I inherited a shoebox fill of lures, in line spinners and rapala 01 to 08, and would like to use them. There is a variety of types...sinking, countdown, floating jointed and non jointed, x-rap, husky jerk, minnow rap, all about 1/8oz and in line spinners 1/16 oz to 1/4 oz. Also top water jitterbugs and poppers. I'll be using a spinning reel ML (buying this rod this weekend) 6 lb line to start and from the bank. I was just going to spend the day trying a bunch of stuff but this forum has been great so maybe I'll do better with some suggestions? I have firebait and roboworms too but just hate to have all these lures just sitting here.

Depending on what size trout you target and fishing pressure, all minnow style baits less than 4" should work. 

I use to tie my own Roadrunners   They seem to work as well as anything artificial that I have used.

Thompson Buoyant spoon work really great. !/16 oz. Roadrunners and/or jig heads with 2" curly tails also work well. When I was really into trout fishing, there was only one lure I carried with me. A 4/0 Colorado Spinner. Here's what I'm talking about:

 

 

I took my limit of trout with these bad boys many, many times. They are not easy to find in the regular retail market these days, but you make them up pretty easily with lure parts from Netcraft.com. Good luck!

I've caught stocker trout around here on 1/4 oz. blade baits (silver buddy type) and 1/8 oz. rattle traps, pretty much anything that's shiny and moving.

 

They're not as picky as some would have you believe.

 

Tom

I've had good success with the 1/4oz size countdown in rainbow color.

Depends a lot on where you're going to fish. The trout in the White River in Arkansas love the same jerkbaits used to fish for bass. The Rebel wee crawfish is a great little trout crankbait too.