Trout Magnet Original Kit Review

Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by Daniel Globe

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Small trout and panfish often ignore large, fast-moving lures, so a compact finesse presentation can make a real difference. The Trout Magnet Original 142-Piece Kit gives you a broad color selection, matching shad-dart jigs, two floats, and a pocket-size tackle box in one set. Its main strength is the simple horizontal-fall presentation, while its main limitation is that you still need your own rod, reel, line, and any terminal tackle required for your local conditions. This review explains what is included, how to rig it, where it works best, and who should consider another option.

What Is the Trout Magnet Original Kit?

The Trout Magnet Original Kit, also called the Big Kit, is a compact assortment built around small split-tail soft-plastic bodies and matching shad-dart jigs. The body and jig are intended to fall in a horizontal position instead of dropping head-first like many conventional jigs. That presentation can look less aggressive in clear water or around fish that are feeding on small prey.

You get 120 bodies, 20 jigs, and two E-Z Trout Floats. The body assortment covers natural, bright, and glitter colors, which lets you change your presentation without buying several separate packs. The double-sided box keeps the small parts organized and fits more easily in a vest, backpack, or small tackle bag than a full-size tray.

Who Should Buy It?

Kit Components and Their Benefits

120 Split-Tail Grub Bodies

The kit includes 120 soft-plastic bodies across 11 listed colors. Natural shades such as brown, black, mint green, and white can suit clear water or cautious fish. Brighter choices such as chartreuse, pink, orange, and yellow can provide more visibility in stained water, while gold and rainbow glitter add flash.

The split tail creates subtle movement without requiring a hard retrieve. Because the bodies are separate from the jigs, you can replace a damaged body while reusing the jig when it remains straight and sharp.

20 Shad-Dart Jigs

The 20 included jigs are split between gold and silver finishes. Their shape is designed to work with the matching body so the lure hangs and falls horizontally. This is the central feature of the Trout Magnet system, so straight rigging matters more than aggressive rod movement.

Twenty jigs are enough to start, but snags can reduce that number quickly in rocky streams, brush, or submerged timber. Frequent anglers may want a spare pack of compatible jig heads.

Two E-Z Trout Floats

The floats let you suspend the lure at a chosen depth and watch for light bites. This is useful in pools, runs, pond edges, and other areas where you want the bait to travel slowly through a feeding zone. A float can also help beginners see strikes that would be difficult to feel through slack line.

Double-Sided Storage Box

The compact box separates bodies, jigs, and floats while keeping the whole system easy to carry. It works well as a grab-and-go option for short sessions or as a small finesse section inside a larger tackle bag. The tradeoff is limited spare room once you begin adding line, swivels, forceps, or extra jig packs.

Build Quality and Lure Design

The listed lure bodies use high-grade plastic and are made in the USA. Their bright colors are designed to resist fading, and the flexible bodies can be reused until they tear, deform, or no longer stay straight on the jig. Actual life depends on fish teeth, snags, storage, and how often you remove and rerig each body.

The horizontal-fall design is more important than the color count. A centered body can drift or sink with a level profile, while a crooked body may spin, tilt, or track poorly. The system is simple, but it rewards careful rigging and controlled line tension.

Target Species and Fishing Environments

The kit is built first for trout, but the small profile also suits bluegill, sunfish, crappie, creek chub, and other panfish. Smallmouth and largemouth bass may also take it when they are feeding on small forage, though the included light presentation is not intended to replace heavier bass tackle.

Streams and creeks are natural settings for the system because you can drift the lure through seams, pools, and slower current beside faster water. In ponds and lakes, you can fish it below a float, retrieve it slowly, or work it vertically from a dock or boat. The Amazon listing also markets the kit for saltwater use, but it remains a light finesse setup rather than a general-purpose saltwater lure kit.

How It Performs in Real Use

In Small Streams and Creeks

A float-controlled drift can keep the lure moving near the depth where trout are holding. Cast slightly upstream or across the current, then manage slack so the float travels naturally. Too much tension can pull the lure out of the strike zone, while too much slack can hide a light bite.

In Ponds and Stocked Lakes

The float helps you test different depths without changing lures. Start above visible weeds or near drop-offs, then adjust deeper if fish are not responding. A slow retrieve with occasional pauses can also work when fish are cruising rather than holding in one area.

For Panfish and Crappie

The small bodies and color selection make the kit useful around docks, brush edges, and shallow cover. Vertical jigging can keep the lure close to structure, while a float gives you more distance and a slower presentation. Use controlled movements because large snaps can overpower the subtle tail action.

For Occasional Saltwater Use

The listing says the kit can be used in saltwater, but it does not describe the included jigs as corrosion-resistant. After saltwater use, rinse the jigs and floats with fresh water, dry them fully, and inspect the hooks before storing them. Skip this kit as your main option if you need heavier, purpose-built saltwater tackle.

How to Rig and Fish the Trout Magnet

1. Choose a body color. Start with a natural shade in clear water and a brighter shade when visibility is poor.
2. Thread the body straight. Insert the hook through the center of the body and keep the split tail aligned with the jig.
3. Add the float when needed. Set it so the lure travels above weeds, rocks, or the bottom rather than dragging through cover.
4. Use a slow presentation. Drift, retrieve, or jig with small movements and watch the float or line for hesitation.
5. Adjust one variable at a time. Change depth first, then color or retrieve speed, so you can tell what produces bites.

Check your knot, hook point, and body alignment after a fish or snag. Replace any jig that is badly bent, dull, or corroded. Follow local fishing rules, species limits, and tackle restrictions.

Materials and Safety Notes

The soft bodies are plastic, and the kit contains sharp hooks that require careful handling. Keep the box closed around children and pets, and store used or damaged bodies where wildlife cannot reach them. Do not leave loose plastic or line at the water.

Amazon displays a California Proposition 65 warning for this product. California buyers should review the warning on the live listing before purchase. The product is fishing tackle, not a toy, and children should use it only with close adult supervision.

Pros and Cons

Is It Worth the Price?

The Trout Magnet Original Kit is positioned as a value-focused way to buy a wide lure-body selection, matching jigs, floats, and storage together. It makes the most sense for you when you expect to use several colors and want backups ready after snags or damaged bodies. Buying a large assortment can also cost less than building the same mix from many small refill packs.

The value is weaker if you already own plenty of compatible bodies and jig heads, or if you need fishing line and leader more than additional colors. It is also not the best fit for heavy current, deep water, or larger target species where heavier tackle is the priority.

How It Compares to Alternatives

The Trout Magnet Neon Kit is a smaller option focused on seven bright colors, so it may suit anglers who want a lighter box and mostly fish stained water or active fish. The Mini Magnet Kit uses an even smaller presentation for finicky fish and can be useful after standard-size Trout Magnets stop producing.

The Original 142-Piece Kit makes more sense when you want the broadest body selection and more spare pieces in one box. If you are starting from scratch and also need line, leader, and more floats, the brand’s Ultimate Bundle is worth comparing because it includes more of the complete system.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The Trout Magnet Original 142-Piece Kit is a strong choice for trout and panfish anglers who want color variety, compact storage, and a subtle float-or-jig presentation. Skip it if you need a complete rod-and-line package, heavier tackle, or a listing with perfectly consistent bundle details. Its broad assortment is the main strength, while the light-duty format and mixed piece-count copy are the main caveats.