I've caught reds and trout on freshwater jerk baits, swim baits, crank baits and top waters. As others have noted, freshwater hooks are not always up to the task, especially for snook and tarpon.
The biggest lesson for freshwater fishermen to learn is to wash everything off with freshwater after fishing in the salt, lures, rods, reels, boats, engines . . . .
A lot of saltwater baits will translate back into bass fishing. Mirrodines can catch bass just fine.