As opposed to the natural types of bait in the form of worms and minnows, artificial fishing lures can be reused over and over again. But the fact that one can catch multiple fish with one lure isn’t the only reason why avid fishermen prefer this option. Lures come in a wide array of styles and variations, each specifically design for a specific type of fish or a group of similar fish species. Fishing lures are generally designed to imitate smaller fish, insects, larvae and other creatures that fish eat in the wild, however, many of them are also designed in such way as not to attract unwanted attention from annoying creatures that aren’t the target demographic. That being said, let’s go through the four most common types of fishing lures.
Jigs
These are a specialized type of lures for fishing designed for “jigging.” They make for a highly effective method when it comes to catching bass and other large, freshwater fish. It’s all about targeting fish that respond to erratic, vertical motions. Withing the category of jigs, there are several varieties: swimming jigs, football jigs and flipping jigs. Each of these relies on using a slightly different technique.
Spinnerbait
These are lures that have one or more oval-shaped spinner blades made of thin metal. The purpose of the blade is to spin like a propeller while the lure is pulled through the water. This movement is what attracts the fish. Most spinnerbait lures feature blades with reflective coating – this makes the lure a lot more attractive to hungry fish. The goal is to create the appearance of a swimming bait fish (minnow or shiner). That being said, spinnerbait lures are perfect for targeting predatory species such as bass or pike. They also come in a wide range of styles, sizes and colors.
Crankbait
Many pros consider this type the mother of lures. Most crankbaits feature two pre-attached treble hooks and a bill-shaped protrusion placed up front. Some designs, however, are lipless. Bass in particular find this type of lure irresistible. The rule of thumb to follow when it comes to properly using crankbait is to choose a lure that can run at the proper depth. This means growing a small collection that includes a variety of crankbaits that can target different water depths. Also, remember that lipless crankbaits are more appropriate for winter fishing, since that is when both predatory fish and their prey are less active.
Spoons
Regardless of the fact that this is one of the oldest types of lures for fishing, it is still considered a reliable option. A spoon consists of an oblong piece of metal that has treble hook at one end and a grommet/ loop at the other end. These usually have a colorful pattern on one side and the other side has to feature a reflective, metallic surface. There are some which are reflective on both sides, but look less realistic. The shape of this lure enables it to wobble while it’s being pulled through the water and that movement attracts predatory fish. Spoon lures fall into five categories: trolling, casting, surface, jigging and weedless.
