Guide
Lures and baits by species
Which lure, in which size and colour, how to work it and when in the year: one page per species, no brands.
Europe
Lures for pikeFour lure groups cover almost every pike situation, from Irish loughs to Dutch polders and Canadian lakes. Size, running depth and speed matter, the brand does not.
Lures for zanderZander take a lure carefully and close to the bottom. Slim soft plastics and dead baits catch all year, crankbaits at night in the shallows. US anglers: your cousin is the walleye, same rules.
Lures for perchEuropean perch are curious and hunt in shoals. Small lures worked lively almost always catch, in cold water slow and on the drop shot. US cousin: the yellow perch.
Lures and baits for troutAt a stocked pond paste, maggots and micro spoons catch, in streams and lakes spinners, small crankbaits and flies. The water decides, not the fish.
Baits for eelEuropean eels feed at night and by scent. Lobworm for narrow-headed eels, dead bait for broad-headed eels, both on the bottom and without hurry.
Baits for wels catfishWels catfish eat anything that smells and moves. Big baits, strong tackle and patience on warm nights bring the bites, from the Ebro to the Po and the Rhine.
Baits for carpCarp feed on the bottom and come to prebait. Sweetcorn and boilies cover almost everything, pellets and tiger nuts add variety on pressured waters.
North America
Lures for largemouth bassLargemouth bass is the most fished species in North America. Four lure groups cover cover, edges and the surface, and water temperature sets the speed.
Baits for catfishCatfish hunt by scent. Cut bait catches the big blues and flatheads, stink bait and liver the channel cats, nightcrawlers all three.
Lures for walleyeWalleye are light-shy, bottom-hugging and careful. Jig and minnow in spring, crawler harness and crankbait in summer, soft plastic in fall.
Lures for crappieCrappie school on timber and cover. Small jigs and live minnows under a float catch all year, the depth changes with the season.
Rules of thumb from practice, sizes as guide values, no products. Rod, reel and line to match are in the gear finder. Gear
Check the rules
In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.
Know more?
Additions, photos of your catches or a mistake in the text: write to us and we will gladly credit you as a helper.
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