LURES & BAITS
Choosing the right lure is about matching the hatch and triggering a strike. Discover the best lures for Alberta's lakes and rivers.
Jigs
One of the most versatile lures featuring a weighted head and single hook, often dressed with a skirt or soft plastic trailer. Jigs sink and are worked vertically.
Best For
Retrieve Techniques
- Lift and drop - hop along bottom
- Drag slowly - imitate crawfish
- Swim steadily - mimic baitfish
- Yo-yo retrieve - erratic action
Pro Tips
- Match jig weight to depth (1/8 oz shallow, 1/4-1/2 oz deep)
- Tip with live minnow for walleye
- Add soft plastic trailer for bulk
- Feel for subtle "tick" of bite on slack line
Target Species
Popular Brands
Strike King • Rapala • Northland • VMC
Spinners
Lures featuring one or more rotating metal blades that create flash and vibration. Includes inline spinners and spinnerbaits - both trigger predatory instincts.
Best For
Retrieve Techniques
- Steady retrieve - let blade do the work
- Slow roll - blade barely turning
- Burn it - fast retrieve triggers reaction
- Yo-yo - let it fall on slack line
Pro Tips
- Silver/white for clear water, chartreuse/orange for murky
- Larger blades = more vibration = better in stained water
- Use snap swivel with inline spinners to prevent line twist
- Colorado blades spin slower, willow blades faster
Target Species
Popular Brands
Mepps • Blue Fox • Worden's Rooster Tail • Booyah
Crankbaits
Hard-bodied lures with a diving lip that determines depth. They wobble enticingly when retrieved and mimic fleeing baitfish. Also called "plugs."
Best For
Retrieve Techniques
- Steady crank - consistent wobble
- Stop and go - triggers strikes on pause
- Burn and kill - fast then dead stop
- Deflect off cover - erratic action
Pro Tips
- Match lip size to desired depth
- Tune the lure if it runs left/right (bend eye)
- Use monofilament for shallow, fluoro for deep
- Deflecting off rocks triggers strikes
Target Species
Popular Brands
Rapala • Strike King • Berkley • Bomber
Soft Plastics
Flexible, rubber-like lures that imitate worms, crawfish, minnows, and other creatures. Their lifelike feel makes fish hold on longer, giving you time to set the hook.
Best For
Retrieve Techniques
- Drag and hop - bottom action
- Shake - trembling action in place
- Swim - steady paddletail retrieve
- Dead stick - let it sit
Pro Tips
- Worms and grubs are great starter baits
- Natural colors (green pumpkin, watermelon) for clear water
- Bright colors (chartreuse) for murky water
- Texas rig makes them weedless
- Pre-stretched plastics last longer
Target Species
Popular Brands
Zoom • Strike King • Berkley Gulp! • Gary Yamamoto
Spoons
Classic curved metal lures shaped like the bowl of a spoon. Their wobble and flash mimics an injured baitfish - irresistible to predatory fish.
Best For
Retrieve Techniques
- Cast and retrieve - steady wobble
- Trolling - cover distance
- Jigging - lift and flutter down
- Rip and pause - aggressive action
Pro Tips
- Silver works in clear water and bright conditions
- Gold and copper for overcast or stained water
- Heavier spoons for deeper water
- Let it flutter on the fall - that's when strikes happen
- Classic lure that still outperforms modern designs
Target Species
Popular Brands
Eppinger Dardevle • Williams • Thomas • Acme Little Cleo