Common Types of Freshwater Fishing Lures
Freshwater Fishing Lures
There are a lot of freshwater fishing lures in a lot of sizes, shapes, and colors.
As you learn more about the environment that fish live in and how they behave, you will learn how to identify the best freshwater lures and bait for what you’re angling for during different seasons of the year.
FRESHWATER LURES
These are the most common freshwater fishing lures you can find in your favorite fishing tackle store.
FISHING JIGS
Fishing jigs are commonly used freshwater lures equipped with weighted metal heads and a tail made of animal hair, soft plastic, feathers, or rubber.
Anglers sometimes add a minnow or piece of pork rind to the fishing jig’s hook. Fishing jigs can be used to catch nearly every kind of freshwater and many saltwater fish.
POPPERS
Poppers are small fishing lures used with spin-casting tackle.
These fishing baits are very good for panfish and other fish that feed on the surface, such as trout and bass.
Poppers get their action from a cupped face carved or molded into the front of the lure body.
SPOONS
Spoons are metal lures designed to mimic the action of a swimming baitfish or minnow.
They’re one of the most popular of all freshwater fishing lures because spoons are easy to use and versatile.
Depending on where and how you’re fishing, you’ll want the right spoon – casting, weedless (or topwater), jigging, or trolling spoons.
Different spoons have different actions. And there are a variety of colors depending on the type of water and species you’re fishing for. Ask your tackle shop which ones you need.
PLUGS
Plugs have a plastic or wood body and are designed to be used on top of the water or at depths below the surface.
Topwater or floating plugs are designed to float on the surface. Diving plugs have plastic or metal lips so they can dive to a certain depth.
SPINNERS
Spinners have one or more blades that spin, or revolve, around a straight wire shaft. Some spinners have tails made of soft plastic or animal hair.
PLASTIC BAITS
Soft-plastic worms, minnows, and crayfish are available in many sizes and colors.
You can use them with or without weight. Sometimes, plastic fishing baits are used with a jig head, spinner, or spinner bait. Some plastic baits have a scent built into them that is attractive to fish.
SPINNER BAITS
Spinner baits are lures with one or more blades that spin around a safety-pin-type shaft.
Most spinnerbaits have skirts made from animal hair, vinyl, rubber, or other materials.
SURFACE FISHING LURES
Surface fishing lures are made to imitate things like mice, lizards, frogs, larger crawling insects, and smaller injured fish.
These fishing lures usually have a solid body made out of wood or plastic, carry one or two treble hooks, and have an eyelet at the front to attach your fishing line.
Catching a fish with a surface lure can be a real rush. Sizeable fish can create quite an explosion when they hit the bait.
BLADE FISHING LURES
Blade fishing lures are popular freshwater trolling lures consisting of weighted, fish-shaped blades made with a swinging hook and designed for fishing in deep water.
BUZZ FISHING LURES
These (top) freshwater lures are safety-pin lures for surface fishing that have a propeller blade on one piece of wire and a weighted body, skirt, and hook on the other.
CRANK LURES
A crank lure – more commonly known as a crankbait – is a fish-like hard lure or plug designed to swim under the surface, often made of plastic or wood. Some are combined with replaceable soft plastic tails.
TUBE LURES
Made of soft plastic, these tubular freshwater lures are fished with special weighted hooks inserted into the hollow body.
VIBRATING LURES
A vibrating lure contains a tiny motor that sends out a sound-producing vibration to attract fish. The lure body simulates a living creature. A programmed microprocessor is used to randomly operate the motor.
SNAG HOOKS
Snag hooks are heavy-duty treble hooks that are weighted with lead around the center shanks of the three treble hooks.
They are rarely baited with anything and are cast out into the water, then rapidly retrieved back in a jerking motion, hoping to ‘snag’ a fish on the outside of its body.
Snag hooks are often used during spawning periods of nuisance fish to control populations.
These hooks are sometimes banned in certain states, so it is important that all anglers check their State’s rules and regulations prior to using these hooks.
There are so many types and styles of freshwater fishing lures in a lot of sizes, shapes, and colors.
As you learn and become more proficient in the environment fish live in and how they behave, you will learn how to identify the best freshwater lures and bait for what you’re angling for during different seasons of the year.
