Do Trout Eat Salmon Eggs? Everything You Need To Know

Salmon eggs are a powerhouse trout bait that every angler should have in their tackle box. As salmon make their annual spawning run, they leave behind a trail of bright orange delicacies that trout find irresistible. But why do trout go crazy for salmon eggs? And what’s the best way to fish them? In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about using salmon eggs to catch more trout.

Why Do Trout Eat Salmon Eggs?

Trout are opportunistic predators that are programmed to key in on high-protein food sources. When salmon enter tributaries and rivers to spawn, they deposit bundles of eggs in gravel nests called redds. These bright orange eggs contain lots of nutrients and fat to help baby salmon survive after hatching. To a hungry trout they are like finding a box of donuts floating down the river.

Trout do eat other things, like bugs, small fish, and crustaceans, but salmon eggs are better in a few ways:

• Abundance: During the fall spawning season, thousands of salmon eggs drift downstream daily, providing a plentiful protein source.

• Easy meals: The eggs are not attached to a struggling insect or minnow that the trout has to chase. They drift right to the trout who can casually slurp them up.

• Taste: Salmon eggs have a strong “fishy” taste that makes trout want to eat by stimulating its smell and taste.

• Nutrition: The eggs are packed with nutrients and calories that help trout fatten up before winter.

So in essence, salmon eggs are the fast food of the trout world – they are abundant, easy to catch, tasty and nutritious. No wonder trout gorge on them whenever they get the chance!

When Do Trout Eat Salmon Eggs?

Trout will feed on salmon eggs whenever they are available, which is typically during the fall salmon spawning season. However, the exact timing depends on when different salmon species enter local rivers to spawn:

• Chinook (King) Salmon: August – December
• Coho Salmon: September – January
• Sockeye Salmon: September – December
• Pink Salmon: July – October
• Chum Salmon: September – January

You can call your local tackle shop to find out when salmon runs usually occur in your area. Trout activity will increase dramatically during and after the peak of each spawning run as more eggs become available.

In rivers where salmon live all year, trout will still look for salmon eggs that have been laid in redds even after the fall run is over. But because there are so many eggs drifting around in the fall, it is a great time to use salmon egg fakes.

How to Fish Salmon Eggs for Trout

Now that you know why trout find salmon eggs so appealing, let’s look at some tips for fishing them:

Gear for Salmon Eggs

• Light tackle: 2-6 lb test monofilament line, with a 5-6’ light or ultralight rod. Salmon eggs are small baits that require finesse, so you don’t need heavy gear.

• Small hooks: Size 10-14 single salmon egg hooks or baitholder hooks. The smaller the better for hooking corner-mouthed trout.

• No float needed: Salmon eggs sink, so you don’t need a bobber for most applications.

• Split shot: Use just enough weight to get the eggs near the bottom. Start with 1-2 BB size split shots.

• Bait options: You can use real cured salmon eggs in a bait bag, or synthetic eggs like Powerbait. Both work well.

Rigging Tips

• Thread an egg onto the hook and squash it on there firmly so it completely hides the hook point and barb.

• Add a split shot 12-18 inches above the hook so the eggs slowly sink and tumble along the bottom.

• Use a Palomar knot to securely tie on the eggs. This resists slippage better than an improved clinch knot.

• Check your rig frequently for fouled eggs and replace them often to keep the scent fresh.

Locations and Presentation

• Target current seams, riffles, pool drop-offs and other areas where trout hold to ambush food.

• Cast upstream and allow the eggs to slowly swing across prime areas as the current carries them downstream.

• After the swing, let the eggs roll and tumble along the bottom while maintaining contact with the line so you can feel subtle bites.

• Occasionally give the eggs some small hops and twitches to mimic an injured egg struggling in the current.

• Set the hook quickly on any sudden ticks or sharp pulls. Trout lightly sip eggs so you need fast reflexes.

Other Effective Ways to Use Salmon Eggs for Trout

While drifting eggs on a dead drift rig is highly effective, there are other ways to fish them too:

• Tip jigs: Thread an egg on the bend behind a 1/32 or 1/16 oz marabou or tube jig. The soft egg body adds wiggle to jigging motions.

• Thread on crawler rigs: Skewer an egg or two and run the hook through a nightcrawler to add extra smell and taste.

• Under a bobber: Cast into pools or slack water and let the eggs settle on the bottom until a trout picks them up. Works great in lakes.

• On trout dough rigs: Mold eggs into dough ball concoctions like Powerbait to make a thicker bait that stays on the hook better.

• Add to streamers: For a deadly swing, run a black egg pattern 2-3 feet above a streamer to get both reaction and appetizer bites.

So get creative with egg rigs and presentations until you find what triggers the trout on a given day and spot.

Real vs Artificial Salmon Eggs

You have two main choices when it comes to salmon egg baits:

Real cured eggs are actual salmon eggs that have been treated with borax, salt and other cures to extract moisture. They have the strongest scent and natural texture, but require frequent re-baiting.

Artificial eggs made of plastic, vinyl, dough or other materials, have gained huge popularity for trout due to convenience. Brands like Powerbait are infused with strong scent attractants.

Real eggs often out-fish artificials when conditions are favorable, but for most anglers the ease of using synthetics makes them the better overall choice. Whichever you use, just make sure to recharge the scent every 10-15 minutes by adding new eggs or enhancer liquids.

Top Salmon Egg Baits for Trout

Here are some of the most popular and effective salmon egg baits on the market:

1. Powerbait Power Eggs

• The original plastic bead eggs soaked in Powerbait scent juice.

• Available in many fluorescent egg colors like Fire Tiger and Chartreuse.

• The eggs retain scent for a decent amount of time.

• Easy to thread on the hook and they stay put.

2. Atlas Mike’s Salmon Eggs

• Real cured king salmon eggs packaged in convenient squeeze tubes.

• Strong natural scent drives trout crazy.

• Comes in fluorescent colors for visibility.

• Softer texture than plastic beads.

3. Atlas Mike’s Trout Roe

• Similar to the salmon eggs but made from trout skein (egg sac).

• The lighter color can be better when trout are wary.

• Slightly smaller size for tempting finicky trout.

4. Lunkerhunt Fake Fish Eggs

• Realistic pliable plastic eggs with great movement in current.

• Soaked in Lunkerhunt fish scent which lasts a long time.

• Excellent for drifting, jigs and casting bubble rigs.

• Available in natural egg colors and combinations.

5. Pautzke Balls O’ Fire Eggs

• Naturally cured coho salmon eggs.

• Infused with Pautzke’s Fire Cure for extra attraction.

• Long-lasting scent stays on the hook for 20+ casts.

• Comes in a handy no-mess jar.