Fishing lures are not just gaudy chunks of metal and plastic — they’re little works of art that trick fish into thinking they’ve found their next meal. To some fishermen and women, lures are collectibles. To others, they’re trusty tools of the trade. And if you’ve felt the jolt of a fish slamming your lure, you already understand why they occupy such an important role in fishing. Whether you’re new to the water or have decades of casts behind you, getting to know the different types of lures and their personalities can make your time on the water more successful — and more fun. So let’s take a deep dive into the world of lures, where every shape, color and wiggle tells a story.
1. Soft Plastics
Soft plastics are the chameleons of bait fishing — they come in any shape you can imagine: worms, crawfish, lizards, minnows, wild looking “creature baits.” Anglers can’t get enough of them because you can rig them a hundred different ways — Texas rig, Carolina rig, drop shot, you name it. Their subtle, life-like movement is absolutely deadly on fish, particularly bass. That’s the beauty of soft plastics in general is that you can slow down and work an area, which tends to attract fish who might not swim down a faster bait.
Best use: Weedy lakes, hidden brush piles, anyplace bass or walleye enjoy hanging out. Stick to natural shades in clear water — green pumpkin, watermelon — and go bold with chartreuse or bubblegum when the water’s the color of chocolate milk.
2. Crankbaits
Crankbaits are the lunch-pail lures of fishing. Hard-bodied and lipped, they dive (or wobble or rattle) their way down into a fish’s strike zone. Consider them the loudmouths in your tackle box — they make noise, set off vibrations and demand attention. Whether you’re fishing shallow flats in the spring or cranking deep ledges in the summer heat, there’s a crankbait that will do the job.
To be used best: Around rocky points, standing and submerged trees, or open water where fish are scattered. They are particularly lethal for bass and walleye. Want to get flashy? Chuck one up with rattles in stained water — it’s like ringing the dinner bell.
3. Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits are the charmers. Their blades glitter like disco balls below the surface, and their pulsing skirts dance like they’re at a party. They work water quickly, and are excellent at bringing fish in from dirty or stained water. Their design also prevents them from getting caught on weeds, so they become a favorite in sloppy terrain.
Best for: Dingy rivers, weedy shallows of a lake or when fish need a little more encouragement. Bass and pike don’t stand a chance against a flassy spinnerbait screaming past their faces.
4. Jigs
Jigs are the faithful old pals of fishing. They’ve been around forever, and there’s a good reason for that—they just plain catch fish. Add a craw or minnow trailer to such a jig and suddenly you’ve got a pred snack that bass can’t resist. They’re the type of lure you reach for when the bite is tough and nothing else seems to work.
Best for: Fishing around docks, over rocky bottoms or in dense weed beds. Fish them slow when the water’s cold; lift and drop, or give them a little bounce when things warm up. Bass, crappie and especially walleye are all suckers for a well-presented jig.
5. Topwater Lures
If there is a heart-racing instant in fishing, it’s the topwater strike. Seeing a bass blow up on the water as it tries to crush your lure? Unbeatable. They are the adrenaline junkies of the tackle box, splashing and popping and buzzing as they work their way across the water’s surface. Frogs running the hatch over lily pads, buzzbaits scurrying across glassy water — it doesn’t get any more fun than that.
Best used: Early mornings, late evenings and over calm water with hunters on the prowl near the surface. Bass, pike and even redfish will deliver that hard-hitting strike you’ll never forget.
6. Spoons
Simple. Elegant. Deadly. Spoons are just bent pieces of metal, but with their wobble and flash they mimic injured baitfish and most feeders can’t turn down a free lunch. They’re just as effective trolling behind a boat as they are fluttering through a deep pool.
Ideal for: Fishing for trout in mountain streams, salmon in big rivers or pike and muskie in lakes. Silver spoons sparkle in clear water, gold once shine when the water is muddied.
7. Swimbaits
Swimbaits are the supermodels of fishing sleek, realistic and big predators love them. They have lifelike action and precise designs and are frequently used by anglers who fish for trophies. They may be firm but flexible, or hard-bodied with many joints, but one thing they all have in common is that they look exactly like the real thing.
Best when used: When chasing big bass, muskie or striped bass in open water or around bait pods. Swimbaits require patience — they’re frequently fished slowly, allowing predators plenty of time to evaluate before they strike.
A Few Extra Tips
Match your lure’s color to the conditions: natural in clear water, garish in muddy water. Don’t feel like you have to bring it back the same way. It might be the sudden change of pace or pause, however. Put yourself in the position of a fish — where would you be hiding and what may cause you to pursue something? Right there is where you want your lure.
Final Thoughts
Fishing lures are not only hardware; they’re characters in your tackle box, with a job to do. The more you test the combination of these, and how each responds, the better chance you’ll have at finding a proper lure to an occurrence. So take a lot of different lures — try ’em all, have some fun and let the lures do the talking. After all, part of the magic of fishing is in surprises — and with the right lure those surprises frequently come at the end of your line.