10 Simple Fishing Lures Every Beginner Should Own

10 Simple Fishing Lures Every Beginner Should Own

Walking into a fishing store for the first time can feel overwhelming. Shelves are packed with hundreds of lures—different shapes, colors, sizes, and names that mean nothing to a beginner. The truth is, you don’t need dozens of lures to catch fish. In fact, most beginners catch more fish using just a small selection of simple, proven lures.

This guide breaks everything down clearly and practically. You’ll learn exactly which 10 fishing lures every beginner should own, why they work, what fish they catch, and how to use them without confusion.

If you want fewer snags, fewer wasted dollars, and more fish on your line—this guide is for you.

✅ Why Lures Matter for Beginners

Artificial lures help beginners because they:

• Let you fish without live bait

• Work in many locations

• Teach movement and technique

• Reduce mess

• Improve skill faster

However, the wrong lures cause frustration. That’s why starting with the right beginner lures is essential.

🎯 What Makes a Lure Beginner-Friendly?

A good beginner lure should be:

• Easy to cast

• Simple to retrieve

• Versatile (works for many fish)

• Effective without advanced technique

• Affordable and durable

Every lure below meets all those criteria.

🧰 The 10 Essential Fishing Lures for Beginners

1. Soft Plastic Worms

Best for: Bass, panfish, perch
Where to use: Lakes, ponds, slow rivers

Soft plastic worms are one of the most effective fishing lures ever made. They look natural, move well in water, and catch fish even when nothing else works.

How beginners should use them:

• Rig on a small hook or jig head

• Let it sink

• Slowly reel or gently twitch

Why they’re perfect for beginners:

• Extremely forgiving

• Cheap and easy to replace

• Fish don’t need aggressive action to bite

2. Jig Heads with Soft Grubs

Best for: Crappie, bass, bluegill
Where to use: Lakes, docks, pond edges

Jig heads paired with soft grubs are deadly simple. Drop them in the water, and fish instinctively bite.

Beginner technique:

• Cast out

• Let sink

• Slowly reel while lifting rod slightly

Tip: Use smaller sizes (1/16–1/8 oz).

3. Inline Spinners

Best for: Trout, bass, panfish
Where to use: Rivers, streams, lakes

Inline spinners create natural vibration and flash that fish love.

Why beginners love them:

• Easy cast-and-retrieve

• No fancy technique

• Works in moving or still water

Beginner advice: Start reeling immediately after the lure hits water.

4. Spinnerbaits

Best for: Bass, pike
Where to use: Weedy or murky water

Spinnerbaits look complex but are beginner-friendly.

Why they work:

• Flash attracts fish

• Wire frame avoids snags

• Great in dirty water

How to use:

• Cast near cover

• Steady retrieve

• Keep rod tip slightly up

5. Spoon Lures

Best for: Trout, bass, panfish
Where to use: Deep or shallow water

Spoons wobble side-to-side, mimicking injured fish.

Beginner tip:

• Use lighter spoons

• Let sink slightly before reeling

• Don’t reel too fast

Spoons are excellent when fish are feeding aggressively.

6. Crankbaits (Shallow Diving)

Best for: Bass, perch
Where to use: Near shore, shallow lakes

Crankbaits imitate small fish.

Beginner choice:

• Shallow-diving models

• Natural colors (silver, brown)

How beginners should use them:

• Cast

• Steady retrieve

• Stop briefly every few seconds

7. Popper Lures (Topwater)

Best for: Bass, aggressive surface feeders
Where to use: Calm water mornings/evenings

Poppers float and make splashes that fish instinctively attack.

Beginner benefit:

• Visual excitement

• Easy learning curve

Use when:

• Water is calm

• Light is low (early or late day)

8. Floating Minnow Lures

Best for: Trout, bass
Where to use: Streams, lakes

These lures look incredibly realistic.

Beginner tip:

• Slow retrieve

• Occasional pauses

• Let lure do the work

They are perfect when fish are cautious or pressured.

9. Tube Lures

Best for: Bass, panfish
Where to use: Rocks, docks

Tube lures look simple but imitate crawfish and baitfish.

How to use:

• Jig up and down

• Let sink naturally

Great for learning finesse techniques.

10. Simple Soft Plastic Creature Baits

Best for: Bass
Where to use: Structure-heavy areas

Creature baits imitate bugs, crawfish, and small animals.

Beginner setup:

• Small hook

• Light weight

• Slow retrieve

They work especially well when fish ignore traditional lures.

🪝 How Many Lures Should a Beginner Carry?

Less is more.

Ideal beginner lure count:

• 2 soft plastic packs

• 2 jig heads

• 1 spinner

• 1 spoon

• 1 crankbait

• 1 topwater

That’s it.

Too many choices cause confusion.

🚫 Common Beginner Lure Mistakes

• Buying too many fancy lures

• Choosing oversized lures

• Using fast retrieves

• Ignoring simple colors

• Not matching lure size to fish

Simple lures + patience = success.

🎣 Lure Colors Beginners Should Start With

Stick to:

• Natural silver

• Brown

• Green

• White

• Chartreuse (in murky water)

Bright colors are useful, but natural tones work everywhere.

✅ Final Thoughts

You don’t need complicated gear or expensive tackle to catch fish. These 10 simple fishing lures cover nearly every beginner fishing situation in the USA. Start small, fish slow, and let the lure do what it was designed to do.

Learning lures is a skill—but with the right selection, it becomes enjoyable instead of confusing.