Lures and Bait ...

Bait (Live Bait)

Bait is actually anything you use to attract fish into biting or swallowing. For our purpose here, bait is any type of natural items you use that is not man-made.

The type of bait you use depends on the type of fish you're after. Bait can be live or preserved. Minnows, smelt, frogs, worms, night crawlers, crickets, flies, crayfish, insects, leeches, etc. are different types of baits that you can use. Sometimes even parts of minnows, or parts of game fish can be used as bait. We're thinking that for the majority of our readers the live bait you'll be using is some type of minnow or some type of worm.

How you rig your bait, or attach it to a hook depends on what species of fish you are after, the season of the year,etc.

There are several ways to attach a minnow to a hook. If you are attaching it to a jig, you would push the point of the hook from the bottom, going thru the bottom lip and having the hook come up thru the top lip. To attach the minnow to a regular hook, you can push the hook thru the side of the minnow, around the top fin, we do it slightly behind and below the top fin and have the hook come out the other side. Don't go too far down from the top of the back or the minnow will die.

There are several ways to attach worms to hooks also. When fishing for panfish, you can use part of a worm. Hold the worm so it is between your thumb and index finger. then push the hook thru one side and out the other. Then slide your fingers along the worm and attach it again. You'll do this several times to get a "clump" of worm, leaving a little end that is free. For other types of fish, such as walleye, you can either put hook thru the middle and leave it at that, or at one end. Sometimes you will see a spinner rig with two or three hooks. You would attach the end of the worm to the top hook, then attach the middle of the worm, trying to not bend it too much, to the second, and the same for the third. You don't want too much of the worm past the last hook or you'll see a lot of short-strikes - - where the fish takes the part of your worm that is past the hooks.

If you're interested in learning how to attach other types of baits, we suggest you do a google search for the best ideas.

Lures

There is such an incredible selection of lures available it could seem mind-boggling. There are many many companies that make many many lures...in a lot of sizes, shapes, colors and such. You'll need to have some idea what you're fishing for and start there. As you continue to fish you'll start to understand which lures to use for the species of fish you're after, and what works best, or better, during different times of the year. Here is a listing of some different types of lures:

Jigs

Jigs are baits made with a weighted head with either a bare hook or a hook covered with hair, plastic, feathers, rubber, etc. Sometimes you can add a minnow or other bait. Jigs can be used to catch pretty much any freshwater fish, and are available in numerous sizes.

Spoons

Spoons are lures that are made to look like swimming bait fish. Spoons are available in weedless, trolling or normal (structure) varieties. Trolling spoons are usually larger and are made to troll behind a moving boat, sometimes very deep. Normal spoons and weedless spoons are made for casting. The weedless spoons have some type of guard over the hook to help prevent the spoon from catching on weeds so easily. Most people know what a DareDevil is. This is a spoon lure. Spoons can be used for a large variety of fish including northern pike, musky, walleye, trout, etc.

Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits are lures usually made with a stiff wire shaft and have a blade or blades that spin when pulled thru the water. You can get spinnerbaits that have hair or plastic covering the hook. Spinnerbaits are used for a large number of fish including bass, northern, musky, trout, walleye, crappie, etc.

Plastic Baits

Almost everyone has seen a plastic bait a one time or another. Plastic baits are available with scents added to them to help attract fish. They are usually a soft-plastic and are available in different shapes including worms, minnows, crayfish, frogs, mice, tails that you put on a hook that flutter when retrieved, etc. Tube baits are also considered plastic baits. Plastic baits can be used for bass, musky, perch, walleye, panfish, etc.

Flies - Poppers

Flies and poppers are small lures. Flies are used in fly fishing and are made to imitate insects, and you'll hear anglers talking about "matching the hatch", which means some form of insects are hatching into something, and they want to use a fly that imitates that insect. Poppers are used either with fly fishing or on spin casting equipment. Poppers have a cupped face and make a slight popping sound when moved forward in the water. These baits are used for fish that feed on the surface including panfish, trout and bass.

Surface Lures

Surface lures are made to imitate animals, such as mice, frogs, insects, bait fish, birds, bats, etc. Some surface baits do not look much like any animal, but are still very productive at catching fish. Some surface lures have blades that spin, and some have these spinning blades hitting a hook or something to create more noise. Some surface baits have blades on the front and are known as buzz baits. Some surface baits are made for a constant retrieve. Others are made to walk side to side, known as "walking the dog". (Once you learn how to do this, you'll be amazed at how simple it is.) - - - On a side note, seeing a large musky explode out of the water hitting a surface bait is quite a rush!!

Tube Baits

Tube baits are hollow tubes, usually closed on one end. They are threaded onto a hook, usually a weighted hook or jig. Some newer tube baits come with a plastic tube that is inserted inside the tube bait and rattles or releases bubbles.

Crank Baits

Crank baits are lures made to imitate the action of bait fish or injured bait fish. They are usually wood, hard plastic, etc. and are usually a hard-body lure. They come in an endless number of sizes and colors, and shapes, but usually look something like bait fish. There are different types that float on the surface, some that run deep, some that run deeper, some that will sink at a certain rate, oh...the possibilities are endless. Crank baits will catch almost all game fish (especially fresh water game fish).

Lighted/Vibrating Baits

Some lures you'll see on tv or in magazines have eyes that light up or have some sort of motor that vibrates to attract fish. These are usually shaped like bait fish. Can't tell you if they actually work better or not.