My Picks for the best lures by species (bass, trout, walleye, pike, panfish, and saltwater), plus when to use each.
Sections
4
Freshwater Predators: Bass, Pike, Walleye
Multi-Species & Specialty Picks
Lure Articles
Jigs
Freshwater Predators: Bass, Pike, Walleye
Classic soft fluke jigstyle lure that bass just attack. Cast it near cover and twitch it back slowly, mimicking a fleeing baitfish. Great for bass but also picks up other predators.
Zoom Salty Super Fluke
A legendary topwater “walk-the-dog” bait. Work it with rhythmic side-to-side twitches to trigger explosive surface strikes from bass and even pike.
Heddon Zara Spook Walking Bait - Tackle Warehouse
Hard minnow plug with a versatile action; retrieve steady or erratic for bass, walleye, and trout. Proven go-to when fish are keying on baitfish.
Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait
Another minnow bait classic that works for everything from bass to walleye. It swims enticingly at almost any speed, so you can cover water fast or slow it down if fish are finicky.
Rapala Shad Rap
A spinner that flashes and vibrates like crazy — excellent for trout, bass, perch, and more. Great in flowing water or lakes.
Blue Fox Classic Vibrax
Creature bait soft plastic that bass crush on slow rolls or hopping along the bottom. A classic gamble in heavy cover.
Zoom 6'' Lizard - Watermelon Candy
Square-bill crank designed to bounce off structure. Bass love the erratic deflections, and it’s great for shallow water scouting.
Strike King KVD Square Bill Silent Crankbait
Paddle-tail soft bait with irresistible swimming motion; good for bass but also works for pike and other predators when rigged on a jig head or Texas rig.
Keitech Swing Impact FAT Soft Bait
Hollow-body topwater frog for heavy cover. Skip it into pads and retrieve with little pops to make bass and even gar roll over it.
Spro Bronzeye Frog 65
Flashy and loud. Cast long and retrieve steady. Pike react fast to vibration.
Mepps Musky Killer Dressed Lure
Multi-Species & Specialty Picks
Glidebait with advanced control. Tweak your rod tip and retrieve speed to make it dance, a tactic that can fool bass and walleye alike.
New! Berkley Finisher
Realistic swimbait with lifelike body shape that draws strikes from big predators, especially when fish want a bigger meal.
Savage Gear 4Play Pro
Premium jerkbait for clear water conditions. Sharp pauses and twitches make trout, bass, and even pike commit.
Megabass Vision 110 Jerkbait
Classic crankbait that produces flash and vibration; good all-around choice when you need a dependable bait that still triggers bites.
Berkley Frittside
Versatile lure with a solid action; works for trout and smaller predators, especially when you’re covering water and trying different depths.
6th Sense Panorama Shad - Tackle Warehouse
Big soft plastic for big pike. Count it down and use a steady pull-pause retrieve.
Musky Innovations Bull Dawg
Realistic swimming motion. Slow retrieve near weed lines and points.
Savage Gear 4D Line-Thru Yellow Perch
Lure Articles
Here’s a quick three-sentence summary of the *Topwater Lures* guide from Angler Supply Guide: Topwater lures are surface baits that sit on or just above the water and are most effective in low light (like early morning, evening, or shade), warmer wat...anglersupplyguide.com][1]) [1]: anglersupplyguide.com/topwater-lures-guide "Topwater Lures Guide 2026: Best Times, Easy Retrieves"
Topwater Lures Guide 2026: Best Times, Easy Retrieves
Jigs
If you jig, you will like the performance this one delivers.
