Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to simplify the vast array of lures available to today’s bass fishermen but the main thing to remember is to have a selection of lures that will cover the bottom, the surface and the mid-depth range. Last week we looked at bottom producing lures and this week we will hit the mid-depth range. Bear in mind however that some lures may fit into more than one category depending on how they are fished and how they are rigged. The mid-depth range can be anywhere from just under the surface to just off the bottom and depending on the lake or river you are fishing that can cover quite a range of territory.

There are plenty of lures to choose from for the middle depths but I’m sure most serious bass fishermen would agree that a spinnerbait should be in your arsenal. The spinnerbait which looks a lot like an open safety pin has some type of spinner at the upper end and a lead jig head with some type of skirt and/or soft plastic bait attached to the hook at the bottom. This is a good “search bait” since you can cover a lot of water fairly quickly and you can vary your depth by simply letting it sink deeper before starting your retrieve. Another plus is the lure is fairly snag proof in weed edges and tops and other cover. While you can use a straight cast and steady retrieve with the spinnerbait I will often cast and count it down to the depth I want and then start the retrieve with a pop and continue with a stop and go. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different retrieves to see what works best. Keep a tight line on the drop so you can detect any strikes on the drop.

Another spinner type lure is the in-line spinner; while it lacks some of the “snag proof” qualities of the spinnerbait it is a good minnow imitation that can be worked at any depth. The larger Mepps spinners with a black three-inch grub attached to the treble hook was one of my best producers on big northern pike and bass while fishing different depths in Bayfield Bay on the St. Lawrence River. An in-line spinner (a lead weight on the forward shaft), although often rigged for walleyes may also produce on bass, pike and muskies.

Certainly, another group of lures that should be in the bass fishermen’s arsenal are crankbaits or somewhat chunky shaped lures with lips that produce a wobble when retrieved. Bigger lips cause the lure to dive deeper on retrieves, but they can also be weighted and may also be equipped with rattles for added appeal. The jerkbaits and minnow-type lures are similar to the crankbaits but more streamlined in shape; here you will find the popular Rapalas; some are weighted, and lip sizes vary to achieve different depths. A similar type mid-depth plastic lure is the vibrating lure-a lipless lure that vibrates due to the shape of the flat shape on top of the head. Often rattles are added to the vibrating lures to add more appeal.

Metal and soft plastic play a big role in the mid-depth lure selection. Metal spoons which come in a variety of shapes and sizes can be excellent choices. Spoons come in weedless versions as well. One of my favorite presentations was to attach a soft plastic worm or grub to a weedless spoon and nip the tops of thick weed beds. In the soft plastic category, you’ll find the popular swimbaits, both forked and paddle-tail but any number of soft plastic “creature baits” or worm type imitations can be rigged to work mid-depth ranges including the very effective drop-shot rig.

I have by no means covered all the possibilities but some of each of the above will certainly put a bend in your rod if fished properly.