Fishing Hooks, Lures and Bait: A Complete Guide
By Jake Harlow · Updated September 2026 · As an Amazon Associate, Tetra Hook earns from qualifying purchases. Disclosure.
Choosing hooks, lures and bait gets easier once you know the main families and what each one imitates. This guide explains the main types of fishing lures and hooks, which ones to start with, and links to our researched buying guides and species bait guides.
Our hooks, lures and bait buying guides
| Guide | What it covers | Our top pick |
|---|---|---|
| Best crappie bait | Jigs, minnows and soft plastics for crappie | Bobby Garland Baby Shad |
| Best hooks for catfishing | Circle, J and treble hooks for catfish | Gamakatsu Octopus Circle |
Types of fishing lures
| Lure | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Soft plastics (worms, grubs, swimbaits) | Imitate worms, baitfish and crawfish | Bass, crappie and nearly everything |
| Jigs | Weighted hook with a skirt or plastic; hops on the bottom | Bass, crappie, walleye |
| Crankbaits | Hard baits with a lip that dive and wobble | Bass, walleye, pike |
| Spinners and spinnerbaits | Spinning blades flash and vibrate | Trout, salmon, bass, pike |
| Spoons | Curved metal that wobbles and flashes | Trout, salmon, pike, saltwater |
| Topwater lures | Splash or walk on the surface | Bass, pike, saltwater predators |
| Jerkbaits | Suspending minnow baits worked with twitches | Bass and pike in cold water |
Read the full breakdown: different types of fishing lures and their uses. For rods to match, see the best crankbait rods.
Hooks: types and sizes
- J hooks are the classic shape; you set the hook with a firm sweep.
- Circle hooks slide to the corner of the mouth as the fish swims off, which reduces gut-hooking; they are the best choice for bait fishing and catfish. See what size hook for catfish.
- Treble hooks have three points and are used on crankbaits and some bait rigs.
- Sizes run from large (1/0 and up) to small (1–32). See fishing hook sizes and the best hook size for trout.
Lures by season
| Season | Water | Try these |
|---|---|---|
| Early spring | Cold, fish slow | Jerkbaits, small jigs, lipless crankbaits, live minnows |
| Late spring | Warming, spawning | Soft plastics, spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits |
| Summer | Warm, fish deep or at dawn | Topwater early and late, deep crankbaits, Texas rigs, drop shots |
| Fall | Cooling, fish feed hard | Spinnerbaits, squarebills, swimbaits that match baitfish |
| Winter / ice | Cold, fish sluggish | Small jigs, spoons and live bait fished slowly |
Live bait vs. artificial lures
Live bait such as worms, minnows and crickets is the most reliable way to catch fish, especially for beginners and children, because it looks, smells and moves like real food. Artificial lures let you cover more water, target bigger predators and release fish more easily, and they do not need keeping alive. Many anglers carry both: a few proven lures to search for active fish, and bait for slow days. Always check local rules, as some waters restrict live bait or barbed hooks.
Bait and lure guides by species
- Best freshwater lures and baits
- Best trout baits and brown trout bait
- Best lures for steelhead and steelhead baits
- Best salmon lures for river fishing
- Best homemade bait for catfish
- Saltwater lures and baits and shrimp lures
- What lures to use for river fishing
Rigging guides
- Saltwater fishing rigs
- How to rig trolling lures
- How to rig skein
- Where to hook live bait for catfish
- DIY fishing sinkers
Frequently asked questions
What lures should a beginner buy first?
A pack of soft plastic worms with hooks and weights, a few 1/8–1/4 oz jigs, an inline spinner and a shallow crankbait cover most freshwater fish.
Circle hooks or J hooks?
Circle hooks for bait fishing, especially catfish, because fish hook themselves and are rarely gut-hooked. J hooks for most lures and when you want to set the hook yourself.
What is the most versatile fishing lure?
A soft plastic worm or grub on a jig head: it catches almost every freshwater species and can be fished fast or slow.