Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Right Fishing Baits and Lures
Fishing is an exciting and rewarding outdoor activity, but for beginners, choosing the right fishing baits and lures can feel overwhelming. With hundreds of options available—live baits, artificial lures, saltwater or freshwater types—it’s easy to get confused. The truth is, your success in fishing largely depends on using the right bait and lure for the right conditions.
In this beginner’s guide, we will walk you through the types of fishing baits and lures, how to pick them based on location, water type, fish species, and weather conditions. Whether you’re planning to catch walleye, bass, trout, or lake fish, this guide will help you make smart choices that increase your catch rate.
What Are Fishing Baits and Lures?
Before diving into selection, let’s understand the difference:
| Term | Definition |
| Baits | Natural or live substances like worms, minnows, crickets, shrimp, or cut fish pieces used to attract fish with smell and taste. |
| Lures | Artificially designed imitations of fish food made of plastic, metal, or rubber that attract fish visually or through movement. |
Both work well, but each has its strengths:
- Baits are effective because of scent and taste.
- Lures are versatile, reusable, and ideal for active fishing and larger game fish.
How to Choose Between Baits and Lures
How to Choose Between Baits and Lures
| Condition | Recommended Choice |
| Beginners or casual anglers | Live Baits |
| Targeting big fish (bass, pike, trout) | Artificial Lures |
| Saltwater fishing | Live Shrimp, Cut Baits, Minnows |
| Lake or pond fishing | Worms, PowerBait, Spinners |
| Catch-and-release fishing | Artificial Lures |
| Cold-weather fishing | Jigs, Soft Plastics |
Types of Fishing Baits and Lures
- Live Baits (Natural Attractants)
Live baits are appealing because they look, smell, and taste natural. They are especially popular among new anglers.
Popular live baits:
- Worms: Ideal for lake fish, panfish, and trout
- Minnows: Perfect for crappie, walleye, and bass
- Shrimp: Great for saltwater fishing baits and lures
- Leeches: Effective in warm waters for walleye
- Crickets and grasshoppers: Best for trout and bluegill
Best Use For: Beginners, freshwater lake fishing, high fish activity zones
- Artificial Fishing Bait Types
Artificial lures are reusable and excellent for targeting specific fish species. They come in different shapes, designs, and actions.
Top Artificial Fishing Bait Types:
| Lure Type | Best For | Movement Style |
| Spinnerbaits | Bass, Pike, Trout | Flashy spinning blades |
| Jigs | Walleye, Bass, Crappie | Up-and-down hopping |
| Soft Plastics (worms, frogs, minnows) | Bass, Trout | Life-like swimming |
| Crankbaits | Bass, Walleye | Diving and wobbling |
| Spoons | Trout, Salmon | Swaying and flashing |
| Topwater lures | Bass, Pike | Surface splashing action |
Tip: Match your lure to fish diet. If fish feed on minnows, choose minnow-shaped lures.
Saltwater Fishing Baits and Lures
Saltwater fish behave differently and are often bigger and more aggressive. When selecting saltwater fishing baits and lures, consider durability and scent strength.
Best Live Saltwater Baits:
- Shrimp
- Cut bait (mullet, squid, sardine)
- Live crab
- Sandworms
Best Saltwater Lures:
| Lure Type | Target Fish |
| Metal Jigs | Snapper, Kingfish |
| Popper Lures | Tuna, Mahi-mahi |
| Soft Baits | Sea Bass, Redfish |
| Spoons | Mackerel, Salmon |
Pro Tip: Use brightly colored lures in murky water and natural-colored lures in clear water.
Walleye Fishing Baits and Lures
Walleye are intelligent, cautious fish—so your choice of lure needs to be realistic, slow-moving, and subtle.
Best Baits for Walleye:
- Minnows
- Nightcrawlers
- Leech
Best Lures for Walleye:
| Lure Type | Use Scenario |
| Jigs with soft plastics | Cold water and bottom fishing |
| Crankbaits | Deep clear lakes |
| Spinner rigs | High activity times |
| Slip bobber rigs | Still waters |
Expert Tip: For walleye, fish early morning or late evening using slow-moving lures.
Best Baits and Lures for Lake Fish
When fishing in lakes, fish species like bass, bluegill, crappie, perch, trout depend on depth, water clarity, and structure.
Best Baits and Lures for Lake Fish:
| Fish Type | Best Bait/Lure |
| Bass | Soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits |
| Bluegill | Worms, crickets |
| Trout | Spoons, live minnows |
| Crappie | Small jigs and minnows |
| Perch | Nightcrawler pieces |
Key Tip: Use worms for all lake fish if unsure—works most of the time!
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Baits and Lures
- Water Type (Clear vs Murky)
| Water Type | Best Choice |
| Clear water | Natural colors, small lures |
| Murky water | Bright colors, noisy lures |
- Fish Species Behavior
Aggressive fish like bass prefer flashy lures, while cautious fish like walleye prefer subtle ones.
- Depth of Fishing
- Surface: Topwater lures
- Mid-water: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits
- Bottom: Jigs, soft plastics
- Weather and Season
| Condition | Best Type |
| Cold weather | Jigs, worms |
| Hot weather | Spinnerbaits, topwater |
| Rainy/cloudy | Bright flashy lures |
Smart Angler Tricks: 90/10 & 80/20 Rule in Fishing
What is the 90/10 rule in fishing?
It means 90% of fish are found in 10% of the water.
So instead of covering large areas, focus on fish-rich zones like underwater structures, weed edges, rocks, and temperature zones.
What is the 80/20 rule in fishing?
It suggests that 20% of your fishing techniques or gear will help you catch 80% of your fish.
So, mastering a few reliable baits and lures is more effective than constantly changing gear.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right fishing baits and lures doesn’t have to be complicated. As a beginner, start with simple live baits like worms, minnows, or shrimp. Once you get comfortable, experiment with artificial fishing bait types like jigs, spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits for better performance.
Understanding fish behavior, water conditions, and seasonal patterns will help you make smart bait and lure choices—leading to more catches and more fun.
FAQs
How to choose the right bait for fishing?
Choose your bait based on:
- Fish species (Worms for trout, minnows for walleye)
- Water type (Natural color in clear water; bright in muddy water)
- Season and weather
- Live bait for beginners, lures for targeting larger fish
How to figure out what lure to use?
- If fish are on the surface → use topwater lures
- If fish are deep → use jigs or crankbaits
- If water is murky → use flashy spinnerbaits
- If fish are slow or cautious → use soft plastics or slow jigs
What bait attracts the most fish?
Worms and minnows are the most universal baits that attract lake fish, trout, bass, and walleye. In saltwater, live shrimp and cut bait attract the most fish.
