Different Types of Fishing Lures Explained

Types of fishing lures

Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a beginner, deciding which types of fishing lures to use can be challenging.

There are hundreds of different types of fishing lures with different sizes, colors, and shapes to pick from.

Understanding which types of fishing lures work best for each species and the conditions is the key to maximizing your catch.

Below, I’ll explain 12 different types of fishing lures in detail so you’ll know exactly what will work best for your next fishing trip.

What Is a Fishing Lure?

A fishing lure is a small artificial fishing bait. Lures have prey-like appearances, flashy colors and make vibrations to appeal to a fish’s predatory instincts.

You can target specific species with more accuracy when using different types of fishing lures because they mimic certain prey.

Fishing lures are most effective when:

● The weather is warm

● The water is clear

● Targeting aggressive and predatory fish

● Fishing in a region deemed ‘fly and lure only,’ ‘or artificial only’

Types of Fishing Lures

Here are the 12 most common types of fishing lures you are likely to come across.

1. Jigs

Jig fishing lures

Jigs have a simple design consisting of a hook, a collar, and the dressing. Jig hooks have varying lengths, which determine their applications. Long hooks are best used with lizard bodies or soft-plastic grabs, while short hooks are ideal for live minnows.

The primary factor when selecting a jig is its weight. Jigs should be heavy enough to reach the desired depth and not so heavy that they sink rapidly. Fishing jigs come in a variety of weights. The lightest weighs 1/100 oz, and the heaviest is 2 oz.

The rule of thumb dictates using ⅛ oz for every 10 feet of water, but if fishing in fast-flowing water, it’s best to use a heavier jig. Apart from knowing the right weight for your fishing jig, you want to choose a suitable type too. There are six types:

Flipping jigs: They are also known as bass jigs and are the best for catching small and largemouth bass. They weigh between ⅜ ounces to 1 ounce, have a long hook, and the dressing can be a living rubber or silicone skirt with some hair tied around it.

Swim jigs: They are exactly as the name suggests- winding jigs that float discreetly in water. Swim jigs weigh ¼-½ ounces and have a bullet-shaped head to enable them to slither around.

Weedless jigs: They are the best when using live bait in cover. Weedless jigs have a guard that prevents them from getting stuck in the bush or weeds, and they can be made of a wire or plastic.

Football jigs: These kinds are the best for fishing in rivers with rocky bottoms. Football jigs have pigskin-shaped heads that allow you to roll over rocks without getting stuck in the cracks.

Finesse jigs: Their miniature size (weigh 3/16-¼ ounce) makes them the best for catching small fish in freezing waters

Soft plastic dressed jigs: These types come in a variety of colors, shapes, and scents. The curly tail grub is the most popular among anglers catching freshwater game fish as the tail vibrations resemble the baitfish.

Their versatile nature means you can use jigs to catch many types of fish, including freshwater species such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, trout, bluegill, and salmon. Jigs are also often used to catch saltwater species such as flounder, fluke, and striped bass, and in the Northeast and speckled trout, pompano, bluefish, and spanish mackerel in the southern states.

Jig styles differ between fresh and saltwater with saltwater jigs often designed to mimic squid which is a common food source in ocean environments.

2. Crankbaits/Plugs

● The lip: It’s located at the front of the bait and determines the depth the bait can go. Lips with bigger angles swim deeper. Some crankbaits are lipless and are great for fishing in thick grass and during winter.

● The body: It mimics the shape of a fish and has bright reflective colors to lure fish. Some crankbaits have rattling sounds which come in handy when fishing in muddy water where visibility is a problem.

Crankbait fishing lure

There are three types of crankbaits: shallow (or square) crankbaits, medium crankbaits, and deep-diving crankbaits. Shallow crankbaits are the best for catching species like bass in shallow waters during late fall and early spring.

Medium crankbaits are great for catching the early pre-spawn bass when the weather is warmer (40-50 F).

If heading out to deeper waters, then the deep-diving crankbait is the best. Species like bass move to deeper waters during summer. So deep-diving crankbaits have the ideal weight for targeting them.

Crankbaits are great for catching predatory fish species like bass, walleye, pike, trout, and crappie. If you want to be really successful when using crankbaits you’ll need to have right fishing rod. Check out our other article: Best Crankbait Rod.

3. Spinnerbait

Spinnerbait fishing lure

Spinnerbaits come with one or several metal blades on one lure, which spin to create vibration and mimic minnows and other baitfish.

Spinnerbaits are most effective in spring, summer, and fall months as long as the water temperature doesn’t fall below 60 degrees. And like plugs, they can be used in different environments, including:

● Rocky shorelines: Rocky areas are a favorite habitat for fish like the black bass and the walleye. Throwing spinnerbait up and down near a rocky shoreline is a sure bet to catch this type of fish.

● Boat docks: Bass and other predatory fish hide under docks waiting to pounce on prey. Spinnerbaits are great fish baits to use in such environments if you want to catch them and other large species of gamefish.

● Coves: These are popular hideouts for different types of fish, as they branch off the main lake or river areas. Spinnerbaits make the best all-around lures to use when fishing in coves.

Spinnerbaits are great for catching bass species like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and kentucky bass. They can also be used for saltwater species such as redfish, flounder, snook, and seatrout.

4. Spoons

Spoons are one of the oldest types of fishing lures dating to the 1840s and are still effective in modern fishing. This is due to their unique design that mimics a spoon without a handle. Fishing spoons have an oblong shape, a loop on one end for attaching to the line, and a treble hook on the other end.

Spoon fishing lure

These fishing lures appeal to a fish’s sense of sight so they are most effective in clear water. That’s why they come in bright colors, usually gold, silver, and bronze.

Some fishing spoons have a colorful pattern on one side and a reflective metallic surface on the other. Their metallic construction also helps them hold up well against sharp fish teeth. The unique shape combined with the reflective surface lures fish into chasing and eating the lure.

Typically, the shape and thickness of the spoon determine the extent of the vibration. Long fishing spoons create a more expansive side-to-side wobble than short spoons. While those with deep concave shapes produce wider wobbles than flat ones.

Note that the casting speed is critical when using a fishing spoon. If cast too fast or too slow, the spoon might not wobble properly. It’s best to practice a few times before going for a fishing excursion.

Small spoons are the best for catching stream trout or perch, while large spoons are used for catching species like salmon, bass, muskies, and pike.

5. Soft Plastics

Soft plastics are popular fishing lures because they feel more natural than hard baits like plugs and spinnerbaits. They come in different colors and shapes (worms, frogs, insects, grub, and lizards) to mimic natural bait.

Soft plastic fishing lures

Furthermore, ingredients that add flavor, scents, and color may be added to appeal to a fish’s senses. Modern soft plastic baits are very life-like, mimicking actual worms, floating claws on crawfish, and minnows. Here are the most common types:

● Worms: These lures are available in various lengths and tails, including straight, paddle, curl, vibe tails, and more. The tail gives the lure a life-like action when lifting it from the bottom of the river.

● Creatures: These lures mimic lizards and other non-swimming creatures. They are most effective when rigging, sight fishing, pitching in isolated areas, and sparse cover.

● Toads: These lures are the best when fishing in dense vegetation. They have a flat, wide-body and two kicking legs at the rear to mimic a real frog. Pair the lure with an offset worm hook or a double-pronged toad hook for the best results.

● Baitfish: They are available in different colors and sizes to imitate forage fish. For a more natural presentation, it’s best to identify the type of baitfish in the waters first and select a matching color and profile size.

Small soft plastic fishing lures are the best when catching crappies and panfish. While medium-sized ones work best when fishing smallmouth bass and walleyes. Anglers fishing largemouth bass, muskies, and the northern pike use sizeable soft plastic swimbait lures.

If you are targeting Halibut, check out our other article Best Halibut Lures where we share our top 5 picks.

6. Flies

Flies are the best fishing lures for fly fishing. The lures resemble flies and other natural foods and can catch both small and large fish. Most flies are made of artificial materials like fur, hair, and feathers to trick the targeted game into thinking they are natural insects.

Fly fishing lure

Since they come in different forms and shapes, choosing the right one is critical when fly fishing. Factors such as the type of fish you want to catch, the location, timing, and the water conditions play a significant role.

The lifecycle of flies also determines the type of lures to use. For example, anglers fishing trout on river rocks or water columns are more likely to catch them using nymph-like flies.

That’s because nymphs are the first stage of an insect’s lifecycle and often cling to the river’s bottom. Trout are bound to live in these spaces because there’s much food here. Other types of fly fish flies include:

● Streamers: They are like nymphs, except they’re larger and look like hatching insects. Unlike nymphs which sit in water, streamers are put on fly lines and floated on the water. The premise is to imitate the movement of a living creature to lure fish into catching them.

● Terrestrial bugs: These are dry flies used to catch fish like trout. Fish find them more realistic as they resemble bugs like grasshoppers which float on water.

● Attractors: They use shiny materials, bright colors, and long rubber pieces to move in water, not fly. The idea is to lure fish into catching them before they realize the fly isn’t actually food.

You can use flies to catch a wide variety of fresh and saltwater species including trout, salmon, grayling, bass, pike, carp, tarpon, snook, bonefish, redfish, and spanish mackerel. Flies are usually fished using light or ultralight fishing gear.

7. Poppers

Poppers are the most preferred lures among anglers going for popper fishing during the summer season. Popper fishing technique dates back to 1995 and has since become a popular fishing method among fishers.
When using poppers, the lure skips on the water surface, and the splashing sound mimics the movement of prey on the surface, luring fish into biting it.

Popper fishing lure

Surface poppers have a unique design at the front compared to other lures. The face is cupped to push out the water surge upon retrieval.

These type of fishing lures also come in different colors, sizes, and designs. They often mimic wounded baitfish and other prey species like mice, crickets, and frogs.

There are two types of poppers-the chuggers and the spitters. Chuggers float on the water surface to create a bubble of water over the lure to imitate prey. Once the bubble bursts, it produces a popping sound that attracts fish.

But, spitters look like chuggers, except the mouth isn’t symmetrical. The top part of the mouth sticks out further, preventing a round bubble from forming. As such, it spits water out in front of the bait to produce a softer sound. Sometimes spitters are more effective than chuggers.

Poppers are used to catch both fresh and saltwater species including bass, walleye, trout, muskie, pike, bluefish, sea trout, spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, barracuda, and more.

8. Chatterbaits

Chatterbaits are a worthy addition to any angler’s arsenal and the best when you want to make an aggressive presentation. Essentially, they’re an improved jig designed to outdo square bills and spinnerbaits.

Chatterbait fishing lure

They have a larger, hexagonal blade that enhances vibration but retains the soft plastic action most jigs are known for. Anglers use chatter baits when spinnerbaits are too aggressive for the existing conditions. They are also the best when fishing in:

● Thick vegetation like weed beds: Chatterbaits slide through the foliage to catch fish. These lures are great for targeting species like snakehead that love areas with lots of foliage. When paired with a single hook, they vibrate like spinners and swim like crankbaits.

● Clearwater (below 60 F): They come in handy when fishing bass in clear water. If the bass is too sluggish for spinnerbaits, chatter baits may just come to your rescue.

● Dirty water: They are also pretty effective when fishing in murky water.

Chatterbaits are the best for attracting large, aggressive fish species like muskie, walleye, and bass.

9. Buzzbaits

Fishing on topwater can be unsuccessful without the right fishing lure. Buzzbaits are excellent lures for such conditions as they are weedless and can quickly cover vast water regions. They also appeal to large species like the largemouth bass because of their ability to displace large amounts of water.

Buzzbait fishing lure

Traditionally, anglers used them during the summer season when fish come to the surface to look for food. But modern fishers use buzzbaits throughout the year.

Pitching a buzzbait near flooded bushes during the spring months, for example, might be the way to catch pre-spawn bass. Fall is another great time to catch fish on shallow flats and along the shorelines.

Like other topwater baits, you should consider two colors only. If fishing in clear water, it’s best to use white buzzbaits as they imitate the bottom of most baits (mouse, frog, lizard, etc.).

Dark-colored buzzbaits are the best when fishing in murky water because bass can’t see. Ensure the bait has a flashy flake on the skirt, too, to create a more life-like appearance.

Buzzbaits are the best for catching, pike, bass, and pickerel in open waters.

10. Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits are like crankbaits. But instead of creating a diving motion, they dart through the water to create the illusion of a struggling minnow or wounded baitfish. They also tend to be longer and thinner compared to crankbaits

Jerkbait fishing lure

Their action is created by the technique of the angler along with small bills or lips that keep them a few feet below the water surface. Jerkbaits as the name suggests are fished with a pull then pause technique to try and entice a bite from a predatory fish.

They can be used throughout the year but are most effective in early spring when fish are looking for easy prey in the form of a lone baitfish.

Jerkbaits are most effective when fishing largemouth bass and other predatory fish such as pike and muskie. They are also commonly used to target saltwater fish like snook, redfish, and sea trout

11. Trolling Skirts

Historically trolling skirts were very basic fishing lures but are now highly advanced lures that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are even scented creating a scent trail behind your boat to help catch fish.

Trolling skirt fishing lures

Having the best presentation has a dramatic effect on your success when trolling. If it looks real and smells real, then chances are it will catch more fish. Matching the color of your trolling skirt to baitfish in the area is always a good option.

Trolling skirted lures is particularly effective when chasing bigger predatory fish at speed. Typically, skirted fishing lures should be trolled at speeds of 6.5-15 knots to produce effective noise and vibration. But, speeds will also vary depending on the species being targeted.

Offshore fishers also often combine skirted lures with cut bait when trolling for better presentation. The premise is to use the skirted lure to capture the fish’s attention, and when they’re close, they’ll draw close to bite the cut bait.

Trolling skirts are used on both fresh and saltwater to catch a range of fish species such as sturgeon, bass, kingfish, walleye, wahoo, tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi, sailfish, and barracuda.

Want to know more about these types of lures? Check out our other article Best Trolling Lures.

12. Worm Harnesses

Worm harnesses operate like spinnerbaits but have a different design. A worm harness is a bait rig made with blades, leader line, beads, and hooks to hold worms to troll when fishing.

Worm harness fishing lure

They have two hooks trailing behind beads, and their appearance mimics that of a worm. They can present live bait such as worms, nightcrawlers, and minnows although some anglers will also use soft plastic worms.

This presentation is most effective when trolling the lures at depths of 15-80 feet deep.

While worm harnesses are available in tackle shops, some anglers prefer to make their lures larger and customized to their liking.

Worm harnesses are often used to target moderately-sized predatory fish such as bass, walleye, trout, and even big crappie.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of different options available when deciding which types of fishing lures to choose.

Take some time to do the research and make sure you get the best type of fishing lure for the species you are trying to catch.

Check out our fishing tackle buying guides and reviews designed to help you navigate and find the best fishing tackle available.

Pairing the right fishing lure to the conditions and the species you’re after is the best way to maximize your catch.

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