However, the depthfinder may help you to locate schools of baitfish, and trout won't be far away. Assorted plugs, especially slender minnow-shaped versions, are flatlining mainstays. Plugs should imitate the shape and size of the main trout forage, which in many places means either deep-bodied alewives or slender smelt. In most inland trout lakes and ponds, basic colors work best. I've also had good results with plugs that look like small brown or rainbow trout, or yellow perch.
Spoons are likewise popular.
It pays to experiment with both color and size. On some days, rainbow trout will key in on a thin, lightweight spoon less than an inch long, for example, whereas on the same day the brown trout near rocky points will only hit a thick, deeper-running gold wobbler. Silver, brass, and gold are standard colors, often embellished with red, blue, or chartreuse spots or stripes. This depends partly on lure type and partly on the preferences shown by trout on a particular day. Drag your lure next to the boat to make sure it has the proper action and doesn't twist at your chosen speed.