Bait & Lure Selector

Neither is universally better. Live bait excels when fish are sluggish, pressured, or in cold water because it provides natural scent and movement. Artificial lures cover more water, allow you to target specific strike zones, and are more practical for catch-and-release. Many experienced anglers carry both.

In spring, use bright natural patterns (crawfish, shad) as fish are aggressive post-spawn. Summer calls for topwater in early/late hours and deep-running naturals midday. Fall is prime for shad-pattern crankbaits as fish chase baitfish. Winter demands slow, subtle presentations in dark or natural colors like brown, green pumpkin, and black/blue.

Topwater lures work best in low-light conditions: early morning, late evening, and overcast days. Water temperature should be above 60 degrees F. Calm water or light chop is ideal. Avoid topwater in bright midday sun or when water temperatures drop below 55 degrees F, as fish move deeper and are less likely to chase surface baits.

Match the hatch - use lures that approximate the size of natural forage in your water. For bass, 3-5 inch lures cover most situations. For trout, downsize to 1-3 inches. For pike and walleye, 4-6 inches is standard. In clear water, go smaller. In murky water, go bigger to increase visibility and vibration.

Use jigs when fish are on the bottom near cover (rocks, brush, docks) and you want a slow, precise presentation. Use crankbaits when you need to cover water quickly and fish are actively feeding at a specific depth. Crankbaits excel along banks and points, while jigs dominate around heavy cover and structure.