By : Katie Rojas
A jig is a versatile bait that works great for targeting all types of bass. It's comprised of a hook, a weighted head, a weedguard made of wire or fibers, and a soft plastic or skirt trailer. The weedguard allows the jig to work through brush, rock piles, laydowns, and docks without snagging — making it an ideal choice for fishing heavy cover.
Most anglers fish jigs slowly, hopping or crawling them across the bottom to imitate the movement of a crayfish. When fishing near timber or rocks, bump up your line weight to reduce the risk of break-offs from abrasion.
Best For: All types of bass.
Best 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.
Crankbaits are hard plastic lures, that resemble little fish, and swim when you reel it. They are made with hooks hanging from them to catch the fish, and most include a little plastic bill on the font called a lip. The larger the lip, the deeper the crankbait dives.
Crankbaits have a distinct wobble, vibration, or rattle that attract fish. Each crankbait has the ability to dive to a specific depth, so it is important that you choose the correct one for your fishing goals. 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 to move 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.
Best For: Any species besides catfish.
Best To Use: Used to cover large sections of water quickly – a great “search lure.” Avoid heavy cover.
How to Rig: There is no special rigging associated with a crankbait.
Note: Each crankbait is used to target specific depths and specific types of fish, so ensure you choose the correct one for current fishing situations.
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.
Best For: Good for all bass, striper, musky, and trout
Best 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 required.
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.
Best For: Depending on the size, spinnerbaits are great for catching bass, musky, and panfish.
Best To Use: Around hard cover and vegetation and also a 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.
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.
Best For: Bass and musky.
Best 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.
A plastic worm is a soft, flexible bait that works great for targeting bass in a wide range of conditions. It’s made of soft plastic and is typically rigged on a hook with or without weight, often weedless so it can move through grass, brush, and other cover without snagging — making it a dependable choice for fishing structure.
Most anglers fish plastic worms slowly, dragging, hopping, or letting them fall naturally to imitate an easy meal. When fishing heavier cover, use a Texas rig to stay weedless, and in more open water, a wacky rig can create extra movement. Slower presentations usually work best, especially when fish are less aggressive.
Best For: All types of bass
Best 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 is one of the most natural and effective ways to catch fish, using worms, minnows, crickets, or shad depending on the species you're targeting. The natural movement, scent, and appearance it provides is something artificial lures can only try to imitate — making it a strong choice in tough conditions or when fish are less active.
Anglers typically fish live bait slowly, allowing it to move naturally with little added action. It can be presented under a bobber, along the bottom, or free-lined depending on depth and conditions. Matching your bait to what fish are already feeding on will usually produce the best results, especially in clear water or heavily pressured areas.
Best Live Bait Pairings: Use Minnows with crappie, catfish, striper, bass, walleye, and trout. Use Worms with panfish, bass, and catfish. Crickets are very popular for panfish.
Best To Use: In 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.
