Using Bait and Lures: How to Choose and Fish with Both

Once you’ve chosen your hook and tied your knot, it’s time to add what will actually attract the fish, bait or a lure. Both are effective, but they behave differently in the water and are best used in different situations. Knowing when to use one over the other can make all the difference between a quiet day and a great catch.

Using Bait

Bait is anything that fish naturally want to eat. It can be live, dead, or even artificial—what matters is how realistic and appealing it looks and smells underwater.

Common Bait Options

Common bait includes worms, minnows, crickets, grubs, dough bait, and even simple options like corn or bread for smaller species.

How to Add Bait to a Hook

1. Pick the right hook size. The hook should match your bait. Small bait, small hook; large bait, large hook.

2. Thread the bait on the hook. Push the hook point through the bait several times so it stays secure.

3. Cover the shank. For worms and soft bait, slide the bait up to hide the metal for a natural presentation.

4. Leave the point exposed. Don’t bury the tip completely—this helps ensure a clean hookset when the fish bites.

Pro Tip: If your bait keeps flying off when you cast, tie it on with thin line or use a bait holder hook—it has barbs along the shank that grip soft bait better.

→ Learn more about Fishing Hooks 101 and choosing the right size for bait fishing.

Using Lures

A lure is an artificial bait designed to look, sound, or move like prey. Lures rely on flash, color, and vibration to trigger a strike rather than smell or taste. They’re reusable, clean, and perfect for covering lots of water quickly.

Common lure types include spinners, spoons, jigs, poppers, and soft plastics.

 

Using Spinners

What They Are:
A spinner uses a rotating metal blade that flashes and vibrates as it moves through the water. That combination of flash and sound mimics a small, fleeing baitfish.

How to Use Them:
Cast out and reel in steadily. The blade spins automatically as you retrieve. Vary your reeling speed to change how deep or fast it runs.

When to Use:

• Slightly murky to clear water

• Fish feeding near mid-depths

• Great for bass, trout, and panfish

Why It Works:
The flash catches light, and the vibration triggers a fish’s lateral line—essentially ringing the dinner bell underwater.

 

Using Jigs

What They Are:
A jig consists of a weighted head with a hook molded into it, usually paired with a soft plastic tail or feather dressing. You control its motion by “jigging”—lifting and dropping it with your rod or hand line.

How to Use Them:
Let the jig sink, then lift and drop it in short, rhythmic motions. The fluttering fall imitates an injured or dying baitfish.

When to Use:

• Deeper or colder water

• Fish holding near the bottom

• Ideal for bass, walleye, and crappie

Why It Works:
That vertical, erratic movement mimics wounded prey—an easy target for ambush predators.

 

Using Spoons

What They Are:
A spoon is a curved, reflective piece of metal that wobbles side-to-side as it moves. The shape gives it a flash and flutter that perfectly imitates a distressed baitfish.

How to Use Them:
Cast out and retrieve at a moderate pace, allowing the spoon to wobble naturally. You can also let it sink, then lift and drop it like a jig.

When to Use:

• Clear water with good light

• Open water or deeper lakes

• Excellent for trout, pike, and bass

Why It Works:
The shine and wobble catch light like scales flashing from a fleeing fish—an irresistible trigger for visual hunters.

 

Poppers

What They Are:
A topwater lure with a concave face that makes a “pop” or splash when jerked. It stays on the surface, creating sound and ripples to attract attention.

How to Use Them:
Cast near structure (like weeds or logs), then twitch your rod tip to make it “pop.” Pause between pops to imitate a struggling insect or baitfish.

When to Use:

• Shallow, calm water

• Early morning or evening

• Perfect for bass, bluegill, and surface-feeding fish

Why It Works:
The popping noise and surface disturbance signal an easy surface meal—especially effective when fish are feeding near the top.

How to Attach a Lure

1. Tie your line directly to the lure’s eye. The Clinch Knot or Improved Clinch Knot works perfectly.

2. Check for balance. The lure should hang straight; if it twists, retie or adjust.

3. Match the hook to the lure. Use treble hooks for crankbaits and spoons, or worm/jig hooks for soft plastics.

4. Vary your retrieve. Reel slowly, pause, then speed up. Changing rhythm mimics wounded or fleeing prey.

→ Learn more about How to Tie a Fishing Hook: The Clinch Knot

When to Use Bait vs. Lures

Quick Rule:
Use bait when fish are slow or picky.
Use lures when fish are aggressive or when you want to explore more water.

Choosing the Right Lure for Conditions

Fish don’t see lures like humans do—water color, depth, and light all change how your lure looks. Here’s a simple guide to help you choose:

1. Clear Water

• Colors: Natural tones like silver, white, gray, or translucent.

• Lure Types: Spinners, spoons, crankbaits.

• Tip: Use slow, smooth retrieves—imitate calm prey.

2. Murky or Stained Water

• Colors: Darker and bolder shades—black, purple, chartreuse, or orange.

• Lure Types: Spinnerbaits with large blades, rattling crankbaits, or thumping soft plastics.

• Tip: Add vibration—use short jerks and varied speed.

3. Deep Water

• Colors: Blue, black, or dark purple for contrast.

• Lure Types: Weighted jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, heavy spoons.

• Tip: Let the lure reach the bottom and move slowly.

4. Shallow Water

• Colors: Natural greens, browns, or silvers.

• Lure Types: Topwater poppers, small spinners, or floating plugs.

• Tip: Use quick twitches to mimic injured prey.

5. Low Light or Night Fishing

• Colors: Black, dark blue, or glow-in-the-dark.

• Lure Types: Buzzbaits, rattling crankbaits, or noisy topwater lures.

• Tip: Keep motion consistent so fish can track by sound.

Pro Tip:
If fish seem uninterested, use smaller, slower-moving lures.
If they’re feeding aggressively, go bigger and faster.

When to Use Bait vs. Lures

• Use bait when fish are slow, shy, or not very active. The scent and taste will draw them in.

• Use lures when you want to cover water fast or provoke aggressive fish into striking.

Both have a place in your kit, and both work beautifully with Grim Workshop’s compact fishing tools 

→ Learn more about Fishing 101: Beginner’s Guide for a complete overview of tools and techniques.

FAQ: Bait, Lures, and Fishing Strategy

Q: Which catches more fish—bait or lures?
A: Both can be equally effective. Bait works better when fish are sluggish or feeding by scent, while lures excel when fish are active and hunting by sight.

Q: Can I use bait and lures together?
A: Yes—many anglers use a baited lure (called “tipping”) to combine smell and movement for added attraction.

Q: What’s the best beginner lure?
A: Spinners and spoons are simple, effective, and easy to cast. They work in almost any water condition.

Q: How do I know if my bait is too big or small?
A: Match your bait size to your target fish’s mouth size—if it looks natural, it’s probably right.

Q: What’s the easiest bait to find in a survival situation?
A: Worms, crickets, or small insects are reliable and can be found nearly anywhere.

About Grim Workshop

At Grim Workshop, preparedness is a mindset. We design compact, reusable tools that make survival skills simple to practice and easy to carry. From micro-sized fishing kits to full field tools, our gear helps you stay Everyday Ready without the bulk.

→ Explore our Fishing Tools Collection for gear that pairs perfectly with these techniques.
→ Continue learning with our Fishing Skills Guides to master every part of your setup.