How to Choosing the Right Lure - A Breakdown of Five Popular Options

When it comes to fishing, choosing the right lure can make all the difference. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced angler, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different lure types will help you make better choices on the water. In this article, we’ll break down five popular lures—Lipless Crankbait (VIB), Jighead, Metal Jig, Minnow, and Sinking Jerkbait—to see which one suits your fishing style best.

1. Lipless Crankbait (VIB): Covering the Water Column with Vibration

✅ Best for: Covering large areas, mid-depth to bottom fishing
✅ Action: Fast sinking, tight vibration
✅ Challenges: Prone to snagging on rocky bottoms

The Lipless Crankbait, often referred to as VIB (Vibration Bait), is an excellent choice for covering large areas quickly. Its vibrating action creates strong water displacement, making it effective in triggering reaction strikes. However, due to its fast-sinking nature, it can be difficult to control depth precisely, increasing the risk of getting snagged on underwater structures.

🔹 Pro Tip: Use a steady retrieve in open water or a yo-yo retrieve to imitate a dying baitfish near the bottom.

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2. Jighead: Precision Bottom Fishing

✅ Best for: Fishing structure-heavy areas, targeting bottom-dwelling bass
✅ Action: Sinking, can be paired with soft plastics
✅ Challenges: Requires good rod sensitivity to detect bites

A Jighead paired with a soft plastic lure is one of the most effective setups for bottom fishing. It excels in exploring submerged structures such as rocks, ledges, and sunken logs. However, detecting when the jig hits bottom requires a rod with good sensitivity, making it slightly challenging for beginners.

🔹 Pro Tip: Use a slow drag-and-hop technique to mimic crawfish or injured baitfish along the bottom.

3. Metal Jig: Long-Distance Casting for Deep Water

✅ Best for: Targeting deepwater bass, fishing offshore structures
✅ Action: Fast sinking, erratic darting motion
✅ Challenges: Requires counting down to control depth effectively

The Metal Jig is a compact yet heavy lure that allows for long-distance casting and quick descent into deeper water. This makes it a great choice for targeting bass suspended in the mid to lower water column. To use it effectively, anglers need to count down to their desired depth before engaging in a jigging motion or allowing the lure to flutter on the fall.

🔹 Pro Tip: Pay close attention to your line—many bites happen as the jig is falling.

4. Minnow: Steady, Depth-Controlled Wobbling

✅ Best for: Fishing mid-depths, targeting active fish
✅ Action: Subtle wobbling, depth controlled by the lip
✅ Challenges: Limited casting distance due to lip design

The Minnow (Jerkbait) is designed with a diving lip, which helps maintain a consistent running depth. This makes it ideal for steady retrieves in open water, where bass are actively feeding. However, the added wind resistance from the lip can reduce casting distance, which is why it’s often best used during high-activity periods (feeding windows).

🔹 Pro Tip: Experiment with twitch-pause retrieves to create an erratic motion that triggers reaction strikes.

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5. Sinking Jerkbait: Precision Suspended Action

✅ Best for: Controlled-depth fishing, targeting finicky bass
✅ Action: Slow sinking, tight wobbling action
✅ Challenges: Requires patience and fine-tuned retrieval

Unlike traditional jerkbaits, the Sinking Jerkbait offers superior casting distance due to its streamlined body. It sinks at an approximate rate of 23 cm/s, allowing anglers to target specific water depths with precision. A slow retrieve—around 0.4 m/s—keeps it at a steady depth while maintaining a high-frequency wobble. This creates a flash effect from the lure’s scales, increasing its visibility in the water.

🔹 Pro Tip: Add intermittent pauses during the retrieve to let the bait flutter, mimicking a wounded baitfish.

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Best Lures for Beginners

For those new to bass fishing, Minnows (Jerkbaits) and Lipless Crankbaits (VIBs) are great entry points due to their ease of use:

✅ Minnow (Jerkbait): Just retrieve at a steady pace, and the built-in action does the work for you.
✅ Lipless Crankbait (VIB): Effective for covering water quickly, though beginners should be mindful of snags.

As you gain more experience, Jigheads combined with soft baits (like Senko) and Metal Jigs offer more control and precision, making them excellent choices for targeting fish in specific structures and depths.

What’s your FAV lure to use? Let us know in the comments!