Beginner's Guide to Fishing Lures & Baits: Types, Uses & Tips

Fishing is one of Australia's most popular pastimes — but if you're just starting out, the sheer variety of lures and baits can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the most common types, what they do, and when to use them, so you can build a smarter tackle box from day one.

For a full range of quality fishing gear, visit Cast N Go — your Australian fishing tackle store.

Diving Lures

Diving lures are built to mimic a baitfish swimming at depth. They're ideal when fish are holding deeper in the water column — think bass, flathead, and barra in warmer months. The lip on the lure controls how deep it dives, so match the depth rating to where the fish are sitting.

Try: Finesse Flash Minnow Deep Diving Lure – Magenta Silver 150mm | 13g — realistic action and vibrant colour to trigger strikes in clear and stained water.

Also worth considering: Finesse Madbass Deep Diving Crankbait – Baitfish 85mm — dives fast and hard, perfect for targeting bass on the bottom.

Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits combine flash and vibration to draw reaction strikes from predatory fish. The rotating blades create movement that fish can detect even in low-visibility or murky water, making them a reliable all-rounder.

Try: Dekoi LS17 Closed Eye Spinnerbait 2-Pack – Pink Yellow 15g — great for working around weed edges and structure.

Crankbaits

Lipless crankbaits are built for covering water fast. They sink on the pause and rattle loudly, which makes them deadly for aggressive fish like bass and trevally. Work them with a lift-and-drop retrieve to trigger strikes.

Try: Finesse Excaliber Lipless Crankbait – Gold | 55mm — a go-to for fast-moving fish in open water.

Soft Plastic Lures

Soft plastics are among the most versatile lures available. They imitate baitfish, prawns, and worms with lifelike flexibility that hard lures can't match. Rig them on a jig head and vary your retrieve speed to find what's working on the day.

Try: Swimerz Soft Shad Paddle Tail Lure 6-Pack – Red Bug 100mm — the paddle tail generates a natural swimming action that flathead and bass find hard to resist.

Quick Reference: Which Lure for Which Situation?

Fishing deep water: Diving lures or lipless crankbaits
Murky or low-visibility water: Spinnerbaits (vibration-based)
Slow, finesse presentations: Soft plastics on a jig head
Covering water fast: Lipless crankbaits or spinnerbaits
Targeting bass, flathead, barra: Any of the above — match to depth and conditions

Ready to Hit the Water?

Choosing the right lure doesn't have to be complicated. Start with one or two types, learn how they work, and build from there. The more time you spend on the water, the more intuitive it becomes.

Browse our full range of fishing lures and fishing tackle at Cast N Go — Australian-stocked and ready to ship.

Good luck out there!