Spinnerbaits
A spinnerbait is a type of fishing lure that is used to mimic the movement of a small fish or other prey in the water.
It typically consists of a metal blade that spins around a central shaft, creating a flashing and vibration that attracts predatory fish.
The blade is attached to the shaft by a wire, and the lure also includes a body or head made of soft plastic, rubber, or other materials, which is painted or colored to resemble a fish or other aquatic creature.
Spinnerbaits are used to catch a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish species, including bass, crappie, pike, and musky.
Topwater
Topwater baits are fishing lures that are designed to float on the surface of the water and mimic the movement of prey, such as small fish, insects, or frogs.
They are typically used to target predatory fish species, such as bass, pike, and musky, which are known to feed on prey that is near the surface of the water.
There are several different types of topwater baits, including:
- Poppers: A type of topwater bait that creates a “pop” sound on the surface of the water when it is retrieved, simulating the sound of a fleeing prey.
- Walk-the-dog baits: A type of topwater bait that is retrieved in a side-to-side or “walking” motion, imitating the movement of a fleeing baitfish.
- Chuggers: A type of topwater bait that produces a “chugging” sound when retrieved, simulating the sound of a feeding or injured prey.
They are often considered to be some of the most exciting and visually appealing lures to use, as they often elicit explosive strikes from predatory fish when used correctly.
Soft Plastics
Soft plastic baits are designed to imitate the look and feel of live bait, such as worms, grubs, frogs, and lizards.
Soft plastic baits are versatile and can be rigged in a variety of ways, such as on a hook, jighead, or Texas rig, to create different actions and presentations in the water.
They are commonly used for a variety of freshwater and saltwater species, including bass, crappie, catfish, and walley.
Some popular types of soft plastic baits include:
- Worms: Imitate the appearance and movement of earthworms, used primarily for bass fishing.
- Grubs: Imitate the appearance and movement of small insect larvae, used for a variety of species including bass and panfish.
- Creature baits: Imitate the appearance and movement of crawfish, lizards, or other prey species, used primarily for bass fishing.
- Stick baits: Imitate the appearance and movement of minnows, leeches, or other slender prey species, used for a variety of species including bass and walleye.
Soft plastic baits are popular among anglers because they are durable, versatile, and affordable, and they can be fished in a variety of ways to mimic different types of prey.
Hard Baits
Crankbaits
Crankbaits are a type of hard bait fishing lure that are designed to mimic the movement of a fleeing baitfish.
They are typically made from wood, plastic, or metal and have a bill or lip on the front that creates a diving action when retrieved through the water.
The diving action and vibrations produced by the crankbait attract predatory fish such as bass, pike, and musky.
Crankbaits come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and can be rigged with different types of hooks and line to suit different fishing conditions and techniques.
Some common types of crankbaits include deep-diving crankbaits, shallow-running crankbaits, square-bill crankbaits, and lipless crankbaits.
Crankbaits are popular among anglers because they can be fished at different depths and retrieve speeds to cover a wide area of the water column, and they are often effective in murky or stained water conditions where visibility is limited.
Jerkbaits
Jerkbaits are a type of hard bait fishing lure that are designed to mimic the movement of a wounded or injured prey species, such as a minnow or a baitfish.
They are typically made from wood, plastic, or metal and have a distinctive “jerking” action when retrieved through the water, which can trigger strikes from predatory fish such as bass, walleye, and pike.
Jerkbaits are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and they can be rigged with different types of hooks and line to suit different fishing conditions and techniques.
Some common types of jerkbaits include suspending jerkbaits, floating jerkbaits, and sinking jerkbaits.
Jigs
Jigs are a type of hard bait fishing lure that are designed to sink to the bottom of the water and imitate the movement of a crawling prey species, such as a crawfish or a worm.
They consist of a weighted head, usually made of lead or tungsten, and a hook, with a soft plastic or hair tail attached to the hook shank.
The type of jig, tail material, and rigging can be customized to match the size and color of the natural prey in a particular fishing environment.
Swimbaits
Swimbaits are a type of fishing lure that are designed to imitate the swimming action of live baitfish or other prey species.
They are typically made from soft plastic or hard plastic material and can be rigged in different ways, such as with a jig head or with a swimbait hook, to create a lifelike swimming action when retrieved through the water.
Swimbaits come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and can be fished at different retrieve speeds to imitate different types of prey species.
Some common types of swimbaits include soft plastic swimbaits, hard plastic swimbaits, glide baits, and jointed swimbaits.
Terminal Tackle
Terminal tackle refers to the components of a fishing rig that are used to attach the fishing line to the bait or lure, and to the hook that will actually catch the fish.
Terminal tackle includes items such as hooks, swivels, sinkers, split rings, and other components that are used to build a fishing rig.
Terminal tackle plays an important role in fishing because it affects the way the bait or lure behaves in the water, and it determines the strength and reliability of the connection between the fishing line and the hook.
High-quality terminal tackle, such as sharp hooks and strong swivels, can increase the chances of landing a fish, while poor-quality terminal tackle can result in lost fish and broken lines.