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Fishing lures are artificial baits to attract fish. Fishing lures come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. The explanation for fishing lures to have various models is their being designed to catch different types of fish.
For new anglers, before choosing lures, it is worth investing time in researching fishing lures to thoroughly understand how they work. By exploring fishing lures’ features, you will master the must-know techniques to increase the probability of success.
Continue reading to get hold of how to choose fishing lures that best suit your style and bring the most benefits.
How To Choose Fishing Lures: 5 Different Types Of Fishing Lure For Anglers
Spoon
Spoon lures are made of shell or metal. They have an oblong shape which is similar to anchovy. Thus, spoon lures are visual tricks since fish thought lures are anchovy, so they pull down their fences. In addition, spoon lures are easy to cast and retrieve because they are designed as a copy of a fleeing baitfish.
As spoon lures are shiny, they catch the attention of fish. Spoon lures work best for large fish such as largemouth bass, salmon, pike, muskie, trout.
The weight of lures positively relates to the depth they can reach. Therefore, the heavy spoon lures can catch fish in deeper water than the light one. However, the weight of spoon lures is light, so this type is suitable for shallow water or small lakes.
Spinner
The spinner lures are closely similar to spoon lures. The technique of using these two while fishing is quite the same.
Yet, their main difference is the rotating spoon around the wire. This creates consistent movements like a real swimming fish. The spinner lures come in various sizes: 3/16 oz, 3/ 8 oz, ½ oz…etc. The minor shape ones are great for speed and flash.
Another most well-known function of spinnerbait is to simulate the aggressiveness of some predatory species so that it can be used in marine water, not only freshwater areas. Spinner bait helps anglers catch predatory fish such as bass, pike, salmon, steelhead trout, or perch.
Crankbait/Plug
Crankbaits are mostly boxed and sold in supermarket or e-commerce markets with many subdivisions. This type of lures is also known by the name “Plugs.” Crankbaits/ plugs are made of wood or plastic. The body is less robust than the spoon one. Nevertheless, this type is more agile in the feature of fish’s fin and tail imitation. In addition, they are plastic, so it is more convenient for anglers to adjust and make the movements in the deepwater area.
The ideal places to use crankbait lures are rocks, docks, and shallow covers. The longer and less angled lip lures reach further than the short one. With the long version, crankbaits can quite fish largemouth bass and other species in deeper areas.
Long crankbaits lures move smoothly in cold, deep waters. Thus, anglers rest assured trout, salmon, pike, walleyes will soon be caught.
Top-water/Popper
The topwater lures usually mimic a frog, a mouse, or a fish corpse. Top-water lures are heavier than any other type of lures. These lures are helpful in the breaking dawn and twilight because they make sounds and noise when
underneath fish engulf the bait on the water surface. Thus, it helps anglers to navigate the right direction of target fish.
Top-water is a special type of lure because it appeals to floating creatures, so anglers must be delicate. The ideal location to use poppers are seawalls, laydowns, docks, shoreline covers, and rocks. The depth of water in these areas is shallow. The top-water lure works well with medium to upper-medium fishes such as ladyfish, redfish, barracuda, pickerel, tarpon…
Jig
Jigs contain a lead sinker with a hook. The common materials to make jigs are rubber and silicon. Thus, jigs are also flexible in movement. The difference between the jigs lure and the top-water lure is retrieved direction.
Top-water lures retrieve horizontally, whereas jigs retrieve vertically. Jigs are opposed to the top-water lures. Using jigs creates no sound, so it will not alert creatures. Jigs are lightweight and small. The weight of jig lures is approximately 0.04 pounds.
Jig lures mimic the shape of grubs or crayfish. Thus, they help you catch creatures amongst the rock and fish from the bottom. Jigs lure enables you to catch walleyes, bass, and crawfish.
Furthermore, jigs work with cold water creatures and species lying in a chunk-rock bank with a 45-degree slope tilt. Jigs are widely used to catch saltwater and small species. Several names on the list are lake trout, pompano.
4 Advantages Of Fishing Lures
Why are fishing lures highly recommended for anglers? As there are many drawbacks, it is worth investing in a set of fishing lures due to a couple of reasons. To answer the question: “Why should we use fishing lures?” it is indispensable to analyze the benefits of using artificial fishing baits for fishing.
Catch fish from a wider extent
Compared to live baits, fishing lures enable anglers to catch fish at a wider diameter. The reason why fishing lures help anglers fish further is the size. Thus, faraway fish will notice the lures and come to your place because fishing lures are all bigger than worms or insects.
In addition, live baits will fall into pieces when they are dragged into the water. Fishing lures, on the other hand, keep their shapes by all means.
Simple and Hygiene
Another advantage of using lures is being less sloppy than working with worms, crickets, or insects. Live baits are annoying sometimes because they keep crawling inside the packed bags. This is more difficult for you to stick them to the hook. Once users tear the bag, they might crawl out everywhere, which is very nasty. With fishing lures, anglers do not have to worry about this issue. Using fishing lures is much more hygienic and tidy.
Easy catch and retrieve
According to experts, fishing lures are more convenient when catching and releasing fish because rarely do fish bite the entire hook. Should anglers use live baits, there are two possibilities.
The first scenario is the fish bites half of a worm and runs away if that worm is too soft and not strongly tied.
On the other hand, the fish’s mouth might be stuck to the hook because live baits are so slim. Then, with the assistance of fishing lures, it is pretty easy for you to either catch or release the fish.
Perfect accuracy
It is suggested that users use lures to target fishes because it is more effective than using live baits. Lures have the shape of desired food of certain types of fish, so it is easier for users to target the accurate kind of fish. Moreover, fishing lures are more versatile and agile than live baits when users want to change the bait.
3 Disadvantages Of Fishing Lures
One size does not fit all. Regardless of being praised by the online press, fishing lures are less convenient than live baits in some cases. Fishing lures are not ideal for all occasions. There are several drawbacks that make buyers hesitate.
More costly than live baits
The cost of fishing lures is controversial. Some opinions refer that the price for current fishing lures is reasonable as lures are reusable. The others deny that idea.
All in all, the majority of users still think that fishing lures are expensive for average fishers. In reality, fishing lures are much more costly than live baits.
Expertise requirement
Some lures require skills from anglers to utilize. Therefore, new anglers find it difficult to use. It takes time for them to master both fishing skills and fishing lure usage techniques. Some lures, such as jigs, are not quite user-friendly. Fishing is supposed to be a hobby. If too complicated, it demotivates new anglers.
Ineffective in muddy, cold water
The effectiveness of fishing lures depends on the water condition. Unless the water is clear and calm, fishing lures are not operative. Live baits are better in muddy, muskie water because they attract fish by scent. Fishing lures, on the other hand, cannot do this.
Useful Tips To Succeed In Using A Fishing Lure
Should you aim for success, you must understand some fundamental techniques while using fishing lures. Nobody wants to waste money on more expensive pieces of equipment without generating the desired outcome.
Take advantage of sunlight
One trick is taking advantage of sunlight to attract fish. As silver/ metal lures shine best under the sunlight, anglers had better go fishing when there is ideal sunlight. A good time is in the late afternoon when the sun nearly comes down. While moving the lures, never stop the boat; keep the consistent movement to lower the probability of fish escape with the bait.
Switch up occasionally
New tastes are always attractive to fish and cause less alertness from them. Therefore, anglers should opt for a set of different colors of lures to change frequently to prevent fish from doubting the artificial bait out there to catch them.
Tune-up the lure
Fishing lures may not be effective and go in the wrong direction in the water. They move far away from your expectation and control. Thus, fish ignore your baits, and you will end up unsuccessful with an empty bucket. Hence, anglers often tune their lures with several tactics.
You need a pair of needle-nose pliers to bend the eyelet to the left or right, depending on which way the tune is out of tune. Then, users slightly adjust the tilt. Tuning is recommended for all types of lures before they are sunk in the ocean. By tuning up, you enhance the accuracy of the depth and direction of lures in the water.
Proper techniques to tune up lures
Never retrieve immediately
When the fish strikes your lure, only set the hook when you feel the weight is tight to the line. Quickly retrieving never works with fish; even treble lures cannot help anglers. When users are closer to the fish, give it several seconds. Users must not swing for the fence or do a 30-hook set.
Be creative with movement
Fishing with lures is only effective if anglers are flexible and creative while moving the lure. Based on the area and fish’s preference, anglers adjust the speed of the boat. Predatory or aggressive fishes such as tuna, mackerel, bluefish enjoy the risk and explosive actions from baits.
Conclusion
To be successful at fishing, anglers need to take advantage of fishing lures’ benefits and master tactics of actions. In addition, it is also essential to get to know fish types, locations, preferences, and hook techniques.
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