What do trout eat? – All species compared

Trout is a desirable species to fishing enthusiasts and is one of the more common fish people fish for. However, there are a lot of different species of trout, and they eat a range of different food. So, what do trout eat? We’re going to answer this question in this post!

In short:

Trout eat a variety of different foods, ranging from insects and worms to small fish, mammals, and crustaceans. Different kinds of trout eat different prey items, so it’s not possible to give a “one-size-fits-all answer” to this question. 

If you’re going to be fishing for trout soon, it can be very helpful to know what trout eat, specifically what the trout species you’re going after eats. In this post, we’re going to break up a trout’s diets for each common species so you know exactly what the trout type you’re going after likes to eat!

Trout food – What’s on the menu for different species?

There are many different kinds of trout and it’s not possible to list them all in this post along with their diet. Below, we’ve covered the most popular trout species that people like to fish for, and have gone into more depth on what they eat. If you’re not sure what species of trout lives near you or where you’re traveling to to fish, it’s always best to look it up to ensure you’re well prepared!

Brook trout

The brook trout eats a varied diet of worms and snails, small insects & larvae, small frogs, small fish and crayfish. They are very opportunistic and have been known to snatch other small animals that happen to fall into the water. As with most trout species, if they’re hungry and it fits in their mouth, they’re likely to go for it!

Brown trout

Brown trout are one of the trout species with the biggest appetite, often going for small mammals and small tortoises/turtles if given the chance. They also eat many of the other common trout meals, like insects, snails, crustaceans and small fish. Brown trout are a strange trout species when compared to the others, as they seem to have a taste for larger prey items

Lake trout

When they’re young, they’ll eat plankton like most other trout species. As they get older, lake trout will eat small fish, crustaceans, insects and snails. They’re surprisingly fast swimmers which makes them great at catching live prey.

Cutthroat trout

Cutthrout trout feed mainly on insects but they will also tuck into shrimps, snails, small fish and small crustaceans. That being said, they’re opportunistic feeders just like most other trout species, so they may eat other small animals they happen to come across too.

Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout have been known to eat the eggs of other rainbow trout, as well as other fish species. As well as this, a broad range of species including insects, small fish, crustaceans and various other small prey items they may come across are also on the menu. 

Steelhead trout

Small fish, small rodents, crustaceans, insects and various other small animals are on the menu. Steelhead trout are opportunistic hunters, eating a wide range of different prey.

Bull trout

Bull trout eat other fish, gobbling up pretty much anything they can. They’ll also eat insects, crustaceans and other small animals they may encounter on/near the water’s surface.

Golden trout

Golden trout mainly feed on insects, with the occasional crustacean or other small animal making up a small part of their diet too. 

As you can see, pretty much all trout species eat a vast array of different animals. They’re all opportunistic hunters, with one being even less fussy than the other. Although there are small differences in their diet (also differing per region), they will all eat most insect species as well as most other small animals they can get their hands on.

Why is it important?

It’s important to know what the fish you’re fishing for eats, especially if you hope to catch something while fishing. Knowing their usual prey makes it possible for you to use the right lures or bait to catch a fish. If you’re not sure whether to use an artificial lure or bait, we’ve got a post that covers the difference between artificial lures and live bait. The more you know about the waters you’re fishing, the fish you’re going for and the weather and other conditions, the better your chances are going to be for catching a fish. It could be the difference between catching one fish in three days of fishing or catching three fish in a matter of hours!

We always advise our readers to do enough research on the kind of fish they’re going to catch. The more you know about the species, the better your chances are going to be of catching something. This not only allows you to dangle the right lure or bait in front of them, but also makes it easier to fish in the right spot to catch yourself the biggest fish possible. Knowledge really is power when it comes to fishing!

What bait/lures will trout go for?

What the best baits and lures are for catching trout varies slightly per species, and of course, whether you’re looking to use a lure or live bait for catching them. We’ll split our answer into two parts, separating the best bait and the best lures.

Bait:

• Nightcrawlers
• Mealworms
• Red wrigglers
• Other worms
• Crickets
• Small baitfish

Lures:

When it comes to lures, there are a lot of different brands & possibilities. The lure you use will depend on your preference in style, brand and the type of trout you’re going for. Check out our post on flyfishing vs bait fishing if you’re trying to choose between these two fishing techniques. Check out our post on the best lures for trout for suggestions!

Conclusion

As you can see, trout eat a lot of different things. They’re one of the less picky fish species, enjoying a fast range of different meals including crustaceans, insects, small fish and various other small living creatures. Hopefully, this article has helped you find the information you’re looking for. If you have any questions, please leave it in the comments so we can answer it. This way, the answer will be available for other people to see too.