1. Live Baits
These are natural and typically more appealing to fish due to scent and movement.
- Worms (Nightcrawlers, Red Wigglers): Versatile and widely used for freshwater fishing.
- Minnows: Excellent for targeting larger predator fish like bass, pike, and walleye.
- Leeches: Popular in freshwater, especially for walleye.
- Crickets/Grasshoppers: Effective for panfish and trout.
- Shrimp: Used in both saltwater and freshwater for species like catfish and redfish.
Designed to imitate live bait or provoke reaction strikes.
- Soft Plastics: Worms, grubs, and creature baits that mimic the look and movement of prey.
- Spinnerbaits: Use flashy spinning blades to attract fish through vibration and light.
- Crankbaits: Hard-bodied lures designed to dive and mimic small fish.
- Jigs: Weighted hooks with a soft body, used with vertical jigging or bouncing along the bottom.
- Topwater Lures: Float on the surface and create splashing to provoke strikes from fish like bass.
Often used in both freshwater and saltwater.
- Cut Bait: Pieces of fish like herring, mackerel, or shad used to attract large predators.
- Dead Minnows: Used when live bait isn't available but still want the natural scent.
- Squid: Common in saltwater fishing for species like snapper, grouper, or even squid itself.
Commercially made, often scented, and designed for convenience.
- Dough Baits: Popular for trout and carp; soft and moldable.
- PowerBait: Artificial scented bait specifically designed for trout.
- Dip Baits/Stink Baits: Strong-smelling baits used mainly for catfish.
- Pellets and Boilies: Common in carp fishing; slow-releasing scent and nutrients.
Used in fly fishing to mimic insects or other natural prey.
- Dry Flies: Float on the water to imitate adult insects.
- Nymphs: Imitate immature insects underwater.
- Streamers: Resemble small baitfish or leeches; used for larger fish like trout or bass.