, and four ABEC I stainless steel bearings.

Ave. Retail: $85-$110; www.usreel.com

8BERKLEY Gulp! Floating Trout Worms
Berkley’s new Gulp! 3-inch Floating Trout Worms come from the same mad scientists who created PowerBait, so you know they’re effective for trout.

Gulp!’s exclusive formula includes the most potent attractant Berkley has ever produced, with a scent dispersion rate that triples that of PowerBait. The consistency and appearance are right, too: the Floating Trout worm looks and feels like natural garden-hackle as well, and comes in seven proven trout-catching colors.

This worm is picture-perfect for the "crawl retrieve" method developed in Southern California, thanks to fluttering action created by the worm's unique shape.

Ave. Retail: $3.99; www.berkley-fishing.com

8WORDEN'S UV Rooster Troll
The words "Rooster Tail" and "trout" are, obviously, deeply synonymous: Yakima Bait’s Rooster Tail spinner – the ubiquitous pulsating hackle/spinning blade combo created in the 1950s – is easily one of the most effective lures ever created for trout.

Responding to repeated requests from customers to create a lake troll based on the Rooster Tail, Worden's Lures - parent company of Yakima Bait - debuted the Rooster Troll in selected markets last year. To say it's been a success is an understatement.

The new Rooster: The UV Rooster Troll is a multiple-blade gang troll that comes in four sizes: mini, small, medium and large. Each of those four sizes starts out as 24 inches of 45-pound plastic-coated, braided cable, with a plastic trolling rudder (2 1/8 inches x 1 1/8 for the mini and small, 2 ½ x 1 ½ for the medium and large trolls).

The new Rooster meets the old Rooster in the Rooster Troll’s blade arrangement, which incorporates four original Rooster Tail blades in the mini, medium and large models, and five blades in the small troll.

Rooster attraction factor I: The Rooster Tail’s long, slim willowleaf blade is engineered to provide maximum flash, so the Rooster Troll’s four-and five-blade arrangements generate a high volume of fish-attracting flash when they’re trolled at fairly high speeds.

The UV edge: Don’t let the UV component of the Rooster Troll escape you, because, frankly, it’s easily as important as the flash thrown off by the chartreuse and flame blades. A quick glance at the Rooster will tell you that the blades are sparse: the largest blade on the large size is 2 1/8 inches, and the smallest on the mini is 1/24 ounce and ¾ inches.

But the UV boost more than makes up for it, as proven by Yakima Bait pro-staffer Eli Rico of Hot Shot Guide Service, who has fished the Rooster Troll from its prototype stages.

“I can't speak loudly enough about how effective UV is," Rico says. "I'm a believer that it's a major part of the success I've had so far with the Rooster Troll."

Avoid the drag: The Rooster Troll's flash radius and UV attraction qualities allow it to function as a low-drag gang troll, which is critical if you want to troll for trout with light tackle.

Ave. Retail: $12-$15; www.yakimabait.com

8DICK NITE DNA Scent
As if their thin-bodied spoons weren’t trout mojo enough when they're trolled or casted in a trout lake, Dick Nite now offers Dick Nite Attractant (DNA), a series of potent gel scents that’ll adhere to any hard or soft trout lure on the market.

DNA comes in four exclusive formulas, but trout hunters will love DNA-3, which features an all-natural mix of tui chub, threadfin shad and shrimp. Keep some DNA-4 handy, too: even though it’s labeled for kokanee, the mix of corn, shrimp, krill and anise will drive trout berserk. DNA-1 (for shad) is also a great choice for trout, with a formula of krill and shrimp.

Ave. retail: $3.85/bottle; www.dicknite.com

8SHAKESPEARE Agility IM8 Combo
Shakespeare’s 5025 IM8 Agility Combo is the perfect small-stream trout weapon, with a two-piece, 5-foot ultralight IM8 graphite rod matched with Shakespeare’s impressive 25-size, 8-bearing Agility spinning reel.

The Agility reel features instant anti-reverse, a machined-aluminum spool, graphite body and rotor and machined-aluminum side cover. It also features Shakespeare's patented Sure-Click Bail, which engages crisply at the turn of the handle, and anti-twist Titanium-coated line roller.

The Agility Combo rod includes high-quality cork handle with composite butt, Soft Touch graphite reel seat, and stainless steel guides with titamium inserts.

Ave. retail: $54.95/bottle; www.shakespeare-fishing.com

8PFLUEGER Microspin Series
Pflueger’s Microspin Series rods are exceptionally light and sensitive, thanks to IM7 graphite blank construction, lightweight guides with stainless steel inserts, and graphite reel seats.

Blank-through-handle design further enhances the sensitivity of a series that includes trout-friendly rods from 4 ½ to 10 feet (all engineered with ultralight and light actions ranging from 2 to 8 pounds). Take a look at the 43562UL, which is a 5 1/2-foot two-piece rated for 2- to 6-pound test. The 43702UL is a 7-footer rated for the same line, but capable of handling a 1/4-ounce bait.

The Microspin Series is available in 14 different actions, including four brand-new 5 1/2- and 6 1/2-footers with all new high-quality cork handle configurations. It's way affordable, too.

Ave. retail: $25-$28; www.pfluegerfishing.com

8SUFIX InvisiLine
Sufix InvisiLine Fluorocarbon is appropriately named, because it does exactly what a fluorocarbon leader us supposed to do: it virtually disappears underwater, thanks to a refractive index that’s nearly identical to that of water.

To translate that simply, Sufix’s 100 percent fluorocarbon material doesn’t “bend” light as much as other leader material – light penetrates the water and Sufix InvisiLine at almost exactly the same rate – so it’s virtually indistinguishable from the water surrounding it.

It stays that way, too.

Unlike lower-quality fluoro lines (which will yellow or tint over time), InvisiLine is crystal-clear right off the coil, and will maintain its superior clarity over time. To take it one step further, InvisiLine Fluorocarbon maintains its integrity under extended sunlight, unlike monofilament leaders that can lose as much as 40 percent of their break load strength after prolonged exposure to sunlight.

PROVEN POWER
An invisible fluorocarbon leader won’t be worth a tub of rotten sand shrimp if it can’t withstand the rigors of knot-tying, fish-fighting and line abrasion, but Sufix InvisiLine performs spectacularly when it matters most. InvisiLine is ultra-dense and waterproof, so it sinks rapidly and its knot/tensile strength is unaffected by prolonged immersion. It holds up to abuse well, too, with exceptional shock-absorbing properties and superior abrasion resistance.

ALL SPECIES, TECHNIQUES
Sufix InvisiLine Fluorocarbon Leader comes in 2- to 425-pound test, in diameters as small as .005 inches. If there’s a saltwater or freshwater application that demands a durable, stealthy fluorocarbon, Sufix InvisiLine Fluorocarbon has the line weight to cover it.

Ave. Retail: $8.50-$78.50; www.sufixfishing.com

8GAMAKATSU Trout Treble
Gamakatsu’s Trout Treble was designed specifically to match the ubiquitous floating formula/dough baits of the world. As with every Gamakatsu hook on the market, the Trout Treble features sticky-sharp points that guarantee deep penetration. Fine-wire construction makes the Trout Treble very light, so you’re able to float your bait high into the strike zone, and the round-bend construction effectively holds the bait in place.

It’s available in sizes 18, 16 and 14, in red and gold.

Ave. Retail: $2.69-$3.50; www.gamakatsu.com

8GIBBS Willow Leaf Troll
Gibbs’ Willow Leaf Troll is the answer to the fight/fun-deadening heavy lake trolls of the past. A streamlined willow-leaf blade shape produces the right combination of flash and vibration, and it’s light and smooth enough in the water to be effectively fished on a light trout rod.

The Willow Leaf Troll comes in all the right colors, too(50/50 and Red Hex are my favorites).

Ave. Retail: $8.50-$10; www.gibbsfishing.com

8ZEBCO Youth Rod & Reel Combo
Ask any retailer and they'll tell you that they sell hundreds of cartoon-character rods and reels every trout season. Zebco’s Youth rod and reel combos are at the top of the class in this category.

Your kids will, of course, flip out for SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, the Pond Patrol and other character themes, but parents can rest easy knowing that these brightly colored little combos float, and are designed for small hands. The Youth line was built by the same people who engineered Zebco’s industry-leading Omega spincasters, so they're dependable for the price.

All of Zebco's Youth combos are packaged with three bobbers and a casting plug, so your little ones can practice.

Ave. Retail: $12-$15; www.zebco.com

8LUHR-JENSEN Speed Trap
I should hate the Luhr-Jensen Speed Trap.

Or, to be more specific, I should hate the 1/16-ounce Luhr-Jensen Mini Speed Trap my family nicknamed "Blue Bullet", because the last time I fished that particular lure, I ended up with one of its barbed treble hooks buried up to the shank in my thumb.

Oh, yes, I have intimate familiarity with the Speed Trap family. Painfully intimate. But, it's one of my favorite trout lures nonetheless.

If you do a search on the Luhr-Jensen website, you won't find the Speed Trap listed under LJ's trout lineup. It was developed for - and is mostly known as - a bass bait. Officially, it's called a "crankbait", and the bassin' world long ago realized its potential as a searching bait.

No doubt it'll catch bass, but, I'm here to tell you, this is one of the best trophy trout lures you'll ever use.

Blue Bullet: I was first introduced to the Mini Speed Trap - which, sadly, was discontinued when Normark purchased Luhr-Jensen - several years ago by Roger Neufeldt, a member of the Jensen marketing team. Back then, the 1/16-ounce Mini was marketed as a super-shallow burner for smaller, clearer West Coast bass lakes, but, sheerly by accident, I figured out that trout had a hard time resisting the hyper-kinetic action and flash as well.

My youngest son - probably 4 years old at the time - was just learning how to cast, and I used a de-hooked Silver/Blue Back Stripe Mini Speed Trap as his casting plug at the tiny Twin Lakes stocker pond near our house. The results were, frankly, ridiculous: virtually every time that plug landed in the water (ahem), it would come back with a trail of rainbows slashing at it on the retrieve. Same deal when I tied one on my older son's line and had him fling away (with hooks).

The Mini was a cast-and-retrieve champ for rainbows, and the magical Silver/Blue Back Stripe was dubbed "Blue Bullet".

Trolling crank: LJ's smallest Speed Trap now is the 1/8-ouncer, which measures roughly 2 3/4 inches and dives to 6 feet on the retrieve. Stow some of these away for the rip-rap of the Columbia River, especially when there are a lot of smolts in the water. HOWEVER, put the Speed Trap in your trout-trolling tackle box, too.

My first practical trolling application of the Speed Trap for trout was at Offut Lake south of Olympia, trolling several different colors of cranks on 8-pound mono, without weight. I caught trout by the dozen (and, oddly enough, a handful of giant perch, too).

You can troll Speed Traps as fast as you want, because, frankly, they were designed to run true when they're cast and retrieved at a scorching speed by the bass Bubbas. It doesn't lose any of its high-vibration action trolled at slower speeds, either, but this bait will really shine in a trophy-trout situation where you're appealing to the "predators" of the food chain, trolling faster for big browns and oversized rainbows.

You can still find the 1/16-ounce model at various online retailers, so, make sure to add some of those to your lineup of 1/8-ouncers.

Must-have colors: Silver/Blue Back Stripe; Summer Crawfish; Fire Tiger/Crystal; Rainbow Trout

Ave. Retail: $5.15-$5.75; www.luhrjensen.com

8CREEK COMPANY Outdoor Discovery Craft 420
The Creek Company’s Outdoor Discovery Craft 420 truly defines the term “float tube hybrid”, with a 420 denier nylon upper cover and a tough, 30-ounce PVC bottom cover that mimics the design of the company’s line of ultra-popular pontoon boats.

The Outdoor Discovery Craft features a thick foam seat for added comfort and buoyancy, a generous rear storage area and expansive side pockets. The 2009 model has been streamlined, providing better maneuverability, but it's still capable of carrying 300 pounds.

Ave. Retail: $289-$300; www.creekcompany.com