Lures, Rigs & Tackle Guide

Pick the right lure, rig it, choose hooks and weights, and bait a hook the right way — with our top picks for each.

🎣 Lure types

Crankbaits

Hard plastic or wood baits with a lip that makes them dive and wobble when you reel. The lip size decides how deep they go — squarebills run 1–4 ft, medium divers 6–10 ft, deep divers 12–20+ ft.

🐟 Best for
Bass, pickerel, walleye, big perch. Spring and fall when fish chase; summer deep divers on points.
🎯 How to fish it
Cast and reel steadily so it digs and bumps rocks, wood and weed tops. The deflection off cover is what triggers strikes — pause after a bump.
⭐ Top 10 crankbaits

Click any lure for more information

  1. Rapala DT6Balsa wobble, dives right to 6 ft — the go-to for mid-depth CT lakes.
  2. Strike King KVD 1.5 SquarebillBounces off rocks and docks without snagging; great shallow spring bait.
  3. Bandit 200 Series crankbaitCheap, tough, runs 4–8 ft; a classic bass and walleye bait.
  4. Rapala Shad RapTight shad wiggle that catches everything — bass, walleye, trout, perch.
  5. Strike King 6XD crankbaitGets 15–20 ft down for summer bass on deep points and humps.
  6. Bomber Model A crankbaitOld-school wobble, budget price, lots of colors.
  7. Storm Wiggle WartCrawfish-colored rattler that shines in cold spring water.
  8. Rapala OG SlimFlat-sided, subtle — perfect in cold or clear water.
  9. Strike King Bitsy Pond MinnowTiny crankbait for ponds — bass, crappie and big bluegill.
  10. Rebel Wee CrawfishSmall crawfish crank for creek smallmouth and panfish.

Jerkbaits

Long, slim minnow baits that dart side to side when you snap the rod, then hang still. Suspending models stay put on the pause.

🐟 Best for
Smallmouth, largemouth, pickerel, trout, stripers. Best in cold, clear water — late fall through spring.
🎯 How to fish it
Twitch-twitch-pause. In cold water pause 5–10 seconds; most bites come while it sits still.
⭐ Top 10 jerkbaits

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  1. Rapala X-RapErratic dart and suspend — the best all-around jerkbait for the money.
  2. Megabass Vision 110Premium action that pros trust in cold, clear water.
  3. Smithwick RogueClassic big profile with rattles; deadly in early spring.
  4. Rapala Husky JerkSuspends perfectly — great for long pauses.
  5. Lucky Craft Pointer 100Loud rattle and wide glide for windy days.
  6. Strike King KVD JerkbaitAffordable, solid suspend, good hooks out of the box.
  7. Rebel MinnowBudget floating minnow — twitch it on top or reel under.
  8. Rapala Original Floating MinnowThe original; still catches trout, bass and stripers everywhere.
  9. Bomber Long ADurable, freshwater or salt — great for schoolie stripers.
  10. Rapala Shadow RapSlow-sinking "dying minnow" action fish can’t resist.

Topwater

Floating baits worked on the surface — walkers, poppers, prop baits, buzz/plopper baits and hollow frogs. Nothing beats the blow-up.

🐟 Best for
Bass, pickerel, pike, stripers and bluefish. Dawn, dusk, cloudy days, water over 60°F.
🎯 How to fish it
Walk-the-dog with rhythmic rod twitches, pop and pause, or slow-crawl frogs over pads. Wait until you feel the weight before setting the hook.
⭐ Top 10 topwater

Click any lure for more information

  1. Heddon Zara SpookThe walk-the-dog legend — big fish magnet for bass and stripers.
  2. Rebel Pop-RSpits and chugs; easy for beginners to work.
  3. Arbogast JitterbugJust reel it slowly — perfect at night and for kids.
  4. River2Sea Whopper PlopperSpinning tail makes a loud trail; draws big bass up.
  5. Booyah Pad Crasher frogWeedless hollow frog for lily pads and slop.
  6. LIVETARGET hollow body frogRealistic frog that skips under docks and over weeds.
  7. Heddon TorpedoSmall prop bait; great on calm summer evenings.
  8. Rapala Skitter WalkEasy walking action with good hooks.
  9. Rapala Skitter PopBalsa popper that spits and stays in the strike zone.
  10. Super Strike Little Neck PopperA Northeast surf classic for stripers and blues.

Spinnerbaits

A safety-pin wire with spinning blades on top and a skirted hook below. Flash and vibration in a lure that rarely snags.

🐟 Best for
Bass and pickerel; great in stained water, wind, and around wood or weed edges.
🎯 How to fish it
Cast past cover and reel just fast enough that the blades turn; slow-roll along bottom in cold water. Willow blades = flash, Colorado = thump.
⭐ Top 10 spinnerbaits

Click any lure for more information

  1. Strike King Premier Plus spinnerbaitDurable, great blades, fair price — the workhorse.
  2. Booyah Blade spinnerbaitThin wire for lots of vibration; very popular in the Northeast.
  3. War Eagle spinnerbaitExcellent balance and skirts; runs true at any speed.
  4. Booyah Covert Finesse spinnerbaitCompact finesse spinnerbait for clear water and pressured fish.
  5. Strike King Mini-King spinnerbaitTiny — catches bass, crappie, perch and bluegill.
  6. Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbaitSmall size made for ponds and kids.
  7. Johnson Beetle SpinGrub-and-blade combo; the panfish classic.
  8. Strike King Burner spinnerbaitBuilt for fast burning over shallow grass.
  9. Strike King Bottom Dweller spinnerbaitHeavy, compact — slow-roll it deep in cold water.
  10. Z-Man SlingBladeZ spinnerbaitTough hardware and great blade spin.

Bladed Jigs (ChatterBaits)

A jig with a hex blade on the nose that makes it shake hard. Fishes like a crankbait and a spinnerbait in one.

🐟 Best for
Bass, pickerel and pike around grass, pads and stained water, spring through fall.
🎯 How to fish it
Steady retrieve just over grass, rip it free when it ticks weeds. Add a swimbait or chunk trailer.
⭐ Top 10 bladed jigs (chatterbaits)

Click any lure for more information

  1. Z-Man ChatterBait Jack HammerThe top-end bladed jig — best vibration and hook.
  2. Z-Man ChatterBait Elite EVOJack Hammer-style action at a lower price.
  3. Z-Man original ChatterBaitThe one that started it; cheap and effective.
  4. Strike King Thunder CricketStrong vibration with a stout hook.
  5. Z-Man Jack Hammer StealthBladeComes through grass cleanly with the same Jack Hammer action.
  6. Z-Man Flashback Mini ChatterBaitSmall size for ponds, panfish and finicky bass.
  7. Strike King Tour Grade Rage BladeHard-thumping bladed jig with quality hook.
  8. Booyah Melee bladed jigBudget option that still runs true.
  9. Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ trailerThe trailer most anglers pair with a bladed jig.
  10. Zoom Swimmin Super Fluke trailerAdds a big swimming tail and bulk.

Inline Spinners

A blade spinning around a straight shaft with a weighted body and treble hook. Small, easy to cast, catches almost every species.

🐟 Best for
Trout in rivers and stocked ponds, plus bass, perch, pickerel and panfish.
🎯 How to fish it
Cast upstream or across and reel just fast enough to feel the blade thump. Vary depth by counting down before you reel.
⭐ Top 10 inline spinners

Click any lure for more information

  1. Mepps Aglia spinnerThe trout-stream standard — sizes 0–2 for CT rivers.
  2. Panther Martin spinnerBlade spins at the slowest speeds; great for stocked trout.
  3. Blue Fox Vibrax spinnerExtra vibration from its bell; good in stained water.
  4. Worden’s Rooster TailHackle tail adds life; a stocked-trout favorite.
  5. Mepps Black FuryBlack and dotted — excellent in murky water.
  6. Mepps Comet spinnerCompact and castable for small streams.
  7. Joe’s Flies Short Striker spinnerFly-dressed spinner, deadly on trout and panfish.
  8. Mepps Aglia LongWillow blade runs deeper and faster.
  9. Rooster Tail spinner assortmentAssortment of sizes and colors to start out.
  10. Panther Martin spinner kitAssortment for stocked-trout season.

Spoons

Curved metal lures that wobble and flash. Casting spoons, trolling spoons and jigging spoons (for deep water and ice).

🐟 Best for
Trout, pickerel, pike, bass, stripers and bluefish; vertical jigging through the ice.
🎯 How to fish it
Cast and reel with occasional pauses so it flutters, or jig straight up and down over fish.
⭐ Top 10 spoons

Click any lure for more information

  1. Acme KastmasterCasts a mile, catches trout and schoolie stripers.
  2. Eppinger Dardevle spoonThe red-and-white legend for pickerel and pike.
  3. Johnson Silver MinnowWeedless spoon you can drag through pads.
  4. Acme Little CleoWide wobble at slow speeds; great for trout.
  5. Luhr-Jensen Krocodile spoonHeavy and long-casting for shore anglers.
  6. Williams Wabler spoonReal silver finish; superb flash in clear water.
  7. Hopkins Shorty spoonSaltwater casting spoon for blues, stripers, albies.
  8. Swedish Pimple ice jigging spoonAn ice-fishing staple for perch and trout.
  9. Strike King Sexy SpoonJigging spoon for deep summer bass.
  10. Kastmaster XLHeavier version for surf and big water.

Jigs

A weighted head molded on a hook — skirted bass jigs, football jigs, finesse jigs, and simple ball-head jigs for grubs and minnows.

🐟 Best for
Bass year-round; ball jigs with grubs catch everything from crappie to walleye.
🎯 How to fish it
Pitch to cover, let it fall, then hop or drag it along bottom. Most bites come on the fall — watch your line.
⭐ Top 10 jigs

Click any lure for more information

  1. Strike King Hack Attack jigHeavy-cover flipping jig with a strong hook.
  2. Booyah Boo JigAffordable all-purpose skirted jig.
  3. Z-Man CrossEyeZ Power Finesse jigFinesse jig for pressured or clear-water fish.
  4. Strike King Bitsy Bug jigSmall jig for smallmouth and cold water.
  5. Strike King Tour Grade Football jigDrags across rocky bottoms without snagging.
  6. Dirty Jigs Tour Level jigPremium skirt and hook used by pros.
  7. Strike King Tour Grade Skipping JigSkips under docks and overhangs where big bass hide.
  8. Northland Fireball jigShort-shank jig for live minnows and walleye.
  9. Eagle Claw ball head jig assortmentBasic ball jigs for grubs and paddle tails.
  10. Mister Twister curly tail grubsThe classic grub trailer for ball jigs.

Soft Plastics (worms, craws, creatures)

Soft baits rigged weedless or on a jig head: stick worms, finesse worms, flukes, craws and creature baits.

🐟 Best for
Bass above all; also pickerel, perch and walleye. Every season, every water.
🎯 How to fish it
Rig Texas, wacky, Ned or drop shot (see Rigs below). Fish slowly — drag, hop and let it sit.
⭐ Top 10 soft plastics (worms, craws, creatures)

Click any lure for more information

  1. Yamamoto SenkoThe stick worm that falls with a shimmy; catches bass everywhere.
  2. Zoom Trick WormFloating finesse worm for Texas and Carolina rigs.
  3. Zoom Super FlukeSoft jerkbait you twitch just under the surface.
  4. Strike King Rage CrawKicking claws — perfect jig trailer or Texas rig.
  5. Zoom Brush HogCreature bait for flipping weeds and wood.
  6. Z-Man TRD Ned baitSuper-tough ElaZtech for the Ned rig.
  7. Roboworm Straight Tail wormThe drop-shot worm pros use.
  8. Berkley PowerBait MaxScent GeneralScented stick worm; great for beginners.
  9. Gary Yamamoto Kut Tail wormSubtle tail action for wacky and drop shot.
  10. Berkley Gulp MinnowScented minnow that catches trout, perch and crappie.

Swimbaits

Soft or hard baits shaped like baitfish with a tail that swims as you reel. Paddle-tail swimbaits on jig heads are among the easiest lures to fish.

🐟 Best for
Bass, pickerel, walleye and stripers; perfect when fish are feeding on shad, alewives or bunker.
🎯 How to fish it
Cast and steadily reel, or bump it along bottom. Match the size to the bait in the water.
⭐ Top 10 swimbaits

Click any lure for more information

  1. Keitech Swing Impact FATSoft, lifelike paddle tail — a cult favorite.
  2. Z-Man DieZel MinnowZNearly indestructible; dozens of fish per bait.
  3. Berkley PowerBait Power SwimmerBuilt-in hook slot, great for weedless rigging.
  4. Storm WildEye Swim ShadPre-rigged — tie on and reel; good for beginners and salt.
  5. Strike King Rage SwimmerBig thumping tail; great bladed-jig trailer.
  6. Z-Man Scented PaddlerZSalt-tough paddle tail for stripers and fluke.
  7. Savage Gear Pulse TailPre-rigged realistic baitfish for bass and stripers.
  8. Berkley Gulp Swimming MulletScented saltwater swimbait; fluke love it.
  9. Z-Man Trout Eye jig headsQuality jig heads to pair with paddle tails.
  10. Owner weighted swimbait hooksWeedless swimbait hooks for grass and wood.

Saltwater: Bucktails, Diamond Jigs & Plugs

Long Island Sound basics: bucktail jigs, diamond jigs, pencil poppers and swimming plugs for stripers, bluefish, fluke and albies.

🐟 Best for
Stripers, bluefish, fluke, sea bass, false albacore — spring and fall runs especially.
🎯 How to fish it
Bucktails: hop along bottom with a soft-plastic or pork trailer. Diamonds: jig under birds. Plugs: cast at dawn, dusk and night in the surf.
⭐ Top 10 saltwater: bucktails, diamond jigs & plugs

Click any lure for more information

  1. Bucktail jig 3-packReady-to-fish bucktails for fluke and stripers.
  2. SPRO Power Bucktail jigHeavier bucktail for deeper water and current.
  3. Ava diamond jigVertical-jig staple for blues and stripers.
  4. Hopkins No=EQL spoonClassic casting/jigging spoon in the surf.
  5. Gotcha plugFast-retrieve plug for bluefish blitzes.
  6. Cotton Cordell Pencil PopperSurf topwater for big stripers and blues.
  7. Bomber Long A saltwaterSwimming plug that catches stripers at night.
  8. Daiwa SP MinnowLong-casting surf swimmer; a Northeast favorite.
  9. Berkley Gulp Alive grubBucktail trailer that fluke can’t ignore.
  10. Tsunami Swim ShadPre-rigged swim shad for stripers.

🪢 How to rig

Texas Rig

The most popular weedless rig for soft plastics.

  1. Slide a bullet weight onto the line (point toward the rod).
  2. Tie on an offset worm hook (2/0–4/0).
  3. Push the hook ¼" into the worm’s head, out the side, and slide the worm up to the eye.
  4. Turn the hook and bury the point back into the body so it lays straight.

Best for: Bass in weeds, wood and rocks.

You’ll need: bullet weights · offset worm hooks · Zoom Trick Worm

Carolina Rig

Covers lots of bottom; the bait floats above a heavy sinker.

  1. Slide on an egg sinker (½–1 oz), then a bead.
  2. Tie on a barrel swivel.
  3. Tie 18–36" of leader to the swivel.
  4. Add an offset hook and soft plastic on the end.

Best for: Bass on flats, points and gravel in summer.

You’ll need: egg sinkers · barrel swivels · glass fishing beads

Wacky Rig

A stick worm hooked in the middle — both ends shimmy on the fall.

  1. Slide an O-ring onto the middle of a stick worm (saves baits).
  2. Hook a 1/0 wacky hook under the O-ring.
  3. Cast, let it sink on slack line, twitch and let it fall again.

Best for: Bass around docks, weed edges and shallow cover.

You’ll need: wacky rig O-ring tool · wacky worm hooks · Yamamoto Senko

Ned Rig

A tiny mushroom-head jig with a short floating plastic. Simple and deadly.

  1. Thread a 2.5–3" Ned bait on a 1/10–1/5 oz mushroom-head jig.
  2. Cast, let it hit bottom.
  3. Slowly drag or lightly hop — the tail floats up and fish eat it.

Best for: Smallmouth, largemouth and pressured fish; tough bites.

You’ll need: Ned rig jig heads · Z-Man TRD

Drop Shot

Hook tied above the weight so the bait hovers off bottom.

  1. Tie a size 1–2 drop shot hook with a Palomar knot, leaving a 12–18" tag end.
  2. Run the tag back through the eye from the top so the hook point faces up.
  3. Clip a drop-shot weight on the tag end.
  4. Shake the bait in place without moving the weight.

Best for: Deep bass, perch and walleye; clear water.

You’ll need: drop shot hooks · drop shot weights · Roboworm

Slip Bobber

Sets your bait at any depth and still casts easily.

  1. Thread on a bobber stop and bead, then the slip bobber.
  2. Tie on a hook, add split shot 12" above it.
  3. Slide the stop to set the depth — just above the weeds or bottom.

Best for: Panfish, perch, trout and crappie with live bait; great for kids.

You’ll need: slip bobbers · bobber stops · split shot assortment

Split Shot Rig

The simplest bait rig: a hook and a little weight.

  1. Tie on a hook (size 6–10 for trout/panfish).
  2. Pinch 1–2 split shot about 12" above the hook.
  3. Bait up and cast; let it drift naturally or sit on bottom.

Best for: Stocked trout, panfish, bullhead with worms, minnows or PowerBait.

You’ll need: split shot assortment · baitholder hooks

Jig & Trailer

A skirted jig with a soft-plastic craw — looks like a crayfish.

  1. Tie on a skirted jig (3/8–½ oz).
  2. Thread a craw trailer up the hook so the claws face back.
  3. Pitch to cover, let it fall, hop it out slowly.

Best for: Big bass around docks, wood and rocks.

You’ll need: Booyah Boo Jig · Strike King Rage Craw

Fish-Finder Rig (saltwater)

Bottom rig where the fish can pick up bait without feeling the sinker.

  1. Put a sinker slide on the main line, then a bead.
  2. Tie on a barrel swivel.
  3. Add 2–3 ft of leader and a circle hook (5/0–7/0).
  4. Clip a pyramid sinker on the slide; bait with bunker, clam or squid.

Best for: Stripers and bluefish from the beach or boat.

You’ll need: fish finder sinker slide · pyramid sinkers · circle hooks 6/0

High-Low Rig (saltwater)

Two baited hooks at different heights over the bottom.

  1. Buy pre-tied or tie two dropper loops 12" apart.
  2. Add hooks (size 1–4 for porgy/sea bass) to each loop.
  3. Clip a bank sinker on the bottom snap.
  4. Bait with clam, squid or sandworm.

Best for: Porgy (scup), sea bass, blackfish, fluke.

You’ll need: high low rig saltwater · bank sinkers

🪝 Hook types & sizes

How hook sizes work: for small hooks, the bigger the number, the smaller the hook (a #10 is tiny, a #1 is big). After #1 come "aughts" — 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 — and those get bigger as the number goes up. Trout & panfish: #6–#12 · Bass: #1–4/0 · Stripers: 5/0–8/0.

J hook / Baitholder

The classic hook. Baitholder models have barbs on the shank to keep worms on.

Use for: Worms, minnows, cut bait. Size 6–10 for trout & panfish, 1–4 for bass & catfish.

See j hook / baitholders

Circle hook

Point turns in — fish hook themselves in the corner of the mouth. Just reel, don’t jerk.

Use for: Live and cut bait; required for striped bass with bait in many waters. Great catch-and-release.

See circle hooks

Octopus hook

Short shank, wide gap, upturned eye — great for live bait and egg loops.

Use for: Minnows, crayfish, drop shot, salmon/trout eggs.

See octopus hooks

Aberdeen hook

Thin light wire that bends free from snags and doesn’t kill minnows.

Use for: Crappie, perch, and live minnows.

See aberdeen hooks

Treble hook

Three points. Found on hard lures; small ones hold dough baits.

Use for: PowerBait for trout, replacing lure hooks.

See treble hooks

Offset / EWG worm hook

Kinked shank holds soft plastics straight and lets you bury the point.

Use for: Texas rig, Carolina rig, weedless plastics. 2/0–5/0.

See offset / ewg worm hooks

Weedless / wacky hook

Has a wire or nylon guard so it slides through weeds.

Use for: Wacky rigs and fishing in thick cover.

See weedless / wacky hooks

Jig head

Hook with molded lead head — the base for grubs, swimbaits and minnows.

Use for: Everything: crappie (1/32 oz) to stripers (1 oz+).

See jig heads

⚖️ Weights & sinkers

Split shot

Small balls you pinch on the line. Removable kinds have "ears."

Use for: Bait fishing, under bobbers, drifting rivers.

See split shots

Bullet weight

Cone shape slides through weeds.

Use for: Texas rigs. Pair with a bead for click.

See bullet weights

Egg sinker

Hole through the middle; line slides freely.

Use for: Carolina rigs and bottom bait rigs.

See egg sinkers

Bank sinker

Rounded teardrop that rolls less on rocks.

Use for: Bottom fishing from piers and boats.

See bank sinkers

Pyramid sinker

Sharp edges dig into sand to hold in current and surf.

Use for: Surf fishing, fish-finder rigs.

See pyramid sinkers

Tungsten vs. lead

Tungsten is smaller for the same weight and you feel bottom better; lead is cheaper. Never leave weights or line behind — wildlife can swallow them.

See tungsten vs. lead

🪱 How to bait a hook

🪱 Nightcrawlers & worms

  • Hook the worm once through the collar (the band), then 2–3 more times so it covers the hook but the ends still wiggle.
  • For panfish, use half a worm or a 1" piece — small hooks catch more.
  • Keep worms cool and out of the sun.

🐟 Live minnows & shiners

  • Lip-hook: through both lips from the bottom up — best for casting and drifting.
  • Back-hook: just under the dorsal fin, not through the spine — best under a bobber so it swims.
  • Use thin Aberdeen or octopus hooks size 4–8; change water often to keep them lively.

🦞 Crayfish

  • Hook through the tail from the bottom up, so it can still crawl backward.
  • Pinch off the claws on big ones so they can’t grab weeds.
  • Great for smallmouth in rivers.

🐛 Mealworms, waxworms & grubs

  • Thread 1–2 on a small size 10–12 hook, through the body.
  • Perfect for bluegill, perch and ice fishing.
  • Tip a small jig or spoon with one for extra scent.

🧀 Dough bait (PowerBait)

  • Pinch a marble-size piece and mold it around a small treble hook, covering all points.
  • It floats — use a sliding sinker and 18" leader so it rises off bottom.
  • Squeeze it tight; dough that’s too soft falls off on the cast.

🍤 Saltwater: clams, sandworms & squid

  • Clam: thread the tough foot through the hook, then wrap the soft part; tie with bait thread if it falls off.
  • Sandworms: hook through the head and thread a few inches up the shank.
  • Squid: cut thin strips, hook once at the wide end so it flutters.

🐠 Cut bait (bunker, mackerel)

  • Cut chunks with skin on; hook through the skin side once so the point is exposed.
  • Use circle hooks and let the fish run before reeling.
  • Fresh is best — stripers and blues love oily bunker.

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