The 8 Essential Types of Trolling Lures: A Guide for Beginner Anglers

Whether you're new to trolling or looking to improve your fishing game, understanding the different types of trolling lures is essential. Saltwater trolling lures play a crucial role in attracting the right type of fish and ensuring a successful catch. With so many options, you may wonder what lures to use for trolling. Deciding which lure works best for your fishing goals, whether in freshwater or saltwater, can be overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll explore the eight basic types of trolling lures, where they’re used, what fish they attract, and how they can enhance your fishing experience.

What Are Trolling Lures?

Trolling lures are artificial baits designed to mimic the movement of live prey, attracting fish as you pull the lure behind a moving boat. Depending on the environment, trolling lures can be used in saltwater and freshwater settings, and they come in a wide range of designs suited to different fish species. Choosing the right trolling lure is crucial for improving your chances of success, and understanding the basics is the first step toward making the right choice.

Whether you're heading out for offshore fishing in saltwater or casting in freshwater lakes, the right trolling lure will make a difference in the size and type of fish you catch.

8 Must-Have Basic Trolling Lures

1. Plunger Trolling Lures

Plunger trolling lures are a go-to for many saltwater anglers targeting big-game fish like marlin and tuna. Their cylindrical shape allows them to make a big splash on the water’s surface, mimicking the movements of a distressed fish, which attracts predatory species.

• Where It’s Used: Primarily used in saltwater, especially offshore for large game.
• Fish It Attracts: Marlin, tuna, and wahoo.
• Benefits: Ideal for attracting large game fish in deep-sea environments.

2. Doorknob Trolling Lures

Named for their unique shape, doorknob trolling lures are designed for stability in rough waters. They stay submerged while creating a noticeable trail that draws in fish from a distance. These offshore trolling lures work best in offshore settings where fish hunt in deeper waters.

• Where It’s Used: Best for offshore saltwater fishing.
• Fish It Attracts Mahi-mahi, sailfish, and kingfish.
• Benefits: Effective in rougher waters where other lures might struggle to maintain their path.

3. Chugger Trolling Lures

Chugger trolling lures create a “chugging” effect as they move through the water, producing bubbles and noise that grab the attention of predatory fish. This type of trolling lure is perfect for anglers looking to create a disturbance on the surface to lure fish up from deeper waters.

• Where It’s Used: Best for saltwater and offshore fishing.
• Fish It Attracts: Marlin, tuna, and sailfish.
• Benefits: Highly visible and effective at creating surface-level disturbance.

4. Scoop Face or Slant Head Trolling Lures

Scoop face or slant head trolling lures are designed to dive and dart through the water, imitating a baitfish in distress. Their angled heads give them a distinct swimming motion that attracts fish, making them perfect for trolling at a range of speeds.

• Where It’s Used: Suitable for both saltwater and freshwater environments.
• Fish It Attracts: Tuna, wahoo, kingfish, and swordfish.
• Benefits: Versatile and effective at different trolling speeds.

5. Dive Plug Trolling Lures

Dive plug trolling lures are heavy-duty lures designed to dive deep into the water column, attracting fish below the surface. Their deep diving capabilities make them essential for fishing in deeper offshore waters where large predatory fish tend to roam.

• Where It’s Used: Best suited for deep offshore saltwater fishing.
• Fish It Attracts: Grouper, snapper, and amberjack.
• Benefits: Perfect for deep trolling in search of bottom-dwelling fish.

6. Soft Head Trolling Lures

Soft head trolling lures have a soft plastic head that provides a realistic feel for fish when they strike. This lure mimics the natural movement of prey, making it highly effective for species wary of hard, unnatural baits. These soft baits make a great choice for freshwater or saltwater.

• Where It’s Used: Primarily used in saltwater, but can also be effective in freshwater.
• Fish It Attracts: Tuna, mackerel, and swordfish.
• Benefits: Offers a lifelike feel that can increase the chances of a fish striking and staying on the line.

7. Bullet Head Trolling Lures

Bullet head trolling lures are designed for high-speed trolling. Their streamlined shape cuts through the water easily, making them a favorite among anglers targeting fast-moving fish like wahoo and tuna. These lures can be trolled at high speeds without losing their effectiveness.

• Where It’s Used: Ideal for offshore saltwater trolling at high speeds.
• Fish It Attracts Wahoo, tuna, and dolphin (mahi-mahi).
• Benefits: Great for covering large areas of water quickly while maintaining effective action.

8. Jet Head or Bubbler Trolling Lures

Jet head trolling lures, or bubbler lures, create a bubble trail behind them as they move through the water. This bubbling action attracts fish by mimicking a fleeing baitfish, making it especially useful for targeting large predatory species in saltwater environments.

• Where It’s Used: Primarily in saltwater, especially in offshore settings.
• Fish It Attracts: Marlin, tuna, and wahoo.
• Benefits: The bubble trail creates extra visibility, attracting fish from greater distances.

How to Choose the Right Trolling Lure

Choosing the right trolling lure depends on the species you're targeting, water conditions, trolling speed, and whether you're fishing in saltwater, freshwater, or both.

Target Species

Identifying the fish you're after is crucial for choosing the right lure. Saltwater species like tuna, marlin, and wahoo respond best to lures designed for saltwater trolling, such as bullet head and plunger lures.

For freshwater species like bass or pike, lures like dive plugs and scoop face lures work well due to their ability to dive deep and cover different water depths. If you’re fishing in both environments, versatile lures like the soft head can effectively attract fish in both freshwater and saltwater.

Water Conditions

Whether you're fishing in calm lakes or offshore seas, water conditions affect the performance of your lure. In saltwater, when the water is rough, opt for lures like the doorknob or jet head, which are designed to maintain their path and create visible, attention-grabbing trails even in challenging conditions.

In calmer freshwater settings, surface lures like the chugger are effective at creating a splash that can lure fish from deeper areas to the surface.

Trolling Speed

Lures designed for high-speed trolling, like the bullet head, are best suited for offshore saltwater fishing, where you might be targeting fast species such as wahoo and tuna.

Conversely, slower trolling speeds can be more effective in freshwater, where fish are less aggressive. For these settings, lures like dive plugs are ideal for slowly covering a range of depths while mimicking the movement of prey fish.

Depth of Fishing

If you're targeting deep-water species in saltwater or freshwater, you'll need lures that can dive into the lower water columns, such as dive plugs. For surface trolling, particularly in saltwater, lures like the plunger or chugger create surface-level disturbances that can attract fish like marlin and tuna.

For freshwater fishing lures, the scoop face lure is versatile for fishing at different depths, depending on the speed and trolling conditions.

Water Clarity and Light Conditions

In clear waters (saltwater or freshwater), bright or reflective lures like plungers or jet head lures are effective at mimicking baitfish. In murky water or low-light conditions, lures that rely on vibration, motion, or bubble trails—like the chugger for saltwater or dive plugs for freshwater—are better at drawing fish in by sensory cues other than sight.

Benefits of Using the Right Trolling Lure

Selecting the correct trolling lure tailored to the environment—whether saltwater, freshwater, or both—provides several significant benefits, enhancing both efficiency and overall catch rate.

Improved Efficiency

Using the right trolling lure ensures you target the right fish in the correct environment. Saltwater fishing lures like the bullet head or jet head are built for high-speed offshore trolling, helping you cover vast open ocean areas in search of fast predators like tuna or wahoo.

Meanwhile, freshwater trolling lures like dive plugs are designed to reach deeper levels in lakes and reservoirs where species like bass or trout are more commonly found. Some lures, like the soft head, can work in fresh and saltwater, offering versatility.

Higher Catch Rates

The right trolling lure increases your chances of success by mimicking the natural prey of your target fish. For example, plunger lures in saltwater create surface splashes that attract large predatory fish like marlin, while dive plugs in freshwater effectively reach fish residing deeper in the water. This specificity makes it easier to entice fish, leading to a higher rate of hook-ups.

Versatility Across Environments

Some lures, like the soft head, can be used in fresh and saltwater environments, allowing you to switch between fishing conditions without needing a completely different set of equipment. These versatile lures adapt well to different depths and species, providing a reliable option when fishing in diverse environments.

Maximized Coverage

In saltwater fishing, lures like the bullet head allow for high-speed trolling, which is ideal when you cover large expanses of ocean to find fish. This is useful when fish are scattered across a wide area.

In freshwater, slower trolling lures like dive plugs allow you to target specific depths where fish might lurk, maximizing your coverage by reaching various water levels in lakes and reservoirs.

Enhanced Attractiveness to Fish

The right trolling lure is designed to appeal to fish senses beyond just sight. Saltwater lures like the chugger or jet head produce noise, bubbles, and vibration, mimicking a distressed or fleeing prey, which draws predatory fish from greater distances.

For freshwater environments, dive plugs replicate the movement of prey at varying depths, increasing the lure's effectiveness by offering visual and motion cues that fish find irresistible.

Stock Up on Rite AnglerTrolling Lures

Choosing the right trolling lure can make a huge difference in your fishing success. Whether you're just getting started or looking to expand your knowledge of trolling lures, understanding the eight basic types will help you make more informed decisions on the water.