The Opening Day of trout season was a major holiday in the Fee Household. The days leading up to it required a trip to Leonard’s Bait and Tackle for supplies, primarily a couple fresh jars of Berkley Powerbait Dough (always yellow) and some new spinners. As I staked out a position at Darby Creek in Delaware County, PA, I’d wrestle with which of the presentations I’d start with – the hatchery-food mimicking trout dough or the reaction-strike-triggering spinner. The goal, of course, was to hook the palomino trout before someone else did, or before it wised up and got lockjaw.
I never considered combining the two, but the folks at Berkley did, and in time for the 2026 Trout Season, they have released the “Dough Rider.” I’m not clear on whether that’s a play on low rider or rough rider, but the inline spinner has a hollow compartment (called the “Scent Vent”) into which you can squish a small bit of Powerbait dough, thus adding scent to your spinner.
The spinner comes in 10 colors and four sizes. For Darby Creek this April 4, where I’ll likely be fishing my first Pennsylvania Trout Opener in several years, I’d opt for the smallest size, the 1/16-ounce, in Chartruese/Black. I’d use the all-black, but that one has a silver blade, and I always had better luck on those small stream trout with gold blades.
To see more and stock up for opening day, check out Berkley-Fishing.com
From Berkley:
The Dough Rider revolutionizes inline spinners by combining flash, vibration, and scent in one lethal package. Traditional spinners catch attention, but without scent, they can leave bites behind. Featuring the built-in Scent Vent™ pocket, it’s designed to hold PowerBait® Dough and release a continuous scent trail that draws fish in and keeps them committed. Burn it through current or finesse it in still water— its versatility is unmatched. The Dough Rider’s flash and vibration demand attention, while scent seals the deal. Whether you’re a spinner die-hard or a dough devotee, it’s your ultimate crossover weapon. One lure, every condition, more fish. The Berkley® Dough Rider—the only spinner that smells like success.
