Please explain what these lure are.

[INbassMAN]

Could someone please explain these differents types of lures:

1. Stickbaits

2. Swimbaits

3. Jerkbaits - are these only topwater baits and if not what makes them different from crankbaits or are they totally different from crankbaits

4. Spoons - are these the same as roostertails

5. Senko - whats the difference between a senko and a regular plastic worm

These may seem like some pretty basic questions, but I still haven't figured out what they are. Thanks

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Senkos are soft stick baits, senko is use as a generic term these days as a stick bait

Swimbaits are lures that closely imitate fish

Jerkbaits are slender, billed baits fished with a jerk-pause-jerk retrieve, some float, some suspend, neither are considered topwater because they do dive to some degree.

Roostertails are inline spinnerbaits, spoons are basically pieces of metal with a treble hook attached to imitate injured baitfish.

[INbassMAN]

Thanks alot. I'm glad you responded, because I was looking at baits on ***.com and ended up more confused than before.

So, senko is another word for stickbait, which is basically a plastic worm without a curly tail or appendages, right?

Jerkbaits seem clear cut but when looking at "soft jerkbaits" on ***, some of them looked like the "swimbaits" that you described.

Can a crankbait be considered a swimbait or vice versa?

Thanks

[Crestliner2008]

You might do well to start reading the articles posted here at the heading of the main forum page. Loads of information and details on the questions you are asking. A bit difficult to answer you directly in this one post as you are covering a lot of ground.

Read up and when you have a specific question, all of the fine folks here will chime in with plenty of answers.

[Mattlures]

most of those are pretty clear. Swimbaits are whare it gets confusing. Originaly swimbaits were soft plastic baits with swimming tails. As these swimbaits evolved into more lifelike creations, hard baits that resembled fish began to be called swimbaits. Then that evolved into just about any big bait being called a swimbait. Now many tackle manufactures are calling thier baits swimbaits or swim baits because of their popularity.

just about everything is being called a swimbait now.

[INbassMAN]

You might do well to start reading the articles posted here at the heading of the main forum page. Loads of information and details on the questions you are asking. A bit difficult to answer you directly in this one post as you are covering a lot of ground.

Read up and when you have a specific question, all of the fine folks here will chime in with plenty of answers.

I have been reading so many articles, my brain is fried, well, maybe thats not the only reason that my brain is fried...

Anyway, since you mentioned reading articles, let me give you an example of why I'm confused.

Go to the "Fishing Articles" tab at the top of the screen, then go down to "tips and tactics". Click on that, then click on an "Soft Jerkbaits". It will then open up an article titled: "Soft Plastic STICKBAITS"

What? Are you serious? So now a senko (or stickbait) is also a jerkbait?

I know, I know. My buddy has already told me that I'm reading too much into this, but hey, I've got a bad case of cabin fever. But, really, all of these different terms used for the same baits ARE kind of confusing.

[Sherlock 60]

8-)

You might do well to start reading the articles posted here at the heading of the main forum page. Loads of information and details on the questions you are asking. A bit difficult to answer you directly in this one post as you are covering a lot of ground.

Read up and when you have a specific question, all of the fine folks here will chime in with plenty of answers.

I have been reading so many articles, my brain is fried, well, maybe thats not the only reason that my brain is fried...

Anyway, since you mentioned reading articles, let me give you an example of why I'm confused.

Go to the "Fishing Articles" tab at the top of the screen, then go down to "tips and tactics". Click on that, then click on an "Soft Jerkbaits". It will then open up an article titled: "Soft Plastic STICKBAITS"

What? Are you serious? So now a senko (or stickbait) is also a jerkbait?

I know, I know. My buddy has already told me that I'm reading too much into this, but hey, I've got a bad case of cabin fever. But, really, all of these different terms used for the same baits ARE kind of confusing.

LOL. Sorry, but I remember those days myself.

It is simply an accumulation of knowledge that comes over time. Keep reading the articles and a light bulb will come on at some point. Then you will be part of an inner-circle that has a language all its own.  8-)

[NewAngler]

Senkos are not jerkbaits. And I've never seen a jerkbait being described as a stickbait, but maybe its the slender ness of it.

There are two general kinds of crank baits. Ones with lips, and lipless. The said lip is a piece of plastic at the nose of the bait, this determines the depth in which the bait will dive.

Lipless cranks can also be called rattle traps. Hope this helps. And welcome to the forum.

[broncoboxer]

Senkos are not jerkbaits. And I've never seen a jerkbait being described as a stickbait, but maybe its the slender ness of it.

There are two general kinds of crank baits. Ones with lips, and lipless. The said lip is a piece of plastic at the nose of the bait, this determines the depth in which the bait will dive.

Lipless cranks can also be called rattle traps. Hope this helps. And welcome to the forum.

I may be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that Gary Yammamoto originally planned for the Senko to be a jerkbait.  In fact, I think they were initially marketed as such.  Some online retailers still do.

From my experience, a Senko can be worked like a fluke effectively.  They just happen to be so darned good when fished slow, too...

[zero]

senko is like a stick lure that's all while jerk bait have forked tail and slender tail and a head and silted belly

hope this help you understating between those 2

[Fishes in trees]

There is a guy in Springfield, Mo named Johnny Morris.  Several years ago he started a company called Bass Pro Shops.  They publish a catalog.  With lots of pictures.  Pretty self explanatory.

Included with the catalog is a phone number.  It's toll free. If you got a Visa or a Mastercard, you can call them up and they will mail stuff right to your house.  Fast forward several years and it seems several different retailers  have picked up on this trend and now there are lots of fishing tackle catalogs right on the internet.

Progress marches on.

[Rich Tehan]

I've heard Jerkbaits and other stick shaped plugs called "Stickbaits" I've also heard senkos called stickbaits which is probably more appropriate because senko is a model name. People often reffer to any soft stickbait as a senko.  The brand, Yamamoto makes the "senko", Yum makes the "dinger".  These are stickbaits.  Today, the senko would not be considered a jerkbait.  But there are soft plastic jerkbaits as well as hard jerkbaits.  The "sluggo" or Zoom "superfluke" is a soft plastic jerkbait.  People often get confused when brands of lures are confused with type.  Lipless cranks are reffered to as rattletraps but, that is just saying "Rat-L'Trap", a lipless crankbait made by Bill Lewis Lures.  Again, this is the original, so people call all lipless crankbaits a rattle trap.  Same thing with a original "chatterbait".  They are reffered to as a swim jig or bladebait, (or chatterbaits).  Those names are actually already taken by other lures though... darned lure namers!

[Sam]

Google each and read, read, and read.

Goolgle the bait manufacturers and read, read and read what their sites say.

Google the pros sites and read, read and read.

Subscribe to Bassin Magazine.

Join BASS and FLW and receive their magazines.

Go to your local tackle shop and ask the clerks to show you each bait. If you are lucky, the clerk will be a bass fisherman and he can give you lots of information about each bait.

Then, read, read and read some more.

Get DVDs of different baits and techniques and watch them three or four times.

Check out the fishing articles in the top left hand corner of this site and read, read and read.

In one year you will be proficient with each bait.

And if you really want to learn, join a local bass club. The investment will pay wonderful dividends. 

[INbassMAN]

I've heard Jerkbaits and other stick shaped plugs called "Stickbaits" I've also heard senkos called stickbaits which is probably more appropriate because senko is a model name. People often reffer to any soft stickbait as a senko. The brand, Yamamoto makes the "senko", Yum makes the "dinger". These are stickbaits. Today, the senko would not be considered a jerkbait. But there are soft plastic jerkbaits as well as hard jerkbaits. The "sluggo" or Zoom "superfluke" is a soft plastic jerkbait. People often get confused when brands of lures are confused with type. Lipless cranks are reffered to as rattletraps but, that is just saying "Rat-L'Trap", a lipless crankbait made by Bill Lewis Lures. Again, this is the original, so people call all lipless crankbaits a rattle trap. Same thing with a original "chatterbait". They are reffered to as a swim jig or bladebait, (or chatterbaits). Those names are actually already taken by other lures though... darned lure namers!

Thanks, that clears up alot. I never heard of lipless crankbaits being called rattle traps. I've heard of the Rat-L Trap, but didn't know that was also a generic term for lipless crankbaits. I think maybe this is why its so confusing.