How to Fish With Lures — The Ultimate Guide

Lure fishing, in its many forms, is one of the most exhilarating ways to fish. But as with all types of fishing, you need to arm yourself with crucial tips and tricks to become successful in lure fishing.

Fishing lures, sometimes known as artificial baits, have been in use since the beginning of fishing time.

From the hand-carved pieces of the last centuries to the glittering models used today, fishing lures are continuing to find their way into many angling tackle boxes and for a pretty good reason.

Lure fishing is not only a very effective way to quickly and efficiently cover a large area, but it’s also a very exciting way to catch fish! Believe it or not, the satisfaction that you get when you use artificial lures to attract fish and convince them to bite into the hook is unique and surreal.

Unfortunately, not many people know how to fish with lures but that’s okay; you’ve come to the right place. There are various types of artificial fishing lures that you can choose to use. They include blades and vibes, soft plastics, spoons, poppers and plugs, metal spinning lures, and hard bodies. Most of these lures are designed to mimic a swimming fish or the natural prey of the fish that you’re trying to catch. In essence, lure fishing can be quite simple if you know the most common lure fishing tips and techniques.

Although there are hundreds of artificial fishing lures out there, the art of lure fishing remains relatively the same. This article, therefore, guides you on how to fish with lures, especially if you’re one of those anglers who do not like touching or the smell of natural bait in your hands.

Choose the Right Lures

The main idea behind lure fishing is to attract and convince the game fish to eat your lure. This is only going to be possible if you choose the right type of lure.

In other words, the right lure is one that perfectly mimics the look, color, and movement of your target’s natural prey.

As such, the right type of lure should be determined by the type of fish you’re looking to catch.

For example, you should go with a tiny lure that resembles crayfish if you’re trying to catch a bass. This is because bass usually feeds on tiny crayfish, so you won’t have much success if you use a larger lure that doesn’t resemble their natural prey.

When it comes to choosing the right lure, it’s important to note that there is no such thing as the “best” lure.

This is just a misconception that you should ignore. For this reason, it’s always advisable to have a variety of lures in your tackle box.

This gives you the option of trying different types until you find a lure that works best in a given situation.

Here are the most common lures to try

Spoons

These are a must-have part of your lure collection. They’re among the cheapest and simplest to use. Designed to resemble the head of a spoon without the handle, spoons are made from solid wedge metal with a hook at the back. This enables it to sink quickly to create an impression of injured prey. They generally have red stripes that the predator fish might confuse for blood. Spoons work best if you’re targeting fish that generally prey on shads.

Soft plastics

Their very realistic nature makes them a favorite with most lure anglers. They’re essentially colorful squelchy plastic lures that are designed to resemble worms. They have no hooks so you should have a jig-head hook attached to it to give it the weight to sink if you want to use it for deep fishing. They’re, however, perfect for surface fishing. You can add some natural bait scent to it to encourage the fish to bite.

Crank baits (Hard body lures)

Commonly used to fish for bass, crank baits are generally made of plastic or wood. They’re versatile and you can use them to fish both at the surface and deeper into the water. An important part of this lure is the bib, which can be used to control its depth. They also have other features such as rattlers and trailing hooks.

Blades and Vibes

Super easy to use, blades and vibes use their thin profiles to shine and vibrate through the water. You can use them to attract various types of fish and are superb when retrieving as you’ll hear them vibrate.

Plugs

Can be used both on the surface, in mid-water or deeper at the bottom. They can be perfect if you want to lure fish at night but go for the lighted versions.

Metallic Spinning Lures

The fact that they’re made of metal that resembles real fish enables them to sink quite fast. You’ll, however, have to use a faster retrieve to keep them off the bottom. They’re a very good alternative if you’re looking to catch fast-swimming predator fish.

Jigs

These are arguably the most popular type of artificial lures. They’re designed with a weighty head and feathery tail to conceal the hook. It’s important to add a scent that can attract your targeted fish to make them more effective.

Where to Lure Fish

Another good part of lure fishing is that it can be done anywhere: off the rocks, in freshwater, in the surf, offshore in blue water, and out of a boat. It can be quite simple as long as you carry a wide range of lures in your tackle box. You’ll also be ready to go as you won’t have to worry about finding the natural baits before setting out.

Familiarize Yourself with Various Lure Fishing Techniques

There are a few lure fishing techniques that you may want to know to increase your chances of having an enjoyable fishing trip. They include:

Walking the Dog

It involves using the wrist motion similar to when you’re taking your beloved dog for a walk. It’s best when used with a surface lure with a weighty rear. Cast your lure and point the tip of the fishing rod towards the water. You should begin by moving the rod slowly before gradually increasing the speed to mimic the movement of an escaping prey. The idea here is to convince your targeted fish that the lure is an actual prey trying swimming for safety.

Use Mimicry

While lure fishing is all about mimicking the natural bait, the mimicry technique is more sophisticated as it involves the use of two lures. You should tie the one lure behind the other to mimic the normal behavior of fish going in a similar direction. Keep the cast active by jerking your wrist in a twitching motion.

Use the Diving Plug Technique

This is perfect if you’re looking to catch bigger fish in deeper territories using the crank bait. You should cast your lure and let it sink. You can then make short retrievals before letting it sink back down until you bait the fish to bite.

The Dead Stick

This technique calls for the use of a lure that can float on the surface of the water in a manner almost akin to an injured prey. You can use this technique to lure even the most restrained fish to bite. Unlike other lure fishing methods, this technique requires you to leave the lure still or erratic and sinking.

Use the Trolling Technique

Perfect for plug, spoon and spinner lures, this technique can be great for trolling fish from your boat. It’s very effective in imitating the movements of a bait fish, which will lure your targeted fish into your trap.

Lure Fishing Tips

Now that you have a better idea of various lure fishing techniques, it’s essential to arm yourself with tips that will make you a successful lure angler.

Cover a Larger Area

One of the main benefits of fishing with lures is that you can cast in an arc and cover a very big area in a short period. If you’re angling from the shoreline, it allows you to cast around in an arc from where you’re standing. You can then move to a different area and do the same.

Use Various Types of Lures

Don’t make the mistake of being highly dependent on a particular type of lure just because it was successful on a given fishing trip. You should instead keep in mind that fish change their feeding behaviors constantly and you should also change your lures accordingly. Don’t be afraid of going against the usual trends. Try a different lure and you could hit a fishing jackpot!

Vary the Depths You Fish at and the Retrieve You Use

You’ll realize that there are days that fish feed at the surface, mid-water, and at the bottom. Generally, these situations depend on many factors particularly the temperature. It’s, therefore, essential to vary these depths accordingly. You can use a heavier jig when it’s hot as fish will tend to feed at the bottom. Alternatively, you can use soft plastic to fish on the water surface when the temperature is cool, say in the morning or evening. You can also use crankbaits if you want to fish at a medium depth.

Similarly, you can vary your retrieve depending on how active the fish are. If you realize that they’re hyperactive, use a fast retrieve. On the other hand, go for a slower retrieve when they’re lethargic, especially when it’s super-hot.

Use the Right Gear

Needless to say, the right gear will enormously improve your chances of catching more fish with lures. As such, you have to go for a sturdy but lighter rod. Consider using a bait caster or spinning reel. You should also use a braided line that can feel any tap on the lure and doesn’t stretch.

Conclusion

Lure fishing is a superb way of enjoying your fishing adventure while catching some good fish. With lures, you don’t have to worry about finding natural baits in the morning of your fishing trip. All you have to do is put a variety of lures in your tackle box and set off. And whether you’re looking to catch a fish from the shoreline or from deep into the blue water, very few things can beat that feeling of fooling a fish to bite into your artificial lure.

Originally published at https://www.lifeoffishing.com.