5 Lure Fishing Tips for Beginners

Learning how to catch fish using lures can be very rewarding because you are required to use a whole different set of skills to entice fish into feeding. These five lure fishing tips for beginners will give you a basic idea of which types of lures to use for specific freshwater fish species in different situations.

1. Bass Fishing Tips for Beginners Using Swimbaits

Use lures or soft plastic baits that mimic the natural baits in a particular waterway. For example, if you are fishing in a lake and notice that largemouth bass are chasing shad up to the surface, it would be wise to use a shad-imitating swimbait. There are many other lake fishing tips for beginners that involve lures, although it’s best to keep it simple to start. Look for easy-to-use soft plastic swimbaits that come pre-rigged on a jighead or hook.

2. Pond Fishing Tips for Beginners Using Grubs & Spinners

One of the best beginner tips for fishing with lures is to start by casting from the bank of a local pond. Freshwater ponds offer great opportunities to use a variety of lures to catch fish species such as bluegill, sunfish, and bass. Curly tail grubs and small inline spinners are two examples of lures you can use to target panfish while pond fishing. If you pay close attention to the action and speed of the lure when you get a strike, you will be able to replicate that retrieve and continue to experience success.

3. Rainbow Trout Fishing Tips for Beginners Using Spoons

One of the best fishing tips for beginners who want to catch rainbow trout is to use metal spinners or casting spoons. Metal spinners and casting spoons are particularly effective during the morning and evening hours when rainbow trout tend to feed most actively. Try using a 3/16-ounce silver casting spoon when targeting trout.

4. Ice Fishing Tips for Beginners Using Vertical Jigging Minnows

Vertical jigging minnows are easy and effective lures to when ice fishing for walleye. Jigging minnows have a horizontal profile and gliding action that winter walleye find hard to resist. To use a vertical jig effectively, it’s important to let the jig sink all the way down to the bottom. Once it hits bottom, start slowly reeling it in. As you reel the jig in, lift your rod tip up and down.

5. Carp Fishing Tips for Beginners Using Finesse Baits

Many anglers mistakenly think that carp can only be caught using dough balls and corn as bait, but that’s not the case. Carp will also take a variety of small finesse jigs in 1/16-, 1/32-, or 1/64-ounce sizes that look like aquatic larvae or terrestrial worms. Be sure to use a very light rod that is rated for these types of micro jigs.

Use these five freshwater fishing tips for beginners to get out on the water and start experimenting with lures. Once you see how fun fishing with lures can be, you may decide to use live or natural baits a lot less often.