Walking through the tackle section of a sporting goods store can be overwhelming, to say the least. You will wander down aisle after aisle of colorful and unusual lures that seem to go on forever. Questions will begin to swirl in your mind. Are these for Bass? Will I look stupid in front of my friends when I use this? Shopping for bass baits can casue some anxiety.
If you have a newfound interest in fishing, chances are you will start with bass fishing. One of the first steps to becoming a fisherman is building a collection of tackle. To make this simpler for you, I’d like to break down bass lures into 5 types.
Some of the links in this post are amazon affiliate links. I will receive a commission from purchases made through these links with no cost to you.
Soft Plastics Make excellent bass baits
We have seen these fun and colorful lures lining the walls of every bait shop. Soft plastics come in endless sizes, shapes, and colors. Soft plastics are designed to be threaded onto a hook and tossed in the water. They can be used to set up many different rigs such as the Texas Rig, Carolina Rig, Ned Rig, and much more.
You may have heard these referred to as “Rubber Worms.”
Soft plastics can imitate the following.
- Worms
- Bait Fish
- Crawl Dads
- Lizards
- Frogs
- Other Fun made-up Creatures
Soft plastics do nothing on their own. Therefore, you will always have to purchase the proper hooks. Often, they work much better when used with various types of sinkers. It is important to stock up on “terminal tackle” to accompany soft plastics. Have one box dedicated to hooks, sinkers, swivels, beads, and anything else that may be needed. A few YouTube videos will get you on the right track.
Some bass fishermen prefer to buy the equipment and materials to make their own plastics. This can save a bit of money and make good use of the broken worn-out pieces that we all end up with.
Here is a good kit to get started with https://amzn.to/3TS9qji
Crank Baits
Crankbaits are lures that typically resemble a small baitfish. They will often have two treble hooks and a plastic paddle or bill on the front. This plastic bill will come in many shapes and sizes. This is what causes the bait to dive and swim when you pull it through the water.
Some crankbaits are designed to float on top of the water. When pulled, they will dive. However, when you stop, they float back to the surface. Whereas other crankbaits are designed to sink and will dive even deeper when pulled.
Crankbaits should say on the package what depth they are designed to be used for. Make sure to read the packages and purchase a variety to hit different depths of the water column.
Purchase a variety of shapes and colors to give yourself the ability to switch things up and find what the fish like.
Here is a good kit to start with. https://amzn.to/43vkG8B
Jigs– The King of bass baits?
From what I have gathered from avid bass fishermen, Jigs may be the king of bass baits. A jig is a hook with a large, weighted head. They often come with a skirt made up of small strands of plastic thus giving the jig more life when moved through the water.
Jigs are intended to be used with soft plastics. You can put a rubber worm or a crawdad onto the jig to make it irresistible.
Jigs are great for bouncing along the bottom, between rocks, and over logs. They catch lots of bass!
Bass Jig Kit https://amzn.to/3IRKyBM
Top Water Baits
Top water baits are a different way of catching bass that can be a ball of fun! These baits are designed to float. When you pull them along, they will either dive or skate across the surface disturbing the water. Nonetheless, the bait will always return to the surface when left alone.
These top water baits are either hot or not. Therefore, some days they just don’t work. However, when they do work, be prepared for a show. I mean, who doesn’t like to see a bass come out of the water to attack your lure?
Topwater baits seem to work best in warm weather and low-light conditions.
Here are a few examples of Top Water Lures
- Poppers
- Jitterbugs
- Walking Frogs
- Popping Frogs
- Spooks
Top Water Assortment https://amzn.to/3PCbcTh
Spinner Baits
Spinner baits come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They typically have what looks like a jig on one side, and a spinner attached to an arm. The blade of the spinner is typically gold or silver, yet could be found in any color. Furthermore, spinner blades come in several shapes and sizes for different water conditions.
Three main shapes of spinner blades
- Colorado- Round
- Indiana- Oblong but wide
- Willow- Long Narrow and Tapered
These three blade styles each have their advantages. The Colorado blade displaces the most water, whereas the willow blades may be a better option for clear water. The sound and sight of these spinning blades will attract a fish to attack!
The jig portion of the spinner bait can be found with different colored skirts. Furthermore, the jig head attached will come in a variety of designs.
Make a box dedicated to spinnerbaits. Spinner Bait Assortment https://amzn.to/3PCe82c
Conclusion
Although there are many other kinds of bass baits, I believe these 5 types will be a good start. Moreover, knowing these 5 will help you sound educated when you head to the lake with your bass-fishing friends. My advice is to buy organizers and separate these types of lures into different boxes.
This is always an enjoyable thing to do in the house on a rainy day.
Have fun building your collection and testing them out on the water! Organizers- https://amzn.to/3vDlhbw
Check out Hooked in Fishing for excellent detail on all these baits! Hooked In Fishing. For more fishing tips, check out the rest of my posts here! BLOG – Stream and Timber
