An Introduction And Guide To Fishing Lures
There are a vast number of lures available on the market. Lures come in different shapes and sizes. Each with its own purpose. Different types of lures are used to catch different fish. Fish are attracted to different movements within the water. Therefore, ripples caused by specific lures can help to attract specific species. Having a large amount of knowledge before selecting your preferred lure is important. Many lures can be extremely costly. Ensuring you have picked the correct one for your preferred choice of fishing is needed.
Functionality
As lures come in different weights some can be more suitable for certain types of fishing. Metals are great for long-distance casting. They are usually used in saltwater. Many shore fishermen will use them on rocky marks to cast further distances. Various spoons and spinnerbaits will move in patterns within the water. These patterns can be used to attract a fish to strike. Some species are attracted to specific colours. Selecting the correct colour and improve the functionality of your lure. An example of this would be that purple attracts Atlantic salmon
How To Setup A Lure
Lure fishing is one of the simplest styles of fishing. It is perfect for beginners. All you need is a rod with a line and your selected lure. Tie your lure directly onto the line and cast. It’s that simple. Some types of lure fishing may require more advanced setups. An example of an advanced lure fishing setup would be a trace, a swivel and a lure. The reason you would use this setup is for targeting predator species such as pike. Their teeth are sharp and this avoids them from being able to cut through the line.
Types
As discussed there are a large number of lures that can be used. Below you can find a breakdown of some common lures:
Jigs
Jigging is the form of lure fishing that uses specific movements to mimic an injured baitfish's erratic swimming style. Jigs are usually made out of rubber or soft plastic. A bullet point lead is placed on top of a jig to allow it to be cast as they are usually extremely lightweight. The jig is bounced on rocks to attract species such as wrasses.
Hard Plastics
Plugs or crankbaits are hard plastic fishing lures shaped and coloured to resemble baitfish or other prey. They're made out of a solid or hollow piece of plastic, with a thin sheet of metal or plastic attached to the front. Hard plastics lips are used so that they wobble in different motions within the water. This allows for a ripple effect to be created within the water. Increasing the chance of a fish being caught.
Metals
Metals come in various sizes. These lures are chunks of metal with a loop to connect the line and a treble attached. Metals are usually saltwater lures that can be cast further due to their heavyweight. Metals have a shiny coating on them. This helps them to inmate baitfish such as mackerel fry or small pollock. Sometimes metals are in the shape of a sandeel or roach.
Spinnerbait
A spinnerbait is a lure with a metal blade shaped disk on it so it can spin like a propeller when the lure is in motion, creating varying degrees of flash and vibration that mimic small fish or other prey. These are commonly used for bass and trout fishing.
Spoons
Spoons are metal disks (in the shape of a spoon) used to imitate silver shoal fish. They usually have no design and are mainly used to cause a silver flash within the water. These movements attract predator fish.
Flies
Flies are small lures that imitate different species f flies. Fly fishermen will use these lures within rivers and lakes for species such as salmon and dollagan
The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Fishing Lures
Benefits
● Lures allow you to cast further than using live bait due to their added weight.
● Using lures is less messy than using live bait as there are no bait fluids that need to be continually cleaned. Lures will also smell more pleasant.
● Lures are better for catch and release because the fish are less likely to eat the entire hook. This is as they hit the hook and the treble will penetrate their lip. Unlike bait where the full item is consumed.
● Using lures allows you to target a species more accurately as you can cast directly above them.
● Lures can be easily interchanged they are versatile and can be switched out with ease.
Drawbacks
● Lures are generally more expensive than live bait as they take time to make. As well as these heavy metals cost large amounts of money.
● Lures can get snagged on underwater structures as many have treble hooks that can catch on debris easily.
● Using lures requires you to constantly move them in order to attract the fish, therefore, lure fishing can be a tasking procedure. This is the main disadvantage to lure fishing if you like to fish as a form of effortless relaxation.
● Some lures require skill to use effectively, which makes it harder for beginners. An example of this could be fly fishing with flies. Flies can take large amounts of practice to cast correctly.
● Lures are not as effective as bait in colder waters due to the lack of fish movement in cold waters
Finishing Notes
It is evident there are a large number of lures available. Selecting the correct lure for the style of fishing you are doing is essential. The main principles of lure fishing are the following: retrieval, colour, weight and movement within the water. Understanding how these principles affect your fishing is needed to become a good lure angler.
by Daniel ONeill