Keep it simple, Sam.

That’s an important rule in fishing, including for gear.

Some of the best tackle is the simplest.

Hardly anything can malfunction, little needs to be learned to use it, yet it clobbers fish.

When a fishing lure on the market is simple but effective it becomes one of the most popular.

The Trout Magnet is a classic.

A simple idea, the Trout Magnet is a 1/64-ounce shad dart with a split rubber tail that’s become a staple for anglers, because it works.

That’s it. End of story.

Well, almost.

The lure is meant to be fished horizontally, unlike other darts intended to be jigged vertically.

The Trout Magnet is fished on streams, so it flows naturally along the current like other fish food, with constant, 1- to 3-inch twitches of the rod tip to impart action.

The usual way to fish the lure is under a float that serves as a strike indicator but also keeps the Trout Magnet at the desired depth, usually just above the bottom.

Of course, the lure is popular for trout fishing. But other fish including crappies and smallmouth bass will also pounce on the dart.

Trout Magnets come in a variety of colors.

Click here for videos on how to fish the Trout Magnet, including rigging, the twitch method and fishing the lure from the bank or a boat.

For more information, visit the Trout Magnet web page.