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Fishing Lures and Baits

Artificial lure fishing is one of the most popular forms of fishing lures and baits for bass. Artificial lures have become increasingly popular for tournaments and novice anglers. Several factors and reasons go into more interest in fishing with artificial lures. These reasons can be summed up as follows:

  1. Lures present more of a challenge and develop an angler’s skill level.
  2. When you hook a fish on an artificial lure, it’s just you and the fish at opposite ends of the line.

All anglers who love the sport of fishing want to become better. Artificial lures are the perfect way to accomplish this goal. When artificial lure fishing, you must stay patient and understand the use and variance of retrieval style to succeed. You also have to acquire knowledge of what, when, where, and how to throw a particular bait.

Most anglers make the argument that this style of fishing is too expensive. Building frustration around getting them hung up and losing fishing lures, baits can acquire this cost. Each day, our local experts and guides see this happen. However, you can considerably alter your odds with patience and a lot of practice. While the adage “a marketed lure, catch more fisherman than fish” maybe have some truth, we can help reverse it.

Our freshwater fishing trips, especially for largemouth bass, are a solution. Our professional fishing guides provide all the baits you can lose at no extra cost. They will also show you how to properly cast, work, and prevent the loss of your baits. Our local experts can also provide you with the knowledge you can take home to your local waters. Pick their brain about fishing lures, bait options, colors, brands, and more on your fishing trip.

List of Artificial Fishing Lures

crank baits - wow factor artificial lures

Crankbaits

Are you looking to cover water? Throw a crankbait. A shallow, medium, or deep diver will allow you to cover water in search of various freshwater species. Most anglers prefer the medium-sized diver. To produce a bite, you can throw crankbaits around the brush, timber, grass, open water, ledges, and rocks.

This bait imitates baitfish. Body styles are oval, round, and flat. Some fishing lures and baits, like the crankbaits, have a lip or bill, and others come lipless. Use this power bait to put more fish in the boat when artificial lure fishing.

Jerkbaits - soft and hard baits

Jerkbaits

A Jerkbait is an artificial lure that is effective almost all year long. The slender body, baitfish imitation, and action create a compelling presentation. You can fish this bait slow or fast and even in deeper water or shallow. The motion of “jerking” your rod is where it gets its name.

Jerkbaits are most effective when the water temperature is more relaxed. They are either hard plastic floating, suspending, or sinking. You can also get a soft-plastic version perfect for grass structures like the Florida Everglades.

Soft plastic worms

Soft Plastic Worm Baits

A plastic worm is one of the most all-around effective lures for freshwater fishing. A soft-plastic worm is a slow-presentation fishing tactic. You can crawl it on the bottom or swim it through the grass. Anglers of all levels and expertise can use a soft-plastic worm to capitalize on fish.

A soft-plastic stick bait is another overly simplistic fish-catching assassin. A slow fall, either Texas-rigged or wacky style, can increase your chances of landing that dream fish in all conditions, year-round!

 

Spinnerbait

Spinnerbait Lures

Spinnerbaits, a proven artificial lure for a wide variety of species since the dawn of fishing. A mix of vibration and flash draws attention and creates a reaction strike from fish, especially the largemouth bass. The ease of use allows anglers to cover water and catch more fish. Cast it out and reel it back near almost all structures.

Spinnerbait comprises a lead head, wireframe, and a set of blades. Depth and blade selection are essential. You have three options for blades: Willow, Indiana, and Colorado. Combinations are popular as well.

Swimbaits - soft and hard baits

Swimbait Lures

Big trophy bass fishing lures and baits using artificial lures?  Tie on a swimbait and have a blast landing some giant fish. Swimbaits come in several styles: paddle tail, soft, and hard-bodied. The most common is the paddle tail, especially for largemouth bass fishing.

Different regions of the nation and globe will call for select styles. Deeper water fisheries use hard-bodied baits to land bigger fish. Shallow water fisheries like Lake Okeechobee notoriously call for paddle tail swimbaits around grass structures. Cast and reel slowly while holding on to the big bite you are waiting for.

Jigs

Jig Fishing Lures and Baits

Though it is primarily used up north and not extremely popular in Florida, we use them quite a bit during certain times of the year. A jig could mean anything with a lead head fastened at the hook. In comparison, one of the best lures to date on the market is the so-called “shaky head,” which is probably one of the most productive for smallmouth bass.

We do still fish the typically skirted jig, which, when used can produce big trophy bass. They can be used jig-style, pitching, flipping or cast and retrieve. Jigs are best used around shallow water structures like mats and isolated standing brush.

Fishing Spoons

Spoons Lures and Baits

Most common spoons wobble and ripple in the water column. The reflection of light makes fish very attracted to this style of bait. This reflection imitates baitfish that are potentially injured or in schools. An opportunistic predator can quickly be attracted when throwing an artificial spoon.

The Johnson spoon is one of the most popular on the market. Weedless capabilities make them popular for anglers fishing Lake Toho and Okeechobee in select locations. Our freshwater experts can show you exactly how to work this bait.

Frog

Frog Lures and Baits

The frog is a common freshwater lure to catch largemouth bass when fishing lakes and ponds across the nation. Hollow-body frogs are the most popular. Their lifelike presentation makes them an unresistible bait for bass.

Throw a frog in thick floating vegetation and hold on for the fight of your life. If you love topwater explosions, this is your artificial lure of choice. Their weedless characteristics make them perfect for anglers of all levels. Staying patient, slow working, and not over-anticipating the strike will increase your odds of success while fishing lures and baits.

Buzzbait

Buzzbait Lures and Baits

Buzzbaits are hands down one of the most effective topwater lures on the market. Traditional black or white can entice some explosive strikes on the surface. Their fast working action and ability to cover water can help you locate and find your next big fish.

A Buzzbait, like most topwater baits, is most productively thrown in the morning or late evening. Low light conditions can increase your odds of catching fish on the surface. Once the bait hits the water, start reeling it to present the bait properly.

Artificial Lures and Baits Techniques

Finally, here are some techniques and pointers about casting and retrieving. This information is jammed packed in all trip lengths on our artificial lures fishing trips:

Tip #1: A basic sense in fishing is “Retrieve fast in warm water, retrieve slowly in cold water” this holds true for largemouth bass or crappie. At the same time, be prepared to vary your retrieve in both speed and style. Fish strike for many reasons. They could be hungry, reacting to instinct, or protecting nests or beds during spawning. Change can trigger a response that increases your success rate.

Tip #2: Try to cast beyond your target area so that the artificial lure functions appropriately by the time it reaches your objective. Always key in on a target that you are casting for. Be sure to be aware of it because getting a bite or strike could give you insight into where to get more.

Tip #3: Match the color of your lure to the current fishing conditions. “Light days, light colors; dark days, dark colors.” Anglers often think the opposite is correct, but it’s not. Next time you are on the water or fishing in a local spot, test these methods.

Tip #4: Remember two keywords: Presentation and Presence. You are bringing an artificial object into a fish’s environment, trying to trick that fish into biting that lure. The more naturally and deliberately that lure moves through that environment, the better your chances of catching one.

Tip #5: Try to adapt to the season; it takes different techniques for different seasons. How to catch a bass in the Summer should be totally different from how to catch a bass in the winter. Understanding these differences and making the appropriate changes will increase your success year-round.

We hope these select tips and tricks help you succeed more while fishing lures and baits, and gear on the water. If you want more in-depth knowledge, explore what a freshwater fishing guide can provide. Various freshwater lakes and fisheries can help dial you in and help you land that fish of a lifetime!