Best Rainbow Trout lures for December
Typical December: ~45°F water, winter patterns nationally.
These are the month's typical nationalpatterns. What actually decides the bite is your water's live temperature, clarity, and stocking — so start from a specific lake and read its current conditions before you tie on.
Soft Plastic
natural / dough bait45°F, clarity n/a, winter → still-fished off the bottom natural / dough bait soft plastic
Why we say this: State agency winter trout guide
Gear up
Where to put together a rainbow trout setup.
- Tackle & lures: Tackle Warehouse · Bass Pro Shops — Serious-angler tackle selection
- Rods & reels: Abu Garcia (Pure Fishing) · Bass Pro Shops
Rainbow Trout by month
Where Rainbow Trout waters are
California · Connecticut · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Montana · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · Oregon · Wisconsin
Other species in December
Black Crappie · Bluegill · Brook Trout · Brown Trout · Largemouth Bass · Muskellunge · Northern Pike · Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · White Crappie