Natural bait
Worms, minnows, leeches, and pieces of fish bring scent, texture, or live movement. The rig places that food where a fish can find it.
Explore live bait →Know what to tie onBaits &
Baits &
Lures Guide
Every bait has a job.
Find the one that fits your next cast.
Get to know the shapes in your tackle box, the natural baits worth carrying, and the conditions that make each one useful. Start with the fish, then choose the depth and presentation.
Three ways to offer a mealNatural, prepared,
Natural, prepared,
or artificial?
Anglers often use “bait” to mean all three. The difference matters when you rig up—and when a water has restrictions on what you can use.
Prepared bait
Dough, punch bait, and dip bait are made to attract fish. Some float; others need a holder. Read the product’s intended use before choosing a rig.
Explore prepared bait →Artificial lures
Plastic, metal, feathers, and hard bodies create a shape or action fish respond to. The way you move a lure is part of the presentation.
See an artificial lure →Start with what you want to catch
Five fish. Different starting boxes.
These links take you to the full fishing guides, including rigs, seasons, and destination ideas.
Bass
A worm around cover, a moving lure along an edge, or a compact jig for a precise target.
Explore bass fishing →
Crappie
Small minnows and compact jigs that stay close to the feeding depth.
Explore crappie fishing →
Catfish
Chicken liver for channels, fresh cut bait for blues, and species-specific bait choices.
Explore catfish fishing →
Trout
Spinners, spoons, flies, and permitted natural or prepared baits.
Explore trout fishing →
Walleye
Minnows, leeches, crawler rigs, jigs, and plugs with controlled depth.
Explore walleye fishing →A useful first choice
What are you fishing for?
Tell us the fish and the water in front of you. We’ll suggest two starting options and a presentation to try. They are starting points, not promises.
Use only bait and tackle permitted on your water.
Make depth and action your first decisions.
Choose something you can keep in the feeding zone. Then change one thing at a time: size, speed, or color.
Recognize it. Understand it. Fish it.
Your visual bait & lure guide.
Illustrations show representative styles. Sizes, hook arrangements, and diving depths vary between actual products.
18 bait and lure styles to explore
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Soft-plastic worms
Flexible worm-shaped plastics that can be rigged several ways. The rig changes how the same bait falls and moves.
- When to reach for it
- Bass beside wood, grass openings, docks, and quieter edges.
- How to start
- Try a Texas rig around cover or a wacky rig in more open water. Let the bait fall, then use small lifts and pauses.
A common mistake to avoid
A crooked bait can twist on the retrieve. Rig it straight before changing colors.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Jigs & trailers
A weighted hook dressed with a skirt, hair, or plastic. This illustration shows a skirted bass jig and trailer.
- When to reach for it
- Bass holding close to a specific piece of cover or a bottom change.
- How to start
- Pitch close, control the fall, and crawl or lift the jig without losing track of it. Match the head and hook to the cover.
A common mistake to avoid
Too much weight can wedge into rock or bury the lure in soft bottom.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Small minnow jigs
A compact fish-shaped plastic on a weighted hook. Small changes in weight change its fall and running depth.
- When to reach for it
- Crappie beside cover; trout or walleye feeding on small fish.
- How to start
- Thread the plastic straight. Swim it gently or hold it above the fish with an occasional twitch.
A common mistake to avoid
Constant shaking can pull the lure out of a small feeding window.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Spinnerbaits
A bent-wire lure with spinning blades above a weighted, usually skirted hook. Flash and vibration help fish notice it.
- When to reach for it
- Bass along weed edges, wood, and shallow banks with some color or chop.
- How to start
- Use a steady retrieve that keeps the blades working. Change rod angle or speed to control depth.
A common mistake to avoid
Reeling faster is not always better; check where the lure actually travels.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Crankbaits
A hard-bodied lure whose bill helps it dive and wobble. Different designs work at different depths.
- When to reach for it
- Covering a depth zone while searching for active bass or walleye.
- How to start
- Choose a running depth for the area, then retrieve or troll with a repeatable pace. Ease off when it starts wedging into cover.
A common mistake to avoid
A deep-diving model is a poor fit when every cast plows through shallow weeds.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Jerkbaits & minnow plugs
Slender hard lures that suggest a small fish. Some float, some suspend, and others sink.
- When to reach for it
- Fish following bait along points, clear edges, or open feeding lanes.
- How to start
- Alternate controlled twitches and pauses, or use a steady retrieve when that suits the model. Watch its action beside you.
A common mistake to avoid
Suspending behavior varies with the lure, tackle, and water. Test it rather than assuming.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Paddletail swimbaits
A soft fish-shaped lure with a tail that kicks as it moves. Small and large versions serve different fish.
- When to reach for it
- Searching a feeding depth or swimming beside an edge.
- How to start
- Use enough jighead weight to reach the zone, then retrieve steadily. Scale the profile down for smaller fish.
A common mistake to avoid
A heavier head can put the bait underneath suspended fish.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Topwater plugs & frogs
Lures made to work on the surface. Open-water plugs and weedless hollow-body frogs have different jobs.
- When to reach for it
- Bass feeding near the surface, especially around reachable cover.
- How to start
- Use a walking bait or popper in open lanes. A suitable frog can cross vegetation. Let a fish load the rod before setting.
A common mistake to avoid
Exposed treble hooks and thick grass are often a frustrating combination.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Spoons
A shaped metal lure that flashes as it wobbles or flutters. Casting and vertical-jigging designs differ.
- When to reach for it
- Trout along a lake edge or fish reached with a controlled vertical presentation.
- How to start
- Count down a casting spoon and retrieve at a speed that lets it wobble. With a jigging design, compare lifts and pauses.
A common mistake to avoid
Continuous spinning can twist line; slow down and check the action.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Inline spinners
A blade rotates around a straight wire shaft. It is a different design from the bent-wire spinnerbait above.
- When to reach for it
- Searching streams and lake margins; smaller versions suit smaller fish.
- How to start
- Retrieve just fast enough for the blade to turn and experiment with sink time. Keep control as current changes.
A common mistake to avoid
A fouled blade cannot do its job. Inspect the lure when it stops vibrating.
Artificial lureRead the complete guide →
Nymphs, dry flies & streamers
Nymphs represent underwater food, dry flies sit on top, and streamers suggest a swimming meal.
- When to reach for it
- Trout feeding on insects or small fish; larger streamers also suit other predators.
- How to start
- Choose the layer where fish feed. Drift a nymph, lead a rising fish with a dry, or retrieve a streamer with controlled pulls.
A common mistake to avoid
A believable drift matters more than repeatedly casting the same fly into dragging line.
Natural baitRead the complete guide →
Live minnows
Small live baitfish, purchased or collected only as local rules allow. The permitted species varies by water.
- When to reach for it
- Crappie under a float and walleye on a jig or slow bait rig.
- How to start
- Use a hook suited to the minnow and leave room for it to move. Keep the bait cool and supplied with oxygen.
A common mistake to avoid
Do not release unused bait or move live fish between waters.
Natural baitRead the complete guide →
Worms & nightcrawlers
Natural worms used whole or in smaller portions, depending on the hook and target fish.
- When to reach for it
- A simple float presentation, a bottom rig, or a walleye crawler harness.
- How to start
- Use a manageable portion for a small hook. On a harness, keep the crawler straight and check it after missed bites.
A common mistake to avoid
A large dangling bait is not always better; small fish may strip it without reaching the hook.
Natural baitRead the complete guide →
Leeches
Flexible aquatic bait that can keep swimming while the rig moves very little.
- When to reach for it
- Walleye on a slip float or slow rig; an option for smallmouth bass too.
- How to start
- Hook lightly through the large sucker end. Balance the hook and float so the bait can move freely.
A common mistake to avoid
A bulky hook or too much weight can overwhelm the presentation.
Natural baitRead the complete guide →
Fresh cut bait
Pieces of a legally usable fish that provide scent and a substantial meal. Freshness is useful; spoilage is not the goal.
- When to reach for it
- Blue and channel catfish around feeding routes and current edges.
- How to start
- Size the piece for the hook, retain skin where it helps, and leave the point and gap exposed.
A common mistake to avoid
Rules may restrict bait species or the use of game fish. Check before cutting bait.
Natural baitRead the complete guide →
Chicken liver
Soft, strongly scented bait that is easy to find and useful for channel catfish.
- When to reach for it
- Bank fishing for channel cats with a carefully presented bait.
- How to start
- Keep it chilled, use a manageable piece, and cast gently. Purpose-made bait elastic can help soft pieces stay attached.
A common mistake to avoid
A hard cast can throw it off. Check after missed bites and keep the hook gap clear.
Prepared baitRead the complete guide →
Floating trout dough
Prepared bait designed to float a small hook above a bottom weight. Buoyancy depends on the finished bait-and-hook combination.
- When to reach for it
- Stocked trout waters where this bait is permitted.
- How to start
- Test that the bait lifts your hook before casting. Use a monitored floating-bait rig and adjust leader length.
A common mistake to avoid
Some trout waters prohibit prepared bait or scented offerings. An artificial-only rule may exclude it.
Prepared baitRead the complete guide →
Punch & dip bait
Prepared scented baits with different textures. Firmer punch bait and softer dip bait may need different hooks or carriers.
- When to reach for it
- Channel catfish when you want a convenient prepared option.
- How to start
- Use the hook or holder suited to the product. Check that bait remains after casting and soaking.
A common mistake to avoid
Treat the two styles differently; a thin dip bait may not stay on a bare hook.
No match for those filters.
Try a broader name or reset the filters to see every style.
Before you change the color
Change the part that matters.
A different lure is useful when it solves a problem. Start by figuring out whether the fish can find, reach, and catch the one you already have.
Clear or stained water?
In clear water, begin with a believable size and a careful approach. In stained water, contrast, flash, or vibration can help an offering stand out. Neither situation has one guaranteed color.
Above, beside, or in cover?
A weedless plastic can pass through cover that catches exposed hooks. A plug may work beautifully beside a weed line and poorly through its thickest part. Choose a route the bait can actually travel.
At the right depth?
Count down a jig, change the float setting, or choose a suitable diving lure. When fish suspend, dragging the bottom misses their feeding level. Repeat the depth that gets attention.
Chasing or just looking?
A moving lure helps search for willing fish. If they follow without eating, try a pause, a smaller profile, or a slower presentation before abandoning the area.
Light wind or no control?
A little chop can change light and bait movement. Too much wind can make it hard to feel a jig or hold a float over the target. Adjust position and weight, or find more manageable water.
Does the tackle match?
A small bait on an oversized hook loses some of its advantage. Match hook, weight, line, and rod to the offering so it casts and moves the way you intend.
Similar words. Different tackle.
Spinnerbait vs. inline spinner
A spinnerbait has a bent wire frame with blades above the hook. An inline spinner puts its blade around a straight shaft. Both create flash, but they move through cover differently.
Bait vs. rig
A worm is bait. A Texas rig is a way to arrange a hook, weight, and plastic. A slip-float rig is a way to control depth. One bait can work on several rigs.
Jighead vs. finished jig
A jighead is the weighted hook. Add a plastic, hair, skirt, or permitted bait and you have a presentation to fish. Choose the weight for control, not simply for a longer cast.
Crankbait vs. jerkbait
The names describe overlapping families, not strict rules. Crankbaits are often retrieved steadily; jerkbaits commonly use twitches and pauses. Read the model’s intended action and test it in the water.
Put the pieces togetherLearn the method.
Learn the method.
Then choose the tackle.
Once you know what a bait should do, the product choices become easier to compare.
Make it work
Fishing techniques
Explore the rigs, retrieves, and presentation skills behind a productive cast.
Explore techniques →Compare actual productsBaits & lures in the gear shop
Look at product photos, features, and buying options when you are ready to fill a gap in your box.
Browse lure products →From the gear shelf
Complete bait & lure guides.
Learn the styles, rigs, retrieves, and small adjustments that make each offering useful.
Crankbait Fishing Guide →
Pick the running depth first. Then give the fish a reason to bite.
Spinnerbait & Inline Spinner Guide →
Two kinds of spinning blades. Two different ways to fish them.
Cut Bait Fishing Guide →
Fresh bait, a clear hook gap, and a place worth waiting.
Live Bait Fishing Guide →
Keep it lively. Put it at the right depth. Leave room for the hook to work.
Soft Plastic Bait Guide →
One flexible body can fish several ways. The rig gives it a job.
Fishing Jig Guide →
The weighted hook is simple. What you put on it—and how you move it—changes everything.
Prepared Bait Fishing Guide →
Dough, punch, and dip bait each need the right hook and presentation.
Topwater Lure Guide →
Watch the surface—but wait to feel the fish.
Spoon Fishing Guide →
A simple piece of metal becomes useful when you control its wobble and depth.
Fishing Fly Guide →
Choose the feeding layer before choosing the pattern.
A few quick answers
Before you fill the tackle box.
Should beginners start with live bait or lures?
A small permitted natural bait under a float makes depth and bites easier to understand. A compact jig or spinner is also a practical way to learn. Choose the method that suits the fish, water, and kind of fishing you enjoy.
Do I need every style on this page?
No. Pick a few that do different jobs. For example, one offering for a slow presentation and another for covering water will teach you more than a pile of nearly identical colors.
Can one lure catch several kinds of fish?
Yes. Jigs, small swimbaits, and minnow-shaped plugs can catch several species. Size, hook strength, depth, and the way you fish them determine how well they fit a particular trip.
Are natural baits allowed everywhere?
No. Some waters restrict baitfish, live bait, scent, or prepared bait. Definitions of artificial lures can also vary. Check the rules for the exact water, and never release unused live bait.
Where are the prices and purchase links?
The Fishing Gear section has the individual product pages. This guide explains the styles so you can compare products with a clearer idea of what you need.