The 15 Greatest Lures Of All Time

Whether you target bass or walleyes, trout or stripers, salt or freshwater fish, these are lures that actually work. Some are lures your granddad fished. Others have earned their reputation for productivity in more recent decades are suitable for your baitcasting reels. In all cases, though, you’ll find a lure that catches fish, time after time.

1. CURLY TAIL GRUB

CURLY TAIL GRUB lure

Combined with a plain or painted roundhead jig, these are arguably the most versatile fishing lures of all time.

Suitable: Bass, Trout, Walleye, Panfish, Pike/Muskie, Salmon/Steelhead, Saltwater

2. MANN’S 1-MINUS

MANN’S 1-MINUS lure

This crankbait easily skims the top of barely submerged weedbeds. That’s often where the bass live.

Suitable: Bass, Walleye

3. RAPALA ORIGINAL FLOATER

RAPALA ORIGINAL FLOATER lure

Loved by trout, bass, walleyes, and pike alike. Size F11 is great for all species, and black over silver is a top color.

Suitable: Bass, Trout, Walleye, Pike/Muskie, Salmon/Steelhead, Saltwater

4. KASTMASTER

KASTMASTER lure

Great for its lively tight wobble on a fairly fast retrieve and a broad shape that resembles a small freshwater shad.

Suitable: Trout, Walleye, Salmon/Steelhead, Saltwater

5. PANTHER MARTIN

PANTHER MARTIN lure

A staple from Montana to Maine, these spinners are perfect for picking trout from the pockets of steeply tumbling mountain creeks.

Suitable: Bass, Trout, Panfish

6. CORDELL RED FIN

CORDELL RED FIN lure

The 7-inch, 1-ounce Smoky Joe–color Red Fin is a striper killer in both fresh and saltwater.

Suitable: Pike/Muskie, Saltwater

7. REBEL POP-R

REBEL POP-R lure

There are lots of poppers on the market, but this one casts farther than most and spits water like no other.

Suitable: Bass, Pike/Muskie, Saltwater

8. DARDEVLE SPINNIE

DARDEVLE SPINNIE lure

Probably the world’s most recognized fishing lure, this spoon is as effective now as it was a century ago.

Suitable: Bass, Trout, Walleye, Pike/Muskie, Salmon/Steelhead

9. PHOEBE

PHOEBE lure

One of the alltime great trout spoons. The ⅛-ounce gold version is deadly on small streams.

Suitable: Bass, Trout, Panfish, Salmon/Steelhead

10. ROOSTER TAIL

ROOSTER TAIL lure

For large brown and rainbow trout in bigger rivers and lakes, this is the hot-ticket lure.

Suitable: Bass, Trout, Panfish, Salmon/Steelhead

11. JITTERBUG

JITTERBUG lure

Cast this frog pattern hardbait across a summer cove, then watch it get crushed as it glub-glubs slowly back.

Suitable: Bass, Pike/Muskie, Saltwater

12. SNAG-PROOF FROG

SNAG-PROOF FROG lure

You can throw one of these soft-plastic frogs just about anywhere; it won’t get stuck in thick pads and cover.

Suitable: Bass

13. GIBBS PENCIL POPPER

GIBBS PENCIL POPPER lure

Cast with heavy surf gear, then reel slowly while using your right hand to whip the rod tip.

Suitable: Saltwater

14. YAMAMOTO SENKO

YAMAMOTO SENKO lure

The fluttering action of this soft-plastic lure as it falls is amazingly effective for large and smallmouth bass.

Suitable: Bass

15. MEPPS AGLIA

MEPPS AGLIA lure

Use a size o, 1/12-ounce version with a silver blade to turn big trout in small and large streams.