Choosing the right fishing baits and lures is one of the biggest challenges beginners face—but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re fishing in saltwater, a quiet lake, or targeting walleye specifically, the right bait can easily double your catch rate. This guide breaks down the types of fishing baits and lures, when to use them, and how beginners can avoid common mistakes.
As a trusted name in natural bait and composting worms, Meme’s Worms offers premium-quality live worms and bait options that perform exceptionally well in real-world fishing. This guide mixes expert-backed information and practical fishing advice to help you catch more fish—no guesswork needed.
Fish are selective. Water temperature, depth, season, and even their mood influence what they bite. That means choosing the right bait isn’t just about preference—it’s about understanding fish behavior.
Using the right bait can:
For beginners, the key is understanding which type of bait works best in different water conditions, which we cover below.
There are two primary categories you need to know:
Best for beginners because they rely on scent, movement, and taste—things fish instinctively respond to.
Common natural baits:
Why worms work incredibly well:
Live worms like the ones from Meme’s Worms release natural scent trails and have irresistible movement in water. This makes them perfect for lake fish, walleye, trout, bluegill, catfish, and even some saltwater species.
Artificial lures mimic prey that fish want to eat.
Popular artificial fishing bait types include:
These are ideal when:
For beginners, start with simple soft plastics and spinners—they’re easy to use and work in most lakes.
Saltwater fish have stronger senses, so your bait needs to stand out.
Best choices:
Red Wigglers are not meant for saltwater, but European Nightcrawlers can survive brackish conditions for short periods and still attract fish.
Lake species like bass, bluegill, trout, crappie, and walleye respond well to:
In calm lakes, scent spreads slowly—so natural bait outperforms lures most of the time, especially for beginners.
Walleye are known to be picky. They prefer slow-moving, realistic baits.
Best options:
European Nightcrawlers from Meme’s Worms are one of the top walleye baits because they are large, lively, and release strong natural scent.
Choosing the best bait comes down to four questions:
Trout → worms, spinners
Bass → plastic worms, crankbaits
Catfish → cut bait, stink bait
Walleye → nightcrawlers, jigs
Clear water → bright lures + natural colors
Murky water → scented live bait + vibrating lures
Cold water → slow-moving live baits
Warm water → active lures
Topwater lures = shallow
Jigs = bottom fishing
Crankbaits = mid-depth
Beginners should always carry:
This covers 90% of common fishing situations.
Artificial lures require:
Live worms require:
This makes natural bait ideal for beginners. Meme’s Worms provides:
Whether you’re fishing for fun or stocking up for a weekend trip, live worms offer the highest chance of success with the least effort.
Consider:
If you’re unsure, live worms are the most universal bait for freshwater fishing.
The 90/10 rule states that 90% of fish are located in only 10% of the water.
This emphasizes the importance of choosing the right location and using the right bait to attract fish in those high-probability areas.
Also known as the Pareto Principle:
20% of your techniques or bait choices will produce 80% of your success.
This is why beginners should stick to proven baits—like live worms—rather than experimenting with too many lure types.
Match the lure to:
If unsure → start with a spinner or soft plastic worm.
Live worms are universally the most effective bait because:
Red Wigglers and European Nightcrawlers from Meme’s Worms are highly recommended for beginners and experienced anglers.
Choosing the right fishing baits and lures doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with the basics—live worms, simple lures, and water-matching colors—and you’ll see your success rate rise quickly.
If you want a reliable source of high-quality fishing bait, Meme’s Worms offers some of the best Red Wigglers and European Nightcrawlers for anglers across the U.S. Fresh, lively, and perfect for freshwater fishing—exactly what beginners need to start catching more fish.
