Common Lures

Jig

• Type of fish:
  • All types of bass
• Where to use:
  • Near cover, like brush, rock piles, tree laydowns, or docks
• How to rig:
  • Anglers typically add a soft plastic trailer like a Strike King Rage Menace or a Strike King Rage Craw because their increased profile attracts fish and has a more life-like action to mimic fleeing baitfish or a darting crayfish. Simply thread a soft plastic on the hook of a jig for an effective trailer.

A jig is great for targeting all types of bass. It can work its way through cover such as brush, rock piles, tree laydowns, and docks because of the weedguard. Anglers often fish slowly with a jig to target fish that are not interested in hitting a fast-moving bait. Though they can be fished a variety of ways, most anglers hop or crawl the jig across the bottom, imitating a crayfish. Use a little heavier line when fishing a jig near heavy cover, as abrasions from timber and rock can snap line and lose a catch!

Crankbait

• Type of fish:
  • Any species besides catfish
• Where to use:
  • Used to cover large sections of water quickly – a great “search lure”
  • Each crankbait is used to target specific depths and specific types of fish, so ensure you choose the correct one for current fishing situations
  • Avoid heavy cover
• How to rig:
  • There is no special rigging associated with a crankbait

Crankbaits can be used for nearly any type of fish. Crankbaits have a distinct wobble, vibrations, or rattle that attract fish. With each crankbait having the ability to dive to specific depths, ensure that you choose the correct one for your fishing adventure. This is a great lure for simple "casting and winding” – no special action needed, just cast it out and reel it in! Try varying your retrieval speed when fishing crankbaits. Sometimes it is best moving the crankbait swiftly, and sometimes it is best to slow down. This takes a little experimenting to see what the fish respond to best. Avoid heavy cover with crankbaits as the treble hooks are likely to get caught/result in a lost lure.

Topwater Plugs

• Type of fish:
  • Good for all bass, striper, musky, and trout
• Where to use:
  • Great for times when fish are chasing forage on the surface, usually in the morning and late evening. A topwater plug is best utilized in spring and early summer.
• How to rig:
  • No special rigging

Topwater plugs are great for when fish are chasing forage on the surface of the water, usually during early morning and late evening. Also great around cover, topwater plugs are good for targeting all bass, striper, panfish, musky, and trout.

Spinnerbaits

• Type of fish:
  • Depending on the size, spinnerbaits are great for catching bass, musky, and panfish
• Where to use:
  • Around hard cover and vegetation
  • Particularly good choice for stained or dirty water because the vibration helps fish to track it in low-visibility situations
• How to rig:
  • Many anglers use a Strike King Rage Menace on a spinnerbait or a Strike King Blade Minnow. Their increased profile attracts fish and has a more life-like action to mimic a shad or a brim. Simply thread a soft plastic on the hook of a spinnerbait for an effective trailer.

Spinnerbaits are an excellent choice around hard cover or vegetation and work very well in stained water because of its vibration. Great for targeting bass and musky, spinnerbaits attract the attention of fish in low-visibility conditions and the flash makes it a good imitator of schooling baitfish. Like crankbaits, it is best to vary your retrieval speed to determine what the fish are responding to. Spinnerbaits work great when fished quickly, or "slow rolled" near the bottom, so slowly that the blades are barely spinning.

Buzzbaits

• Type of fish:
  • Bass and musky
• Where to use:
  • Great for when fish are chasing forage on the surface, especially in shallow, heavy-cover water
• How to rig:
  • Some anglers prefer a trailer on this lure

Buzzbaits are great for when fish are chasing forage on the surface, but especially in shallow, heavy-cover water such as in timber or around lily pads. Buzzbaits are mainly used to target bass and musky. Anglers often choose to put a trailer on this lure.

Plastic Worms

• Type of fish:
  • Bass
• Where to use:
  • Near cover, like brush, rock piles, tree laydowns, or docks
• How to rig:
  • Can be rigged different ways
    • (Texas-Rig, Carolina-Rig, Wacky Rig, Weightless, or on a jighead)

Live Bait

• Type of fish:
  • Minnows: crappie, catfish, striper, bass, walleye, trout
  • Worms: panfish, bass, catfish
  • Crickets: very popular for panfish
• Where to use:
  • Shallow water
  • Some anglers fish deeper minnows for striper, crappie, and catfish
• How to rig:
  • Mostly (but not always) fished under a bobber
  • When fishing deeper water for catfish or striper, anglers typically use live bait with a lead weight and no bobber

There are many different types of live bait, and they vary based on the type of fish you are targeting. Reference the chart below for choosing the correct live bait.