Lure bait is the first piece of equipment we need to decide on when we start lure fishing.

You need to determine the type and size of the lure based on the target fish, then choose the appropriate lure line, fishing rod, and reel.

Determine the size of the lure based on the target species:

If you're fishing for species like whitebait, mandarin fish, or small bluegill, choosing smaller baits—such as melon-seed-shaped spinners—can significantly improve your catch rate.

If you're fishing for larger predatory species like bass, snakehead, or mandarin fish—big-bodied fish that aren’t afraid to strike—you’ll find they’ll swallow the lure whole without hesitation.

If fishing for mandarin fish in obstacle areas, opt for a jig head or a Texas rig, and use a soft bait to make it bounce off the bottom.

Fish also choose their prey based on their own body size—like Yami’s big snakehead, which certainly wouldn’t chase after a tiny shrimp to eat it.

Here's something for reference:

Sea Bass: Soft Lures, VIBs, Shads, Jigs

Topwater: Spoons, Minnows, VIBs, Pencil Lures

Mandarin fish: soft lures, minnows, VIBs, and metal jigs

Redtail: Spoons, Minnows, VIBs, and Jigs

Magok: Melon Seed Sequin Rig, Flying Eagle Rig

Gizzard Shad: Popper, Minnow, Pencil, Little Fat

Military Fish: Spoons, Minnows, Fat Baits

Trout: Minnows, spinners, VIBs, soft baits

Sea Bass: Soft Lures, VIBs, Pencil Baits, Jigs

Black Fish: Frog Jigs, Surface Walkers, Popper Lures

Catfish: Soft baits, VIBs, and spinners

Lure fishing is divided into two types: hard baits and soft baits.

1. Hard Lures

Hard baits include the suspended Minnow, Popper, Crank, Pencil, VIB (Vibration), Spoon, wire bait, and spinner, among others.

1. The Minnow is designed to mimic the shape of a fish—its fish-like profile makes it the most lifelike and fundamental lure type of all. Beyond simply being tugged along for a natural, swaying forward motion, anglers can trigger dynamic actions like "darting," "head-shaking," "rolling," or even "leaping" out of the water by sharply jerking the rod. Compared to soft baits, the action required to animate a minnow is far simpler. Additionally, the position and angle of the lure’s lip significantly influence how deep—or shallow—it dives beneath the surface.

The tongue plate is positioned deeper at the front of the mouth; when placed near the chin, it sinks in more shallowly.

The greater the angle formed between the tongue plate's orientation and the fish's body, the deeper the dive; conversely, the shallower the dive.

The larger the tongue plate area, the deeper the dive; conversely, the shallower it is.

Floating Minnow works well when fishing for big-water shad—just use a subtle, gentle twitching motion.

2. Both Popper (Popper) falling into the water and the wobbling action occur in the surface layer, making it a surface-level lure. The fish-shaped lure features a groove along its snout, allowing anglers to create varying-sized splashes or even bubbles as they jiggle the bait—these visual and auditory cues effectively trigger predatory instincts in fish. Depending on the lure's weight distribution, it can move either in a straight line or in a zigzag pattern.

3. Wobbly Little Fatty (Crank)

The feature is a remarkably prominent large tongue plate, which allows the lure to press against the water and create an exaggerated swimming action when dragged or twitched. Each Crank is equipped with internal rattles that produce audible sounds as it moves, while its tongue plate stirs up sediment from the bottom whenever it hits the surface—creating a cloud of mud. This unique effect makes the lure appear as though it’s actively digging into the substrate, which is why it’s aptly nicknamed the "muddler-style lure."

Most famously, there's the Dahe Benliu CC60—but if you haven’t yet tried lure fishing, now’s the perfect time to give it a shot!

4. Both the pencil's fall into the water and its erratic, bait-like movements occur in the topmost water layer—making it a surface-level lure. It’s ideal for use in open waters, just above aquatic vegetation, and other similar environments. The fish are attracted either by the splashes created as the lure moves forward, or by its deliberate zigzagging motion: / \ / \ /. Surface pencils are also commonly referred to as "Z-shaped dogs." Lure options for this technique are diverse and rapidly evolving, with sinking pencils also becoming available—these resemble minnows but lack the traditional lip design.

5. VIB is a wobbling-style lure that moves in the water with a subtle, side-to-side trembling motion, resembling a slight shiver—hence its name. All Vibration lures are sinking types. Anglers can precisely control the lure’s swimming depth by timing how long it takes to sink after being cast into the water. Additionally, there are plastic VIBs available, which sink more slowly compared to others.

The Great River flows—Vib Rattlesnake, a versatile bait and a fishing hotspot tool that delivers impressive catch rates. In the Ganjiang River, it’s unlocked success with species like Mandarin Fish, Redtail Fish, Mandarin Perch, and Military Fish.

Here at our place, the redtails only go for rattlesnakes—but they’re a bit pricey, so we end up replacing the hooks after buying them.

6. The main material of the iron plate and sequins is metal.

Can be used in both seawater and freshwater. Shorter models of metal jigs and spoon lures exhibit more compact, quick movements, while longer models deliver broader, smoother actions that last longer. The weight of metal jigs and spoon lures depends on the depth of the fishing area as well as the target fish species.

7. Composite Lure Baits (Spinnerbaits, Composite Spinners, Mustad Lures)

The composite rotating lure consists of wire, a rotating blade, weighted lead, and a rubber strip. When dragged through the water, the blade on the wire spins rapidly, creating a flickering "light-and-shadow" effect that tricks target fish into mistaking the lure for a school of small fish—and prompting them to open their mouths wide in an attempt to feed! Thanks to its hook tip pointing upward and the wire assembly positioned above, this lure easily navigates around aquatic vegetation, minimizing snags and making it perfect for fishing in weedy areas, among fallen logs, or other tricky spots. Additionally, you can enhance its appeal by attaching maggot-shaped soft baits directly to the hook.