How to Choose the Right Fishing Lure: A Beginner’s Practical Guide

Choosing the right fishing lure can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re just getting started. With so many shapes, colors, and techniques available, many anglers ask the same question:

Which fishing lure should I actually use?

In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll break things down step by step. You’ll learn how to choose the right fishing lure based on water conditions, seasons, and fish behavior—without guesswork.

Understand What Fish Are Feeding On

Before choosing a lure, it helps to think like a fish.

Most predatory fish feed on:

• Small baitfish
• Crawfish or shrimp
• Worms and aquatic insects

Your lure doesn’t need to perfectly match real prey, but it should imitate the size, movement, and behavior of what fish naturally hunt.

Simple rule to remember:

• Active baitfish → faster-moving lures
• Slow or bottom-dwelling prey → subtle, slow presentations

Match Lure Type to Water Conditions

Water clarity plays a huge role in lure effectiveness.

Clear Water

In clear water, fish rely heavily on sight.

• Natural colors (silver, green, translucent)

• Soft plastics, finesse jigs, subtle crankbaits

Murky or Stained Water

In low visibility, vibration and contrast matter more.

• Bright or high-contrast colors (chartreuse, white, black)

• Spinnerbaits, vibrating lures, rattling crankbaits

If fish can’t see well, help them feel your lure instead.

Understanding this alone will instantly improve your lure selection.

natural color fishing lures for clear water

Popular Fishing Lure Types (and When to Use Them)

Soft Plastic Minnows & Worms

Best for: Beginners and pressured waters

• Extremely versatile
• Easy to rig and control
• Effective year-round

Crankbaits (Including Lipless)

Best for: Covering water quickly

• Great for locating active fish
• Lipless crankbaits work especially well in cooler seasons

Spinnerbaits

Best for: Windy days and stained water

• Strong vibration and flash
• Effective around grass and structure

Jigs

Best for: Bottom-oriented or inactive fish

• Realistic presentation
• Excellent for slow, controlled retrieves

topwater fishing lure surface action

Seasonal Fishing Lure Selection Tips

Choosing the right lure also depends on the time of year.

Spring

Fish move shallow and become aggressive.
Try: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics

Summer

Fish may go deeper or become selective.
Try: Finesse worms, jigs, early-morning presentations

Fall

Fish feed heavily to prepare for winter.
Try: Lipless crankbaits, swimbaits, minnows

Winter

Fish slow down and conserve energy.
Try: Small jigs, soft plastics, slow retrieves

Cold Water vs Warm Water: A Quick Tip on Retrieval Speed

Water temperature doesn’t just affect where fish hold—it also changes how fast they’re willing to react.

In colder water, fish metabolism slows down. They conserve energy and are far less likely to chase fast-moving lures. Subtle action and slower retrieves often get more bites.

In warmer water, fish become more active and aggressive. Faster retrieves and moving lures can trigger reaction strikes and cover water more efficiently.

👉 A simple rule to remember:
Cold water → slow down. Warm water → speed up.

We’ll dive deeper into cold-water and warm-water lure strategies in a dedicated guide soon.

Keep It Simple (Especially as a Beginner)

You don’t need dozens of lures to catch fish.

A solid beginner setup usually includes:

• One or two soft plastic styles
• One crankbait
• One spinnerbait or jig

Focus on learning retrieval speed, control, and presentation. Skill matters far more than having a full tackle box.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right fishing lure isn’t about buying the most expensive gear—it’s about understanding conditions, fish behavior, and presentation.

At ReelUpFishing, we believe fishing should be simple, enjoyable, and accessible. Start with the basics, gain experience, and let confidence grow naturally.

🎣 Tight lines, and happy fishing.