Last Updated on August 27, 2026 by Daniel Globe
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Small trout lures can be easy to carry but frustrating to rig, especially when you want several proven colors without filling a tackle tray. The Trout Magnet 82-Piece Neon Fishing Gear Kit, model 87659, combines 70 soft-plastic bodies with 12 size 8 jig heads/hooks in a pocket-sized box. Its main appeal is the light 1/64-ounce shad-dart presentation, which is designed to fall horizontally instead of dropping head-first like many standard jigs. This review helps you decide if that compact setup fits your freshwater fishing style, while also covering the biggest tradeoff: such a light lure can require ultralight tackle and careful presentation.
Quick Verdict
Rating: Recommended with caveats
Best For: Trout and panfish anglers who want a compact ultralight jig kit with multiple bright colors.
Bottom Line: You get 70 bodies, 12 jig heads, seven neon color options, and a compact box in one simple kit. The tiny 1/64-ounce presentation is useful for finesse fishing, but it is not the best choice when you need long casts, heavier tackle, or a saltwater-focused setup.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Trout Magnet |
| Manufacturer | Leland Lures |
| Model | 87659 |
| Product type | Freshwater soft-plastic jig kit |
| Total pieces | 82 |
| Soft-plastic bodies | 70, ten each in seven colors |
| Jig heads/hooks | 12 size 8 shad-dart heads, four gold, four black, four silver |
| Jig-head weight | 1/64 ounce |
| Body colors | Mealworm gold, bubble gum, opaque chartreuse, chartreuse/orange, green/black, pink, white |
| Material | High-grade plastic bodies |
| Storage | Single-sided pocket or vest box |
| Primary target | Trout, with use for panfish, creek chub, bass, and crappie |
| Country of manufacture | Made in the USA |
What Is the Trout Magnet 82-Piece Neon Kit?
The Trout Magnet Neon Kit is a compact lure assortment built around the brand’s small shad-dart jig system. You get 70 split-tail soft-plastic bodies and 12 size 8 jig heads, giving you enough combinations to change colors or replace a worn body without carrying several separate lure packs.
The seven body colors cover bright and contrasting options, while the jig heads come in gold, black, and silver. The defining feature is the 1/64-ounce head and body design, which is intended to fall in a horizontal position. That slow, light presentation makes the kit most useful when trout or panfish respond better to a small finesse offering than a heavier jig.
Who Should Buy It?
Best For
- You fish for trout, crappie, bluegill, or other freshwater species with light tackle.
- You want several bright body colors and jig-head colors in one small case.
- You prefer a finesse lure that can drift, suspend, or retrieve slowly instead of a heavier fast-sinking jig.
Skip If
- You need long casting distance in wind or deep water without adding weight or a float.
- You mainly fish saltwater and want tackle designed around saltwater species and corrosion exposure.
- You want a full starter setup with line, leader, and floats included.
Before You Buy: This 82-piece kit is a lure assortment, not a complete rod-and-line system. The 1/64-ounce jig heads are very light, so your rod, line, current, wind, and casting distance can have a noticeable effect on how easy the setup is to fish.
Fishing Performance and Effectiveness
The Trout Magnet’s key performance difference is its horizontal fall. A conventional round-head jig often drops with the head leading. This shad-dart head and split-tail body are designed to stay more level, which gives you a smaller, slower presentation that can look natural in current or under a float.
That does not mean the lure catches fish automatically. You still need to match your depth, drift, color, and retrieve to the water. The advantage is that the 70-body assortment gives you room to experiment. You can change from pink or chartreuse to white, green/black, or mealworm gold without opening another package.
Color Selection and Visibility
The kit includes ten bodies in each of seven colors: mealworm gold, bubble gum, opaque chartreuse, chartreuse/orange, green/black, pink, and white. Bright colors can be easy to track in clearer shallow water and can give fish a strong visual target, while darker or more natural-looking choices let you adjust when bright colors are not producing.
Because you also get gold, black, and silver jig heads, you can vary both the body and head appearance. That is more useful than having 82 identical pieces because it lets you test combinations as light, water color, and fish behavior change.
Build Quality and Materials
The manufacturer describes the bodies as high-grade plastic and states that the kit is made in the USA. For you, the practical benefit is simple: the soft-plastic bodies are small enough for a finesse profile but are intended to hold up through repeated casting and normal freshwater use.
Soft plastics can still tear after fish strikes, snags, or repeated rigging. The kit’s 70-body count helps offset that limitation because replacement bodies are already in the box.
Portability and Storage
The single-sided Trout Magnet box is sized for a pocket or fishing vest, which is one of the kit’s strongest practical features. Instead of carrying separate bags of plastics and loose jig heads, you can keep the matched components together and reach them quickly when you want to change colors.
That compact format is useful for creek fishing, bank fishing, short hikes, or any trip where you want to reduce tackle bulk. It also makes the kit a convenient backup even if Trout Magnets are not your primary lure.
Pro Tip: Rig one body straight on the shad-dart head before you start fishing. A centered body is more likely to preserve the intended horizontal presentation than a body that is twisted or bunched on the hook.
How It Performs in Real Use
In Small Streams and Creeks
The light jig is well suited to finesse presentations where you want a small lure to move naturally rather than crash to the bottom. In moving water, you can focus on keeping the lure at the depth where fish are holding and letting the current provide part of the movement.
In Ponds and Lakes
The same small profile can target stocked trout, crappie, bluegill, and other panfish, but the 1/64-ounce weight can limit casting distance. A light rod and line help, and a float can be useful when you need to control depth or add casting mass, provided you rig it according to the manufacturer’s fishing instructions.
When Fish Are Finicky
The kit gives you a straightforward way to downsize. Instead of changing to a large spoon or crankbait, you can stay with a tiny plastic body and cycle through seven colors. That is useful when fish are present but are ignoring larger or faster presentations.
For Travel and Minimal Tackle
The pocket-sized case is easy to add to a vest, backpack, or small tackle bag. You still need a rod, line, and any float or leader your approach calls for, but the lure side of the setup stays organized in one compact box.
How to Use the Trout Magnet Correctly
Start by threading a body onto one of the size 8 shad-dart jig heads so the body sits straight. Tie the jig securely to your line, then use a slow presentation that allows the lure to stay level in the water. In current, that may mean a controlled drift. In still water, a slow retrieve with small movements can keep the tiny lure working without overpowering its action.
Because the jig head is only 1/64 ounce, very heavy line can make the lure harder to cast and can reduce the subtle presentation that makes the system distinctive. Choose your tackle for the water you are fishing, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any float, line, or leader setup you add.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rigging the body crooked: A twisted body can change how the lure tracks and falls.
- Retrieving too fast: The system is built around a small finesse presentation, so excessive speed can work against that advantage.
- Ignoring depth: Even a good lure will miss fish if it stays well above or below the strike zone.
- Expecting long casts from a 1/64-ounce jig: The tiny head is a strength for finesse fishing but a clear limitation when distance matters.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Includes 70 bodies and 12 size 8 shad-dart jig heads in one kit.
- Seven body colors give you multiple options for changing conditions.
- 1/64-ounce design supports a slow, horizontal finesse presentation.
- Compact single-sided case fits easily in a pocket or vest.
- Useful for trout and several other freshwater species, including panfish, bass, and crappie.
Cons
- The very light jig heads can be difficult to cast far, especially in wind.
- The kit does not include line, leader, or floats, so it is not a complete fishing setup.
- Soft-plastic bodies are replaceable consumables and can tear after repeated use or fish strikes.
Is It Worth the Price?
The Trout Magnet Neon Kit offers strong value for anglers who specifically want a compact finesse assortment. Most of the value comes from having 70 bodies in seven colors plus 12 matched jig heads in one organized box, rather than buying one or two colors and carrying them separately.
You get the most value if you regularly fish trout, crappie, bluegill, creek chub, or bass with ultralight gear and are willing to experiment with color and presentation. It is less compelling if you need heavier lures for deep water, windy conditions, or long-distance casting.
How It Compares to Alternatives
If you want more Trout Magnet pieces and additional accessories, the Trout Magnet Big Kit is the step-up option, with more bodies, more jig heads, and floats. If you want an even smaller presentation for fish that refuse the standard Trout Magnet, the brand’s Mini Magnet system is designed specifically for downsizing.
For a different style of trout soft plastic, Berkley PowerBait Atomic Teaser jigs are another established option to compare. The 82-Piece Neon Kit makes the most sense when you want the Trout Magnet horizontal-fall system, seven bright color choices, and a small pocket case without moving to a larger kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly comes in the Trout Magnet 82-Piece Neon Kit?
You get 70 soft-plastic bodies and 12 size 8 shad-dart jig heads. The bodies come in seven colors, with ten of each color, while the jig heads are split among gold, black, and silver.
What fish can you catch with this kit?
The kit is designed primarily for trout, but the manufacturer also lists panfish, creek chub, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and crappie among the species anglers target with the lure. Your results still depend on location, season, presentation, and fish activity.
Why does the Trout Magnet fall horizontally?
The shad-dart jig head and body are designed to stay more level in the water than a typical head-heavy jig. That gives you a slow finesse presentation that can be useful in streams, ponds, and lakes.
Do you need ultralight fishing gear to use it?
The 1/64-ounce jig head is very light, so a light or ultralight setup generally makes casting and lure control easier. Heavier line and stiff rods can make the tiny jig harder to cast and can reduce the subtle presentation.
Can the grub bodies be reused?
A body can be reused as long as it still sits securely and straight on the hook. Replace it when it becomes torn, stretched, or loose enough to affect the presentation.
Does the 82-piece kit include floats or fishing line?
No. This Neon Kit contains the bodies and jig heads in the compact box. If you want line, leader, and floats included, compare it with one of Trout Magnet’s larger bundles.
Is this a good choice for saltwater fishing?
This kit is marketed around trout and other freshwater species, so it is better treated as a freshwater lure system. If saltwater is your main use, choose tackle designed for your target saltwater species and conditions.
The Bottom Line
The Trout Magnet 82-Piece Neon Kit is easy to recommend if you want a compact freshwater finesse kit with 70 bodies, 12 size 8 jig heads, seven colors, and the brand’s horizontal-fall presentation. Skip it if you mainly need heavy, long-casting lures or a complete starter bundle with floats, line, and leader.
Its biggest strength is how much color variety and replacement bait it packs into a pocket-sized box. Its biggest limitation is the same feature that gives it finesse appeal: the 1/64-ounce jig head is extremely light and works best when your tackle and presentation suit that weight.
