Fishing Lures & Bait: Hard Baits, Soft Plastics & Live Bait

Whether you're working a crankbait through walleye structure or flipping soft plastics 
into bass cover, Fleet Farm stocks the fishing lures and bait that Midwest anglers 
actually use. Shop proven brands like Rapala, Berkley, Strike King, and Quick Change.

The Complete Fishing Bait & Lures Buying Guide

Picking the right bait is half the battle. The other half is knowing what presentation, 
depth, and action fits the species you're after on any given day. This guide breaks down what to look for so you can make confident choices and spend more time fishing, less time second-guessing your tackle box.

Key Features to Look For

Action and Wobble

Every lure has a built-in action, the way it moves through the water. Crankbaits and jerkbaits produce a tight or wide wobble depending on the lip design. Soft plastics get their action from the angler's rod tip. Match the action to water temperature: slow, subtle presentations in cold water; more aggressive retrieves when fish are active.

Depth Range

Hard baits are engineered to run at specific depths based on lip angle and body buoyancy. A shallow diver runs 1 to 5 feet; a deep diver can reach 15 to 20 feet or more. Knowing your target depth eliminates guesswork and gets your lure in front of fish holding at the right level.

Color Selection

The general rule: natural, subtle colors (perch, shad, crawdad) in clear water; bright or high-contrast colors (chartreuse, fire tiger, orange) in stained or murky water. Glow patterns are standard for low-light walleye fishing and essential for ice fishing applications where flash and visibility do the work.

Hook Quality

A premium lure with a cheap hook is a lost fish waiting to happen. Look for sharp, corrosion-resistant treble or single hooks. Many of the best lures come equipped with VMC or similar-quality hooks out of the box, but it's always worth upgrading if you're targeting bigger fish.

Scent and Attractants

For soft plastics and finesse presentations, scent can make the difference on tough-bite days. Some products are formulated with fish-attracting scent built into the material itself, giving your bait added effectiveness even when fish are passive.

Types of Fishing Lures and Bait

Hard Baits

Hard baits are your foundational reaction lures — built to trigger strikes through vibration, flash, and lifelike profiles.

• Crankbaits: Versatile, wide-wobbling lures ideal for covering water quickly when targeting walleye, bass, and pike. Rapala, Reef Runner, Bandit Lures, and Salmo all produce proven Midwest crankbait patterns. Choose lip size based on your target depth.
• Jerkbaits: Suspending and floating jerkbaits excel in cold-water situations when fish want a slower, erratic presentation. Work them with sharp twitches and pauses to trigger reaction bites from walleye and bass suspended in the water column.
• Surface Baits: One of the most exciting presentations in fishing. Walk-the-dog lures, poppers, and prop baits like those from Heddon and Arbogast are built for summer bass and pike fishing when fish are aggressive near the surface.
• Swimbaits: Designed to mimic baitfish with a paddle-tail action. Storm, Strike King, and Northland Fishing Tackle produce swimbaits sized for everything from crappie to trophy muskie.
• Spinnerbaits: Booyah Bait Co. and Strike King spinnerbaits are staple bass lures that produce in heavy cover where other presentations can't go. The spinning blade creates flash and vibration that triggers reaction strikes even in off-color water.

Soft Plastic Lures

Soft plastics are the most versatile option in any tackle box. Berkley and Z-Man produce plastic worms, tubes, creature baits, and paddle tails that can be rigged countless ways to cover any depth, structure, or species. Berkley PowerBait's built-in fish-attracting formula adds a scent advantage that hard baits simply can't match.

Fishing Jigs

Jigs are arguably the most productive bait in Midwest fishing, year-round. A simple jig head tipped with a soft plastic or live bait can target walleye, bass, crappie, and perch with equal effectiveness. Northland Fishing Tackle offers an extensive jig lineup built specifically for the depths and structures found in Upper Midwest lakes and rivers.

Live Bait and Attractants

Nothing out-fishes live bait on pressured Midwest waters. Fleet Farm carries Berkley Gulp! and PowerBait products that deliver live-bait-level scent performance from artificial materials — ideal when live bait isn't available or practical.

FAQs: Fishing Bait & Lures

What is the best all-around fishing lure for Midwest lakes?

A jig head paired with a soft plastic or live bait is the most versatile option across species. For hard baits, a Rapala crankbait in a natural perch or shad pattern consistently produces walleye and bass in the depths and water clarity typical of Midwest lakes.

What's the difference between hard baits and soft plastic lures?

Hard baits have built-in action through their body design and retrieve speed, making them great for covering water quickly and triggering reaction strikes. Soft plastics rely on angler technique and are more versatile for finesse presentations, especially when fish are pressured or in cold-water conditions.

When should I use topwater lures?

Topwater lures are most effective during low-light periods — early morning, evening, and overcast days — and when water temperatures are above 60°F. Bass and pike are the primary targets, but muskies and northern pike will also crush topwater presentations in shallow, weedy environments.

Does scent matter for artificial lures?

On tough bite days, absolutely. Berkley PowerBait and Gulp! products have scent built directly into the material, which has been proven to increase strikes and hold time. For standard hard baits, adding a scent spray to the hooks can improve results when fish are investigating but not committing.