Anglers know that size matters when it comes to deciding which lure to tie to the end of their fishing lines.

Lure-makers recognize the size question, of course, as they make their baits in a variety of sizes, providing anglers with options they consider likely to tease the fish they seek to catch.

Many believe that big fish prefer big baits, which is true to some extent. But those of us who have spent years and years out on our favorite lakes know that big lures sometimes fool little fish and tiny baits often are eaten by giant fish.

Recent advancements in fishing’s sonar technology have generated new methods to locate and tempt fish. Anglers deploying forward-facing sonar are now able to scan the water up to 70 feet in front and beside their boats and identify blips that are game fish relating to bottom structure and baitfish.

The fish that forward-facing sonar reveal are typically vulnerable to small lures that drop into their range. Lure-makers have responded by designing and marketing lures measuring only 2 or 3 inches.

Savvy anglers have learned that the small baits work in a variety of situations, not just for those who have thousands of dollars invested in state-of-the-art fishing sonar.

Small baits can appear to be easy pickings for the predator fish swimming in Mosquito, Pymatuning, Berlin, West Branch, Milton and Shenango. They may signal that eating them will not require a whole lot of effort.

Most of the freshwater predator species do not hunt aggressively all day. Instead, they spend more of their time in an idle mode, waiting instead of chasing. A 3-inch soft plastic lure that drops into their view would appear to be too easy to pass up.

Many years ago, professional angler Denny Brauer likened a small bait flipped into the range of a lethargic bass as a tempting treat. He compared it to a human seeing a single grape. Who can resist that? Likewise, the gamefish will likely respond to a morsel-size lure by opening its mouth to eat.

Many categories of lures are available to anglers. Lots of them require anglers to pull them through the water to provide fish-attracting action. Lures such as spinners, crankbaits and topwaters generate a chase reaction in the fish that see or hear them. They give chase and strike only after catching up to the “fleeing” lure.

Small soft plastics, on the other hand, rarely instigate “charge” reactions. Bass, crappies, walleyes and trout simply see them, move in to inspect, determine they are worthy of eating, and engulf them.

Small baits worth trying this spring and summer include the assortment of 3-inch boottail swimbaits, quivery-tail minnows, 3-inch Ned worms and other little offerings that can be rigged on a one-eighth-ounce jig head.

When standard size plugs, plastic worms and spinners fail to generate strikes, toss a mini bait to the weeds, stumps, rocks and other cover. If the fish are there, they will have a hard time passing up your offering.

Jack Wollitz writes this column weekly for readers of the Trib and Vindy. Contact him at jackbbaass@gmail.com.