<h2>Buying Guide: Hard Lures</h2><p>As the name suggests, <strong>hard lures</strong> are made from solid materials - plastic, metal or even wood. This makes them resistant to predator teeth, heat and salt water alike.</p><p>Hard lures may look expensive compared to soft lures at first glance, but they are better understood as a long-term investment in fishing success. Cutting corners on quality usually means buying twice: lower-grade models tend to roll onto their side in current or at higher speeds, or stop tracking altogether. Modern high-quality hard lures also typically feature a <em>weight transfer system</em>, where internal weights slide towards the tail during the cast, producing stable, long-distance throws.</p><p>Most hard lure designs are built for specific situations, target species or water zones - and in those situations they can be remarkably effective at triggering even inactive predators into a take. Here is a brief overview of this varied lure class; more detailed information is available in the individual subcategories.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Lure type</strong></td><td><strong>Application</strong></td><td><strong>Example</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Crankbait</td><td>Search and trolling lure for almost all predators</td><td> <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/duo-realis-crank-m65-8a-red-tiger.png" alt="Crankbait" width="240" height="103"></td></tr><tr><td>Swimbait</td><td>Casting and trolling for pike</td><td> <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/Savage-Gear-3D-Bleak-Glide-Swimmer-165-Perch.jpg" alt="Swimbait" width="156" height="50"></td></tr><tr><td>Stickbait</td><td>Elongated surface lure for asp, chub, pike &amp; perch</td><td><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/pencil85_gea3006-ghost-minnow_preview.png" alt="Stickbait" width="341" height="112"></td></tr><tr><td>Popper</td><td><p>Loud surface lure for perch, largemouth bass, pike and asp</p></td><td> <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/Duo-Popper1gs6Vj9r2BpiT.jpg" alt="Popper Angelköder" width="164" height="100"></td></tr><tr><td>Propbait</td><td>Surface lure with rotating propeller for largemouth bass, pike, perch and asp</td><td> <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/Whopper-Plopper.jpg" alt="Propbait" width="274" height="110"></td></tr><tr><td>Hybrid lure</td><td>Combination models of hard and soft elements. Top pike lures, especially in winter</td><td> <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/0006991_headbanger-tail-hot-pike.jpg" alt="Hybridköder" width="128" height="77"></td></tr><tr><td>Plug</td><td>Casting and trolling lure with diving lip and a fixed running depth, for all predators</td><td> <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/ZipBaits-Orbit-SP-DR-401-Perch.jpg" alt="Wobbler" width="206" height="116"></td></tr><tr><td>Vibration bait</td><td>Search lure for all predators, also suitable for vertical jigging</td><td><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/DUO-Realis-Vibration-62-Ice-Gill.jpg" alt="Vibration Bait" width="143" height="67"></td></tr><tr><td>Jerkbait</td><td>Classic pike lure for mid-water depths, regularly outwitting large perch and zander too</td><td> <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/9197/0669/files/Savage-Gear-3D-Roach-Jerkster-115-Perch.jpg" alt="Jerkbait" width="156" height="50"></td></tr></tbody></table>