Worm

Worms are a commonly used bait to put on a hook, they are usually used when you fish with a bobber. The type that I use are nightcrawlers and baby nightcrawlers. When you rig a worm, you poke it and slide it onto your hook about 3 times. Using a bobber, you would just let it sit in one area until your bobber sinks, then you reel it in. The sinking signals a fish taking your hook and pulling the line. Another method of worm fishing is just simply using a hook and worm. You cast it like normal and let your worm reach the bottom, once it's on the bottom, twitch the rod and the worm will slowly move, attracting fish.

Minnow

Minnows are used the same way as a worm, except they don't reach the bottom because they swim. When I get minnows, I just get whatever the bait shops have, the type isn’t a big deal for me. When you open water fish, hook the minnow through the tail so it can swim. But when you Ice fish, hook it through the chin area, so its movement is limited.

Bobbers

A Bobber can be a bit complicated to put together. You need a hook, slip bobber, and sinker/weight for this. First, you put on the slip bobber, which can come in many styles, but I use simple ones. Then you tie on your hook, making sure your bobber doesn’t fall off. Once you have everything else, you just need to attach the weights right between the hook and the slip bobber. The advantage of using a slip bobber is that you can adjust your depth very easily with the little string. But to fish with these, you cast it out and wait for a fish to take your bait; the bait I use is worms. When something takes it, the bobber will get pulled under the surface and you can simply reel it in.

Whopper Plopper

Whopper Ploppers are topwater lures, which are best used when the water is calm. All there is to this one is just cast it out, it will float on the top, and twitch it every now and then. It will make little splashes on the water and any fish nearby will see this and may come up to it.

Spinner Baits

Spinner Baits are lures that have a spinning blade on one side and a head and hook on the other. When you reel this in just keep it at a steady pace and it will spin by itself. These are good because they make vibrant flashes in the water that catch fish's eye.

Paddle Tails

Paddle Tails are soft plastic baits that mimic a little fish in the water. The flat end of the tail will wobble when you reel it in; all you need to do is keep it at a steady pace.

Ned Rig

For a Ned Rig, you put on a light jig head and then put on a soft plastic bait. It works well in many different waters and that makes it easy to use. To use a Ned Rig, you cast it out, let it hit the bottom, and give it small twitches every now and then. The little twitches will imitate a smaller fish and make bigger fish want to eat it.

Super Flukes

Super Flukes are soft plastic lures that are supposed to look like baitfish. You put a light jig head on your line, then attach the lure. The technique is just twitching it and reeling up a little bit. The realistic fish movements resemble a fish and make bigger fish want to eat it.