Topwater Lures
Topwater lures such as plugs, buzzbaits and poppers grab a fish's attention by splashing and sputtering on the water's surface. This mimics the movement of prey, like frogs and wounded baitfish, to provoke aggressive strikes from predatory bass and pike. Fish topwater lures using a "walk the dog"-style retrieve, with a medium-paced, twitch-and-pause cadence.
Crankbaits
This popular and versatile lure works equally well for bass, walleye, pike and trout. The key to its effectiveness is the way it imitates baitfish in both appearance and movement. Most crankbaits have two or three hooks located on their underside and come in a variety of designs and colors.
Spinnerbaits
This lure consists of spinning blades on a bent wire frame that is also connected to a skirted hook. Spinnerbaits work especially well for bass, pike and muskie.
Artificial Baits
Artificial baits made from soft plastic or rubber are designed to look like worms, baitfish, lizards or other prey. They come in many colors and are often scented to make them more appealing to fish.
Spinners
A bright, rotating blade, trailed by a treble hook, makes the spinner a deadly lure for trout. Some models also have colorful beads, bodies and a skirt to add visual appeal. Cast the lure upstream and retrieve at a pace that is slightly faster than the current when fishing for trout on rivers and streams.
Jigs
Jigs are simply a hook with a weighted or floating head. Some jigs have hair or marabou skirts that extend the length of the hook. Fish jigs with live or artificial bait to increase their effectiveness.
Spoons
Spoons are one of the simplest and most effective lures you can have in your tackle box. The cupped, oval spoon made of metal provides plenty of flashy movement that never fails to bring in hungry pike, muskie, trout or walleye.
