Seasonal Fishing Lure Guide: What to Throw in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

2026-05-20 | GD Angling Tackle

Fish behavior changes dramatically with the seasons — and so should your lure selection. A crankbait that dominates in spring might collect dust in summer, while a topwater popper that's deadly in July is useless in January. Understanding seasonal patterns is one of the most powerful skills in fishing.

This guide breaks down exactly which lure types to throw in each season, with specific model recommendations from GD Angling Tackle's product line.

Spring: The Awakening (March - May)

As water temperatures rise from winter lows, fish become increasingly active. The key spring pattern is the prespawn-to-postspawn transition.

Early Spring (Water: 45-55°F / 7-13°C)

• Primary lures: Sinking lures fished slowly, suspend-type presentations
• Retrieve: Very slow. Fish are sluggish. Count-down and slow crawl
• GDTackle pick: GDSK01 (100mm Sinking Minnow) — count down to depth, crawl along bottom
• GDTackle pick: GDSR02 (Sinking Rattle Crankbait) — the rattles help cold, sluggish fish locate the lure

Mid-Spring / Prespawn (Water: 55-65°F / 13-18°C)

• Primary lures: Shallow crankbaits, medium minnows
• Retrieve: Slow to medium. Start-and-stop retrieves trigger strikes from staging fish
• GDTackle pick: GDCK03 (53mm Shallow Crankbait) — deflects off rocks and stumps in shallow warming water
• GDTackle pick: GDWF01 (60mm Floating Minnow) — twitch-and-pause near spawning flats

Late Spring / Postspawn (Water: 65-75°F / 18-24°C)

• Primary lures: Topwater poppers, fast-moving crankbaits
• Retrieve: Aggressive. Postspawn bass are hungry and active
• GDTackle pick: GD02 (45mm Popper) — topwater action in warming shallows
• GDTackle pick: GDCK02 (68mm Crankbait) — burning crankbaits along secondary points

Summer: The Peak (June - August)

Summer offers the most diverse fishing of the year, but you must adapt to changing conditions throughout the season.

Early Summer (Water: 70-80°F / 21-27°C)

• Primary lures: Topwater (morning/evening), deep crankbaits (midday)
• Morning strategy: Poppers and pencil lures over shallow flats
• Midday strategy: Deep crankbaits or sinking lures along thermocline
• GDTackle picks: GD03 (115mm Popper) for aggressive summer bass, GDSK01 for deep midday fish

Late Summer (Water: 80°F+ / 27°C+)

• Primary lures: Deep divers, sinking lures, finesse minnows
• Focus: Deep structure, shade, and current areas
• GDTackle picks: GDSR02 (Sinking Rattle Crankbait) — count-down to thermocline

Fall: The Feeding Frenzy (September - November)

Fall is the best season for hard lure fishing. Fish are aggressively feeding to build energy for winter, and baitfish schools are large and concentrated.

Early Fall (Water: 70-65°F)

• Primary lures: Medium-to-large crankbaits and minnows mimicking mature baitfish
• GDTackle picks: GDCK02 (68mm Crankbait), GDWF06 (90mm Minnow) — match the larger fall forage

Late Fall (Water: 55-45°F)

• Primary lures: Sinking lures, slow-moving presentations
• Retrieve: Slow down progressively as water cools
• GDTackle picks: GDSK01 (100mm Sinking Minnow), GDSP02 (80mm Sinking Pencil)

Winter: The Slowdown (December - February)

Winter fishing requires patience and finesse. Fish are deep, sluggish, and feed infrequently.

• Primary lures: Sinking lures, small profiles, slow presentations
• Retrieve: Extremely slow. Dead-sticking and bottom crawling
• GDTackle picks: GDSK02 (50mm Sinking Minnow — small profile for lethargic fish), GDSR02 (count-down technique for precise depth control)

Quick Reference: Seasonal Lure Chart

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