In the world of angling, the attraction of spinning lies in its versatility and excitement.
From the twitches of jerkbaits to the spin of spinnerbaits, each type of fishing lure offers a unique opportunity to entice and engage our elusive aquatic counterparts.
In this exploration of lure fishing, we embark on a journey through the diverse selection of lures at our disposal, from the classic inline spinners to the innovative design of chatterbaits.
We’ll explain how to match your fishing lure to current conditions and fish behavior, with practical tips to help you improve your results.
This guide will give you clear, useful information to help you fish more effectively with lures.
Types Of Fishing Lures
Spoons
A fishing spoon is a type of fishing lure that derives its name from its shape, which resembles that of a spoon. These lures typically consist of a concave, metallic body with a smooth, reflective finish. The curved shape of the spoon causes it to flutter and wobble when retrieved through the water, mimicking the erratic movement of injured baitfish. This action, combined with the flash of light reflected off the spoon’s surface, attracts predatory fish such as trout, bass, pike, and salmon.
Spoon lures come in various sizes, colors, and styles to match different fishing conditions and target species.
Some spoons feature painted patterns or decals to imitate the appearance of natural prey, while others have a plain metallic finish for maximum flash.
Anglers can also adjust the action of a spoon by varying the speed of retrieval or adding a twitching motion to entice fish further.
These versatile lures can be used in a variety of fishing techniques, including casting, trolling, and jigging.
They are particularly effective in open water or when fish are feeding near the surface.
Additionally, spoons are relatively easy to use, making them suitable for anglers of all skill levels. Whether fishing in freshwater or saltwater environments, the spoon lure remains a popular choice among fishermen for its effectiveness and simplicity.
Spinnerbaits
A spinnerbait is a type of fishing lure that consists of a metal wire frame with one or more spinning blades, a lead head, and a hook. The blades, usually made of metal or plastic, are shaped to spin as the lure is retrieved through the water. This spinning action creates flash and vibration, mimicking the movement of injured baitfish and attracting predatory fish.
Spinnerbaits are versatile lures that can be used in various fishing techniques, including casting, trolling, and jigging. Anglers often use them to target predatory fish such as bass, pike, muskellunge, and walleye, among others. The design of spinnerbaits allows them to be effective in a wide range of water conditions, from shallow to deep, and in various types of cover, including weeds, rocks, and fallen trees.
These fishing lures come in different sizes, colors, and blade configurations, allowing anglers to match the lure to the prevailing fishing conditions and the preferences of the target species. Some spinnerbaits feature multiple blades or specialized blade shapes to create different levels of vibration and flash.
Additionally, anglers can customize spinnerbaits by adding trailers, skirts, or other accessories to enhance their effectiveness.
Crankbaits
A crankbait is a type of fishing lure that mimics the appearance and movement of baitfish or other prey species. It typically consists of a hard plastic or wooden body with a diving lip or bill at the front and one or more treble hooks attached to the underside.
When retrieved through the water, the diving lip causes the crankbait to dive to a certain depth, depending on its design and the speed of retrieval.
Crankbaits come in various shapes, sizes, and colors to imitate different types of forage and to suit different fishing conditions.
Some crankbaits have a wide wobbling action, while others have a tighter, more subtle movement. They may also feature rattles or other noise-making mechanisms to attract fish.
Anglers commonly use crankbaits for casting and trolling, targeting a wide range of freshwater species like bass, trout, walleye, pike, muskellunge, and panfish, among others.
Crankbaits are particularly effective for covering a large area of water quickly and for fishing at various depths, from shallow to deep.
Soft Plastic Baits
Soft plastic baits are versatile fishing lures that are highly popular among anglers for their effectiveness in attracting various fish species.
These baits are made from soft, flexible plastics that come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, allowing anglers to mimic different types of prey and adapt to different fishing conditions. Soft plastic baits are commonly used for a variety of purposes in fishing.
One of the primary uses of soft plastic baits is for bass fishing. Anglers targeting bass often use soft plastic worms, crawfish, creature baits, and swimbaits to entice strikes from these predatory fish. Rigged on a hook using techniques like Texas rigging, Carolina rigging, or drop shotting, soft plastic baits can be presented in a way that appears natural to bass, whether they are fishing in shallow weeds, rocky structures, or deep water.
Soft plastic baits are also widely used in finesse fishing techniques. When fish are finicky or in pressured waters, anglers turn to subtle presentations using small soft plastic baits like finesse worms, grubs, or creature baits.
These baits are often rigged on light jig heads or drop shot rigs and are worked slowly and delicately to tempt cautious fish into biting.
Topwater Lures
Topwater fishing lures are a thrilling category of fishing baits designed to stay on the water’s surface, creating enticing splashes and movements that attract fish from below. They’re particularly exciting because they often elicit explosive strikes as fish breach the surface to attack them. These lures come in various forms, each designed to imitate different types of prey and appeal to a wide range of fish species.
One of the most common types of topwater lures is the popper. Poppers have a concave or cupped face, which, when jerked or “popped” across the water’s surface, creates a distinct popping sound and splashing action. This mimics the behavior of injured baitfish or struggling prey, attracting predatory fish like bass, pike, and trout.
Another popular topwater lure is the walk-the-dog style bait, such as the Zara Spook or Heddon Super Spook. These lures have a slender, elongated body and are designed to be worked back and forth in a zigzag motion, imitating the erratic movement of fleeing baitfish. This side-to-side action creates a commotion on the surface, drawing aggressive strikes from fish.
Surface frogs and mice are also effective topwater lures, particularly for bass and other freshwater predators. These lures are designed to mimic the appearance and movement of frogs or small mammals crossing the water’s surface.
They typically feature soft bodies and weedless hooks, allowing them to be worked over thick vegetation without snagging.
Swimbaits
Swimbaits are a highly effective type of fishing lure designed to imitate the natural swimming action of baitfish, shad, or other prey species. These lures typically consist of a soft, lifelike body with a jointed or paddle tail that moves fluidly through the water, closely resembling the movement of real fish.
Swimbaits come in various sizes, shapes, and colors, ranging from small minnow imitations to larger profiles suitable for targeting trophy-sized predators.
One of the key advantages of swimbaits is their versatility.
They can be used in a variety of fishing scenarios, including casting, trolling, and jigging, and they’re effective for both freshwater and saltwater species.
In freshwater, swimbaits are popular for targeting bass, walleye, pike, muskellunge, and trout, among others. In saltwater, they’re commonly used to catch species like striped bass, redfish, snook, tarpon, and even larger predators like tuna and marlin.
Swimbaits can be rigged in different ways depending on the fishing conditions and the target species.
They’re often rigged on jig heads, weighted swimbait hooks, or as trailer baits on spinnerbaits or chatterbaits. The weight and size of the rigging determine the depth at which the swimbait will swim, allowing anglers to effectively target fish at various depths in the water column.
One of the key advantages of swimbaits is their ability to produce big strikes from trophy-sized fish.
The lifelike appearance and realistic swimming action of swimbaits make them irresistible to large predators, often resulting in aggressive strikes.
Jerkbaits
Jerkbaits are a type of fishing lure designed to mimic the erratic movement of injured baitfish. They typically feature a long, slender body with multiple treble hooks and are made from hard plastic, wood, or other materials.
Jerkbaits are highly versatile lures that can be used in both freshwater and saltwater environments to target a wide range of predatory fish species.
One of the defining characteristics of jerkbaits is their action. When retrieved with sharp jerking motions of the rod tip, these lures dart and dive unpredictably through the water, imitating the evasive movements of wounded prey. This erratic action triggers predatory instincts in fish, often resulting in aggressive strikes.
Jerkbaits come in various styles, including floating, suspending, and sinking models. Floating jerkbaits rise to the surface when paused, while suspending jerkbaits hover in the water column, and sinking jerkbaits sink slowly when retrieved. Anglers can choose the appropriate type of jerkbait based on the depth at which they want to fish and the behavior of the target species.
These lures are particularly effective for targeting bass, walleye, pike, muskellunge, and trout in freshwater environments. In saltwater, jerkbaits are commonly used to catch species like striped bass, snook, redfish, and tarpon, among others. Jerkbaits can be fished in a variety of conditions, including around rocky structures, along weed lines, near drop-offs, and in open waters.
Blade Baits
Blade baits, also known as vibrating lures or blade lures, are a type of fishing lure designed to produce intense vibrations and flash to attract fish. These lures typically consist of a metal blade or blades attached to a jighead, with hooks positioned to catch fish when they strike. Blade baits are highly effective for targeting a variety of freshwater and saltwater species, making them a popular choice among anglers.
One of the key features of blade baits is their ability to create strong vibrations in the water, which can be felt by fish through their lateral line sensory system.
This vibration mimics the movement of injured baitfish or other prey, attracting predatory fish and enticing them to strike.
Additionally, the metal blade of the lure produces flash as it vibrates, further enhancing its attractiveness to fish.
Blade baits are versatile lures that can be used in a variety of fishing techniques.
They can be cast and retrieved, jigged vertically, or trolled behind a boat.
They’re effective for fishing in a range of locations, including deep water, shallow flats, and areas with heavy vegetation or structure.
Buzzbaits
Buzzbaits are a type of topwater fishing lure known for their ability to create a loud buzzing or squeaking noise as they’re retrieved through the water.
These lures typically consist of a wire frame with a propeller blade or metal blade attached to the front, a lead head, and one or more hooks. The blade spins rapidly as the bait moves through the water, creating surface disturbance and noise that attract fish.
One of the key features of buzzbaits is their ability to draw aggressive strikes from predatory fish, particularly bass.
The buzzing noise produced by the spinning blade mimics the sound of struggling prey, triggering a predatory response in fish and enticing them to strike.
This makes buzzbaits highly effective for fishing in shallow water, around submerged vegetation, and along the edges of cover where bass are known to ambush their prey.
Buzzbaits are typically fished with a steady, fast retrieve to keep the blade spinning and create maximum surface disturbance.
Anglers can vary the speed of retrieval and the angle at which the bait is presented to determine what triggers the most strikes. Some anglers also experiment with adding trailers or skirts to their buzzbaits to enhance their attractiveness to fish.
In addition to bass, buzzbaits can also be effective for targeting other freshwater species like pike, muskellunge, and panfish. They’re versatile lures that can be used in a variety of fishing situations, from fishing in clear water on calm days to fishing in choppy water or windy conditions where the noise and surface disturbance produced by the buzzbait can help attract fish.
Inline Spinners
Inline spinners are classic fishing lures consisting of a straight wire shaft with a spinning metal blade, a weighted body, and one or more hooks. These lures are popular among anglers for their simplicity, versatility, and effectiveness in catching a wide range of freshwater fish species.
The spinning metal blade is the key feature of inline spinners. As the lure is retrieved through the water, the blade spins rapidly, creating flash and vibration that mimic the movement of small baitfish or insects. This action attracts predatory fish and triggers strikes.
Inline spinners come in various sizes, colors, and blade configurations to match different fishing conditions and target species. Some spinners feature single blades, while others have multiple blades or special blade shapes designed to produce different levels of vibration and flash.
Additionally, the body of the spinner may be adorned with beads, feathers, or other attractants to further enhance its appeal to fish.
Twitchbaits
Twitchbaits, also known as jerkbaits or minnow baits, are a type of fishing lure designed to imitate the erratic movement of injured baitfish.
These lures typically have a long, slender body with multiple treble hooks, and they’re often made from hard plastic or wood.
Twitchbaits are highly versatile and can be used to target a wide range of freshwater and saltwater fish species.
One of the key features of twitchbaits is their action. When retrieved with sharp twitches or jerks of the rod tip, these lures dart and dive unpredictably through the water, imitating the evasive movements of wounded prey. This erratic action triggers predatory instincts in fish, often resulting in aggressive strikes.
Twitchbaits come in various styles, including floating, suspending, and sinking models. Floating twitchbaits rise to the surface when paused, while suspending twitchbaits hover in the water column, and sinking twitchbaits sink slowly when retrieved.
Anglers can choose the appropriate type of twitchbait based on the depth at which they want to fish and the behavior of the target species.
Swim Jigs
Swim jigs are dynamic fishing lures celebrated for their versatility and effectiveness across various fishing environments.
Crafted with a streamlined jighead and a silicon or rubber skirt, swim jigs are designed to replicate the natural motion of prey fish, enticing predatory species like bass, pike, and walleye.
The distinguishing feature of swim jigs lies in their adaptability. Whether in freshwater lakes, rivers, or ponds, or even in saltwater estuaries, these lures excel.
Their design allows for swift movement through aquatic vegetation, rocky structures, or submerged brush, making them ideal for covering large swathes of water effectively.
Utilized with a steady retrieve or by employing a jigging motion, swim jigs showcase an enticing swimming action that mimics fleeing baitfish. This lifelike movement, combined with the pulsating skirt, elicits predatory strikes from lurking gamefish.
Anglers often customize swim jigs by adding trailers, such as soft plastic swimbaits or crawfish imitations, to enhance their appeal and mimic local forage species. This adaptability ensures swim jigs remain a go-to lure choice for anglers seeking success in diverse fishing scenarios.
Chatterbaits
Chatterbaits are innovative fishing lures renowned for their unique design and ability to elicit aggressive strikes from predatory fish. These lures feature a jighead with a blade attached at an angle, which produces a distinctive “chattering” sound and vibration as it moves through the water. This action mimics the movement of injured baitfish or fleeing prey, making chatterbaits irresistible to bass, pike, walleye, and other gamefish.
The standout feature of chatterbaits is their versatility. They can be effectively used in various fishing scenarios, from shallow weed beds and submerged vegetation to rocky structures and open water. Their ability to navigate through cover with minimal snagging makes them particularly appealing to anglers targeting bass in heavily vegetated areas.
Chatterbaits are typically retrieved with a steady, medium-paced retrieve, allowing the blade to produce its characteristic chatter and vibration. This action triggers predatory instincts in fish, prompting them to strike aggressively.
Additionally, anglers can experiment with different retrieval speeds, pauses, and rod twitches to vary the presentation and entice more strikes.
Anglers often customize chatterbaits by adding trailers, such as soft plastic swimbaits or creature baits, to enhance their appeal and imitate local forage species. This versatility allows anglers to tailor their chatterbaits to match the preferences of the target fish and the conditions of the fishing environment.
Tube Baits
Tube baits are a classic and versatile type of fishing lure that have stood the test of time for their effectiveness in catching a wide range of fish species. These lures consist of a hollow, cylindrical body made of soft plastic, often with tentacle-like appendages at either end. Tube baits can be rigged with an internal jighead or fished weedless with an offset hook, providing anglers with flexibility in presentation and technique.
One of the key features of tube baits is their lifelike appearance and action in the water. The soft plastic material and subtle movement of the tentacles create a naturalistic appearance that closely mimics various prey species, such as baitfish, crayfish, or aquatic insects. This realism, combined with the undulating action of the tentacles, entices predatory fish to strike.
Tube baits are highly versatile and can be used in a variety of fishing techniques and environments. They are particularly effective for targeting bass, walleye, pike, panfish, and trout in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Whether fishing in shallow flats, rocky shorelines, or deep drop-offs, tube baits can be rigged and presented to match the prevailing fishing conditions and the preferences of the target species.
Anglers commonly rig tube baits with an internal jighead and fish them using a jigging or hopping retrieve technique.
This allows the bait to imitate the movement of bottom-dwelling prey species like crayfish or baitfish, making it irresistible to hungry fish.
Alternatively, anglers can fish tube baits weedless with an offset hook and use a slow, steady retrieve to swim the bait through vegetation or cover, enticing strikes from lurking predators.
Why Does Retrieval Speed Matter?
Retrieval speed matters in fishing because it directly impacts how a lure or bait behaves in the water, ultimately influencing fish behavior and the likelihood of getting a strike.
Adjusting the pace at which you retrieve your lure can mimic the natural movements of prey, triggering predatory instincts in fish. For instance, speeding up the retrieval can simulate the frantic movements of injured baitfish, enticing aggressive strikes from predators.
Moreover, retrieval speed allows anglers to target specific types of fish activity. Active fish are more likely to pursue faster-moving prey, so speeding up your retrieve can help target these fish.
Conversely, slowing down the retrieve can be effective for tempting more cautious or sluggish fish.
Adapting retrieval speed to match fishing conditions is crucial for success. Factors like water temperature, clarity, and weather influence fish behavior. In colder water, fish are often less active and may prefer a slower presentation, while warmer temperatures can trigger increased aggression and make fish more responsive to faster retrieves.
Additionally, retrieval speed affects the depth at which your lure or bait travels. Faster retrieves keep lures closer to the surface, while slower retrieves allow them to sink deeper. By adjusting retrieval speed, anglers can control the depth at which they present their lure, effectively targeting fish at different levels of the water column.
Why Does Lure Size Matter?
Lure size matters because it directly influences the type of fish you’ll attract and how they’ll respond.
Larger lures typically target bigger, more aggressive fish, while smaller ones appeal to smaller or more finicky species.
Matching the size of your lure to the size of the fish you’re targeting increases your chances of getting a strike.
Additionally, the size of the lure affects its action, buoyancy, and how it interacts with the water, all of which can impact its effectiveness in attracting fish.
How Could I Increase The Amount Of Strikes I Receive On Lures?
To increase strikes on lures, try varying retrieval speed and action to mimic different prey behaviors.
Sometimes, a faster, erratic retrieve might trigger strikes, while a slow, subtle presentation may be more effective. Experimenting with these factors can help determine what entices fish in your specific fishing environment.
Additionally, matching your lure to prevailing conditions and fish behavior is crucial. For example, using noisy topwater lures during low light conditions or switching to finesse techniques in clear, calm water can make a significant difference. Adapting your approach based on the situation can greatly increase your chances of success.
Furthermore, don’t underestimate the impact of lure color and size. Experimenting with different colors and sizes allows you to find what works best in specific situations. Matching the color of your lure to the natural prey in the area and adjusting its size to match the target species can significantly improve your catch rate.
Lastly, targeting high-activity areas where fish are actively feeding can lead to more strikes. Focus on points, drop-offs, weed edges, and structure where fish are likely to congregate. Being observant of your surroundings and understanding fish behavior can help you pinpoint these productive fishing spots.
Top Fishing Lures for Every Angler’s Tackle Box
Discover the best lures for bass, musky, and more. From crankbaits to soft plastics, find the perfect lure to elevate your fishing game.
View the ProductFinishing Notes
In conclusion, lure fishing is an effective and versatile fishing method that gives anglers many options to improve their skills and results. Throughout this guide, we’ve covered the different types of lures available, each designed for specific situations and fish behaviors.
From soft plastic baits to topwater lures, there are many practical choices to suit various fishing conditions.
