All About Fishing Lures

By Iain Loveman

First, it is safe to say that fishing lures come in a never ending supply of colors, sizes, types and styles. So, lets start with the types of lures available.

• Jig(s)
• Topwater Lures
• Jerkbaits
• Crankbaits
• Spinnerbaits
• Spoons
• Biodegradable Lures
• Buzzbaits
• Plastic Baits

Jig(s)
There are several types of Jig Lures.
(Molded Jig Heads, Fly Fishing Jigs, Jigging Spoons, Flipping/Pitching, Finesse, Swim)

Jig Heads are basically just a weighted head with a hook and its basic function is to allow you to use live bait at various depths. Many fisherpersons consider them to be one of the most useful of baits.

Styles include bubble, crosseyed, football, stand-up, roundball, tube, weedless, minnow head, bullet, aspirin, glider, mushroom, prop, darter, crosseyed, horse, banana, airplane, shad and floating.

Top Water Lures
There are seven different types of topwater lures.
(Crawlers, Prop Baits, Poppers and Chuggers, Stickbaits, Minnow Lures, Buzzbaits and Weedless)

Jerkbaits
Jerkbaits are small lipped, minnow shaped diving baits and are not a lure that you fish just by just casting it out and reeling it back in. You have to work the bait with the tip of your rod and your reel. The idea is to create a irresistible motion that you cannot get with other lures.

Crankbaits
Crankbaits do not work well in extremely muddy water or very clear water. The best condition to throw a crankbait is in stained water defined as the ability to see a white lure from a depth of 2 to 4 feet. Windy days with some chop are ideal for crankbaits.

Spinnerbaits
flash through weeds and thump like fleeing bait. Blades call bass from cover. Cast tight, retrieve slow or fast. Simple. Deadly. One lure that turns still water into strikes.

Spoons
Spoons flash and wobble like wounded bait, slicing through open water and ice. Flutter, snap, or troll them. Bass, pike, trout smash the shine. Simple metal. Deadly action. Pure strikes.

Biodegradable Lures
Biodegradable lures flash, flutter, and fade like real bait then vanish without leaving plastic behind. Cast, retrieve, catch. Fish hard. Leave nothing. Clean water. Real strikes. Tomorrow still fishes.

Buzzbaits
Buzzbaits scream across the surface, blades chopping water like fleeing bait. Cast them tight to grass, wood, and lily pads. Hang on. Bass explode. Loud. Ugly. Deadly. Pure topwater chaos.

Plastic Baits
Plastic baits slither, kick and pulse like living prey through grass, timber and rock. Rig them weightless, Texas, or Carolina. Bass inhale. Soft. Deadly. Endless shapes. Pure strikes.