10 Must-Have Fishing Lures

Are you a beginner or intermediate angler and feeling a little lost in the fishing lure department of your favourite outdoor store? Here are the 10 main lures you should know. For each of them, we’ll tell you their characteristics as well as the type of fish and water you can use them for. Follow along!

Metal lures

Wobbling spoon

• Type of lure: Sinking lure
• Type of fishing: Deep-sea fishing
• Characteristics: It is a metal blade in the shape of a spoon, equipped with an eyelet and a hook mounted at the back. It can be cast quite far and imitates the swim of a small fish. It is one of the most classic fishing lures.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Trolling or casting
• Fish species: Trout, pike, walleye

Spinner

• Type of lure: Sinking or floating lure
• Type of fishing: Deep and surface fishing
• Characteristics: Like the wobbling spoon, the spinner has a metal blade, but this time its shape (leaf or drop) allows it to rotate freely around the line emitting vibrations in the water that attract fish.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Trolling or casting
• Fish species: Trout, salmon, pike, muskellunge

Spinnerbait

• Type of lure: Sinking lure
• Type of fishing: Deep and surface fishing
• Characteristics: The spinnerbait is made up of a lead head with a silicone skirt and a hook, as well as one or two spoons (called blades). Its V-shaped frame protects the hook from possible branches under water. It is the most suitable lure for pike, bass and muskie fishing.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Cast and reel or cast near an obstacle (a dead tree for example)
• Fish species: Pike, bass, muskie

Jig (also called the jigger)

• Type of lure: Sinking lure
• Type of fishing: Deep-sea fishing
• Characteristics: The jig is a hook with a lead head attached to a soft lure with which the angler waddles. There are several types of jigs.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Techniques used: Usually vertical fishing
• Fish species: Walleye, trout, sunfish, yellow perch

Hard Baits

Popper

• Type of lure: Floating lure
• Type of fishing: Surface fishing
• Characteristics: The popper is a fishing lure that has a concave head that produces a spurt of bubbles with a characteristic sound (called pop) imitating the noise of a frog to provoke fish.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Drag casting with jerky retrieve
• Fish species: Bass, pike, muskellunge

Swimbait

• Type of lure: Floating or sinking lure
• Type of fishing: Surface and deep fishing
• Characteristics: The swimbait is generally articulated to imitate the swimming of a fish and put on a jig or chatterbait head.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Cast and retrieve with action or jig
• Fish species: Pike, yellow perch, striped bass, trout, walleye, muskellunge, bass

Crankbait

• Type of lure: Diving, floating or suspended lure
• Type of fishing: Surface or shallow fishing
• Characteristics: Wide and short, the crankbait vibrates strongly in the water thanks to its internal beads. Its lip, when it is provided with one, is often very broad. It is a very easy lure for beginners to use.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Casting and retrieving
• Fish species: bass, pike, walleye, muskie

Jerkbait

• Type of lure: Diving, floating or suspended lure
• Type of fishing: Surface or shallow fishing
• Characteristics: The jerkbait has a thin and elongated body reminiscent of the shape of the forage fish, with two or three hooks, and with or without bib.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Jerk technique, which gives the lure jerky movements that move it off course.
• Fish species: Bass, pike, walleye, muskellunge, trout

Soft Baits

Grub

• Type of lure: Soft lure
• Features: This soft plastic fishing lure imitates the shape of a small fish. It has a very long comma-shaped tail that oscillates in the water and emits slight vibrations to attract fish.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Spinning or jigging
• Fish species: Bass, pike, walleye, muskellunge, trout

Worm, creature, insect or frog lures

• Type of lure: Soft lure
• Type of fishing: Usually surface fishing
• Features: As the name suggests, these soft plastic lures imitate the favourite prey of large carnivores (depending on the season). They often have an attractive scent for fish. Creature lures imitate crustaceans like crayfish, which bass love. They are most often combined with a jig, chatterbait or swimbait.
• Where: Lakes and rivers
• Technique used: Vertical fishing or casting and retrieving
• Fish species: Bass, pike, walleye, muskellunge, trout

Expert Tips

• Two things to know if you are new to fishing: the size of the lure impacts the type of fish you will catch (the bigger the lure, the more big fish will be attracted). Moreover, the choice of the length of the lure allows a more or less deep prospecting (the longer the lure is, the deeper it will dive into the water).
• Have two to three lures from each family and familiarize yourself with each one by using different techniques or visiting different fishing spots. If the fish aren’t biting, don’t hesitate to change your technique or the speed of your boat before even thinking about changing lures.
• Vary the lure colors (natural or brighter). If you buy two lures with different bib lengths, choose them in different colours so you have as many options as possible.
• To maximize the life of your lures, remember to dry them well before storing them in your tackle box. Also, be sure to store them in compartments that are large enough so they don’t get bent, which could damage them.