If you've spent any time on the water lately, you've probably heard people raving about the wicked lures trout killer and how it basically outfishes everything else in their tackle box. It isn't just one of those gimmicky things you see on late-night TV; it's a legit piece of gear that has changed the game for a lot of us who grew up just tossing worms or standard spinners. There's something about the way these rigs are put together that seems to flip a switch in a trout's brain, making them strike even when the bite is supposedly dead.
I remember the first time I actually saw one in action. I was out on a local lake, pulling a classic wedding ring and getting absolutely zero love from the fish. A guy in a small aluminum boat about fifty yards away was netting fish every fifteen minutes. Eventually, I swallowed my pride, rowed over, and asked what he was using. He held up a small, bright setup and just said, "Trout Killer, man." Since that day, I haven't gone on a trip without at least three or four of them in different colors.
What Makes This Rig Different?
At first glance, the wicked lures trout killer looks like a bit of a hybrid. It's got components of a spinner, but it's tied on a leader like a fly or a bait rig. It's essentially a pre-tied setup that features a small spinner blade, some high-quality beads, and a soft plastic "squid" or skirt that hides the hook.
The magic is in the action and the profile. Most lures are either a hard-bodied spinner or a soft-plastic jig. This thing combines the flash and vibration of a spinner with the lifelike movement of a soft body. When you're pulling it through the water, the blade creates a thump that trout can feel through their lateral lines long before they even see it. Once they get closer, the soft body looks like something edible—a nymph, a small baitfish, or some kind of aquatic insect—and they just commit to the hit.
How to Fish It Right
One of the best things about this lure is how versatile it is, but if you want to maximize your catch, you've got to know how to present it. Most people think you just tie it on and hope for the best, but a little bit of technique goes a long way.
Trolling Techniques
Trolling is probably the most common way to use the wicked lures trout killer. Because the rig is lightweight, you usually need a bit of help getting it down to where the fish are holding. I usually run mine behind a small dodger or a series of lake trolls (often called "cow bells").
The key here is the distance between the flasher and the lure. I like to keep my leader about 12 to 18 inches. This allows the dodger to give the Trout Killer a bit of a "kick" or a side-to-side darting motion. If your leader is too long, the lure just follows the boat in a straight line, which isn't nearly as tempting to a big rainbow or brown trout.
Casting with a Bubble
If you're a bank fisherman, don't think you're left out. You can fish these from the shore by using a clear plastic casting bubble. You fill the bubble halfway with water for weight, tie it to your main line, and then attach the wicked lures trout killer on a three-foot leader behind it.
You want to retrieve it slowly. I mean really slowly. Just enough to keep that blade spinning. Every now and then, give your rod tip a little twitch. That causes the skirt to flare out and the blade to flutter, which often triggers a strike from a trout that's been following the lure out of curiosity.
Picking the Best Colors
We all have our "lucky" colors, but with these lures, the environment usually dictates what's going to work. The wicked lures trout killer comes in a bunch of variations, and having a few options is critical because trout can be incredibly picky about what they're seeing that day.
- Bright Days and Clear Water: I usually go with something natural or translucent. Silver blades with blue or green skirts work wonders when the sun is out. You want the flash to be subtle, not blinding.
- Overcast or Murky Water: This is when you break out the "obnoxious" stuff. Chartreuse, hot pink, and orange are your best friends here. You need that high-contrast color to cut through the gloom so the fish can actually spot the lure.
- Deep Water: If you're fishing deep, remember that colors disappear the further down you go. Red is the first to go, while blues and greens stay visible longer. Glow-in-the-dark options are a total game-changer if you're fishing for big lake trout or kokes in the depths.
Don't Forget the Scent
While the wicked lures trout killer is designed to work on its own, I'm a big believer in adding a little "sweetener." Trout have a very keen sense of smell, and sometimes a bit of scent is the difference between a "drive-by" nudge and a solid hookup.
I almost always tip the hook with something. A single kernel of white shoepeg corn is a classic choice, especially for landlocked salmon and rainbows. A tiny piece of a nightcrawler or a bit of scented gel (like shrimp or anise flavor) can also work wonders. Just make sure you don't put too much on—you don't want to ruin the balance of the lure or stop the blade from spinning properly.
The Importance of Your Setup
You don't need a thousand-dollar setup to fish these, but having the right rod and line makes a difference. I prefer a light or ultra-light spinning rod with a fast action. Since trout have relatively soft mouths, you want a rod tip that has some "give" to it so you don't rip the hook out when they head-shake.
For line, 6lb or 8lb monofilament is usually the sweet spot. If the water is crystal clear and the fish are being spooky, I'll sometimes run a fluorocarbon leader. Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater and sinks faster than mono, which can help get your rig into the strike zone a bit more efficiently.
Why It Outperforms Standard Spinners
I get asked a lot why someone should buy a wicked lures trout killer instead of just a standard Rooster Tail or Mepps. Look, those classic spinners are great and have caught millions of fish, but they have a few downsides. Standard spinners tend to twist your line like crazy if you aren't using a high-quality swivel. Because the Trout Killer is tied on a leader and usually fished behind a weight or dodger, line twist is much less of an issue.
Also, the hook on a standard spinner is fixed. When a trout jumps or thrashes, it can use the weight of the lure as leverage to throw the hook. With the Trout Killer, the lure can often slide up the line a bit, or at least it doesn't provide that same rigid leverage, meaning you land more of the fish you actually hook.
Final Thoughts on the Water
At the end of the day, fishing is supposed to be fun, and nothing is more fun than actually catching something. The wicked lures trout killer has earned a permanent spot in my vest because it just flat-out works. Whether I'm high-speed trolling for big rainbows or slow-rolling it past a submerged log in a creek, it seems to find fish.
If you haven't tried one yet, start with a basic chartreuse or pink pattern and experiment with your trolling speed. Sometimes a tiny adjustment—like slowing down by half a mile per hour—is all it takes to start a "hot streak." It's a simple, effective, and honestly kind of addictive way to fish. Once you see that rod tip bury itself in the water, you'll understand why people are so obsessed with these things. Tight lines!