Soft plastic

Soft plastics are the largest family of bass lures and the cheapest way to fish. They are soft enough that a fish holds on for an extra second instead of spitting immediately, which buys you time to set the hook, and they can be rigged in a dozen different ways on the same hook.

The core shapes are worth knowing. Straight worms and stick baits fall naturally and cover finesse work. Creature baits and craws have appendages that flap on the fall, for flipping and jig trailers. Grubs and flukes swim. Paddle tails thump on a steady retrieve.

They are consumable. Fish tear them, plastic degrades, and different brands melt each other in storage. Tackle trays are sold as worm-proof for that last reason.