Lure Types Glossary

Bass lures are built to imitate different forage and trigger different reactions, from a shad kicking across the surface to a crawfish crawling along bottom. Knowing the difference between lure types helps you match the situation instead of guessing, which is the fastest way to put more bass in the boat.

Crankbait

A hard-bodied lure with a diving lip that wobbles on a steady retrieve, designed to cover water and bump into cover. Crankbaits come in shallow, medium, and deep-diving models, and the lip size and shape determine how deep the bait runs. They excel for locating active fish fast because you can fan-cast and cover a lot of water in a short time. Browse the full crankbaits lineup for options across every diving depth.

Squarebill Crankbait

A shallow-running crankbait with a squared-off lip that lets it deflect off wood, rock, and stumps without constantly hanging up. It shines in 1 to 6 feet of water and is a staple around shallow cover in spring and fall. The erratic deflection off cover is often what triggers a reaction strike.

Lipless Crankbait

A flat-sided, lipless bait with an internal rattle that sinks on the pause and vibrates tightly on a straight retrieve. It has no bill, so anglers control depth with retrieve speed and rod angle instead of lip design. It is one of the best searching baits over grass flats and around schooling shad because it can be burned fast or slow-rolled through cover.

Jerkbait

A slender, minnow-shaped hard bait fished with sharp rod twitches and pauses to imitate a dying or injured baitfish. Suspending models hang in place during the pause, which is often when the strike happens, especially in cold or clear water. Jerkbaits are deadly in late fall and early spring when bass are keying on baitfish. See the current jerkbaits selection for suspending and floating options.

Minnow Lure

A general term for slim, baitfish-profile hard baits that can be fished as jerkbaits, twitched slowly, or reeled steady depending on the model. Minnow baits work in both floating and suspending versions and cover everything from topwater walkers to subsurface twitch baits. They are a good all-around choice when bass are feeding on shad, shiners, or other slender baitfish.

Swimbait

A soft or hard bait built to swim with a realistic, fish-like action on a straight retrieve, used to imitate shad, trout, bluegill, and other forage. Swimbaits range from small paddle tails on a jighead to large hard-body baits designed for big bass targeting bigger meals. They are effective year-round but really shine when bass are keyed on baitfish in open water. Check out the swimbaits collection for a range of sizes and profiles.

Paddle Tail Swimbait

A soft plastic swimbait with a flat, curved tail that kicks side to side on the retrieve, creating vibration and flash that bass can find even in stained water. Rigged on a jighead or weighted swimbait hook, it is one of the most versatile baits for covering water at any depth. Slow it down over grass or around docks, or rip it through open water to imitate fleeing baitfish.

Glide Bait

A jointed or semi-jointed hard bait that sweeps side to side with a wide, gliding action on a slow, steady retrieve. Glide baits are typically larger profile lures aimed at triggering bigger bass, often used around deep points, bluffs, and open water where big fish roam. Retrieve speed and cadence matter more than with most hard baits, so it pays to experiment with pause length.

Jointed Swimbait

A multi-segment hard swimbait with two or more joints that flex during the retrieve, giving it a more lifelike swimming motion than a single-piece bait. These baits are commonly used for imitating trout, shad, or other larger forage and are a go-to choice for targeting trophy-class bass. They fish best on a slow, methodical retrieve that lets the joints work naturally.

Topwater Lure

Any lure fished on the surface, built to draw explosive str

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a jerkbait and a crankbait?

Jerkbaits are typically slender, suspending or slow-floating baits worked with sharp rod twitches and pauses to trigger reaction strikes, mimicking a dying or fleeing baitfish. Crankbaits have a wide wobbling action and a bill that makes them dive to a specific depth, and they're fished on a steady retrieve rather than twitched. Both imitate baitfish but jerkbaits rely on pause-and-jerk cadence while crankbaits rely on constant vibration and depth control.

What is a swimbait and when should I use one?

A swimbait is a soft or hard-bodied lure shaped like a full baitfish that swims with a realistic paddle-tail or jointed motion on a straight retrieve. They're best used when bass are keyed in on shad, herring, or trout in open water, reservoirs, or clear lakes where fish get a long look at the bait. Bigger swimbaits also tend to weed out smaller bites and target quality bass.

What's the difference between a jig and a Texas rig?

A jig has a lead head molded onto a hook with a skirt and often a weed guard, giving it a compact profile good for punching cover or dragging on the bottom. A Texas rig is a soft plastic (like a worm or creature bait) rigged weedless with a bullet weight and separate hook, offering a slimmer profile and more finesse presentations. Jigs generally draw a more aggressive reaction bite while Texas rigs are better for subtle, finesse situations.

Does Glenmore ship lure types like spinnerbaits and topwaters internationally?

Yes, Glenmore ships all lure categories, including spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, and soft plastics, worldwide to the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, and New Zealand with free shipping on every order. There are no size or category restrictions on lures themselves, though treble hooks are packaged securely for safe transit.