Best Trout Spinners
Five trout spinners the experts keep picking, led by Panther Martin and Mepps in all five roundups, with the sizes to buy and how many lists name each.
The short answer
Panther Martin and Mepps were each named in all 5 roundups we read, the strongest agreement in the series. Blue Fox Vibrax, Worden's Rooster Tail and Joe's Flies follow. Mepps is the spinner Jeff fished for years, and a 1/16 oz size is the common starting point.
Top picks at a glance
| Product | Roundups | Size to start | Status | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named in 5 of 5 Panther Martin Classic Inline Spinner (1/16 oz) | 5 of 5 | 1/16 oz | Consensus pick (not fished) | Check price (Classic Inline Spinner (1/16 oz), affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| Named in 5 of 5, and fished by Jeff Mepps Aglia Spinner | 5 of 5 | Size 0 or 1 | Consensus pick, fished by Jeff | Check price (Aglia Spinner, affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| Named in 3 of 5 Blue Fox Classic Vibrax Spinner | 3 of 5 | Size 1 or 2 | Consensus pick (not fished) | Check price (Classic Vibrax Spinner, affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| Named in 2 of 5 Worden's Rooster Tail | 2 of 5 | 1/16 oz | Consensus pick (not fished) | Check price (Rooster Tail, affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| Named in 2 of 5 Joe's Flies Super Striker Assortment | 2 of 5 | Assortment pack | Consensus pick (not fished) | Check price (Super Striker Assortment, affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
Panther Martin Classic Inline Spinner (1/16 oz)
Best for: A first spinner to buy
Named in every roundup. It was number one in the Trout Resource reader survey, and Kayak Angler and Outdoor Life list it too. The Amazon page shows the 1/16 oz size. Consensus pick, not fished.
Pros
- Named in 5 of 5 roundups
- Number one in the Trout Resource reader survey
Cons
- Not fished by us; check the size and finish on the Amazon page
Mepps Aglia Spinner
Best for: The spinner Jeff fished for years
Named in every roundup, whether as the Aglia or the Black Fury. It is also the spinner Jeff fished for years on New Hampshire streams, in size 0 or 1 with a gold or silver blade.
Pros
- Named in 5 of 5 roundups
- Fished by Jeff in size 0 or 1
Cons
- Check the size and blade color on the Amazon page
Blue Fox Classic Vibrax Spinner
Best for: A spinner with a vibrating blade
Named in three of five roundups: Trout Resource, FishUSA and Outdoor Life. Pick size 1 or 2. Consensus pick, not fished.
Pros
- Named in 3 of 5 roundups
- Tied third in the Trout Resource reader survey
Cons
- Not fished by us; confirm the size on the Amazon page
Worden's Rooster Tail
Best for: Streams and rivers
Named in two of five roundups. It was second in the Trout Resource reader survey, and FishUSA lists it first. Pick 1/16 oz. Consensus pick, not fished.
Pros
- Named in 2 of 5 roundups
- Second in the Trout Resource reader survey
Cons
- Not fished by us; confirm the size on the Amazon page
Joe's Flies Super Striker Assortment
Best for: A variety pack to try several colors
Joe's Flies appears in two of five roundups. Game & Fish names the Short Striker, and Joe's Flies tied for third in the reader survey. The link is the Super Striker assortment, because the Short Striker did not come up on Amazon. Consensus pick, not fished.
Pros
- Named in 2 of 5 roundups
- Assortment lets you try several colors
Cons
- The linked product is the Super Striker assortment, not the Short Striker the roundup named
Of every topic in this series, trout spinners show the clearest agreement. Five published roundups and one reader survey kept returning to the same few names. Here is the tally, with the sizes to start with.
How this page was built
This is a consensus page, not a hands-on review. It tallies which products recur across published expert roundups (Trout Resource (a reader survey), FishUSA, Game & Fish, Kayak Angler and Outdoor Life) and counts how many name each one. Sources are named, never quoted. Where Jeff has actually used a product, the page says so with a field note, and every other pick is labeled consensus pick, not fished.
About the Amazon links: some go to a model line or a listing that is not the exact model the experts named. Each entry says so where it applies. Check the size, model and spec on the Amazon page before ordering.
Panther Martin: named in 5 of 5
Every roundup names Panther Martin. It took first place in the Trout Resource reader survey, and FishUSA, Game & Fish, Kayak Angler and Outdoor Life include it as well. The link here shows the 1/16 oz size.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Mepps Aglia: named in 5 of 5, and fished by Jeff
Mepps ties for first, named in all five roundups, as the Aglia or the Black Fury. Field note (Jeff): this is the spinner he fished for years, in size 0 or 1 with a gold or silver blade. See his trout rod picks for how he used it.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Blue Fox Vibrax: named in 3 of 5
The Vibrax appears in Trout Resource, FishUSA and Outdoor Life. It tied for third in the Trout Resource reader survey. Start with size 1 or 2, and confirm the size on the Amazon page.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Worden’s Rooster Tail: named in 2 of 5
Trout Resource and FishUSA both name the Rooster Tail. In the reader survey it finished second behind Panther Martin. Pick the 1/16 oz size, and confirm it on the Amazon page.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Joe’s Flies Super Striker: named in 2 of 5
Game & Fish names Joe’s Flies Short Striker, and Joe’s Flies tied for third in the Trout Resource reader survey. The Short Striker did not turn up on Amazon, so the link is the Super Striker assortment, which gives you several to try.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Also named, not linked
Mepps Black Fury in size 1 or 2 and the Kastmaster each came up once or twice and are not linked. FishUSA also lists the C.P. Swing.
Sizing across the lists: 1/16 oz for general use, 1/32 oz when fish are finicky, and 1/8 oz for fast or large water. FishUSA adds blade sizes 0 to 2 for stocked trout and small streams, and 2 to 3 for medium rivers and lakes.
How to choose
- Start with Panther Martin or Mepps, the two every list names.
- Buy 1/16 oz first. Add 1/32 oz and 1/8 oz as conditions change.
- Carry both gold and silver blades.
- Match the lure weight to your rod. See trout rods for NH streams.
Counts come from five published sources. Only the Mepps entry reflects Jeff’s own use. Confirm size and finish on each Amazon page before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best spinner for trout?
By count, Panther Martin and Mepps tie, each named in all 5 roundups we read.
What size spinner for trout?
1/16 oz is the general starting point. Go 1/32 oz when fish are finicky and 1/8 oz in fast or large water.
What spinner does Jeff use?
A Mepps Aglia in size 0 or 1, gold or silver, which he fished for years on New Hampshire streams.
What rod for trout spinners?
A 6 ft 6 in medium spinning rod is plenty. See [trout rods for NH rivers and streams](/best/best-trout-spinning-rods-nh-rivers-streams/).