Using live bait allows anglers to catch various fish. But have you ever tried fishing with a fishing lure? If you have ever used one, you know how effective artificial fishing lures are for catching fish. But, if you’ve never used one, you’re probably wondering how to use it.
So, what are fishing lures? Fishing lures are a type of artificial fishing bait used to attract fish. Artificial bait lures are designed to entice predatory fish into biting by mimicking the appearance, movement, vibration, and colors of prey fish. Different types of fishing lures are used to attract a range of fish.
Artificial lures come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors and are created to attract specific fish species. Knowing the different types of fishing lures can help you pick the right lure for your next fishing trip.
This article will cover the most common types of fishing lures and tell you how to use them.
What Are Fishing Lures Used for?
Often made in the shape of a fish’s prey, fishing lures are attached to a hook and tied to the end of a fishing line. These small, artificially made objects are used to attract fish to a line.
Artificial fishing bait can be made from different materials such as soft plastic, rubber, metal, or a mix of these materials. Most fishing lures are weighted and use a combination of movements, vibrations, shiny reflections, and colors to convince the predatory fish to bite.
There are different types of lures on the market, including plugs, jigs, spoons, spinnerbaits, and flies. They are designed to appeal to a specific type of fish species. Some lures have LED lights, making them even more enticing to certain types of fish
Advantages of Fishing Lures
Lure fishing is the most common alternative for using fishing bait. The biggest benefits of fishing with an artificial lure are:
- Artificial lures are reusable and can last a long time
- Lures can’t become dirty or smelly
- You can cast a lure further than a live bait
- Lures don’t require any special storage, like live baits
- Using artificial lures is less messy than using live baits
- Fishing lures minimize deep hooking, thus increasing the survival rate of catch-and-release fish
- Using lures allows you to target a specific species of fish
- Fishing with lures often leads to fewer unwanted fish on the line and bigger catches
Disadvantages of Fishing Lures
Although using a fishing lure is a highly effective way to catch fish, it also has drawbacks. The biggest disadvantages of fishing lures are:
- With so many different types of fishing lures, finding the best one for the type of fish you’re trying to catch may take some time
- Purchasing different lures can be fun, but they can become expensive if you aren’t careful
- Artificial lures aren’t very effective at night or in murky waters. They can also get stuck in weeds, branches, and rocks
- Unlike live bait, an artificial lure won’t attract fish that’s not already there. So, you may need to constantly move the lure to draw the fish
- Artificial lures are less effective in cold water than live bait
- Using a lure and picking out the right weight, size, color, and hook for the type of fish you want to catch takes some experience. To put it simply, using lures can be challenging for beginners
Types of Fishing Lures
There are many different types of fishing lures used for freshwater and saltwater fishing. When used correctly, artificial fishing lures are very effective and can help you catch fish quickly and effortlessly.
Fishing lures are made from different materials and come in various sizes, colors, and shapes designed to lure a specific fish species. The most commonly used types of fishing lures are:
Plugs
Also known as crankbaits, plugs are plastic fishing lures, shaped and colored to look like baitfish or other prey. Plugs are usually made of solid or hollow pieces of plastic.
A thin metal or plastic sheet called the lip, is attached to the front of the plug bait. Crankbaits have two or three hooks and can be used for freshwater and saltwater fishing. Different types of crankbaits can float, sink, hover, or dive in the water.
The best way to use a plug as bait is to take advantage of how it moves in the water. Crankbaits either float or are suspended on the water’s surface but dive pointedly when retrieved.
Use a series of reel-and-rope movements to mimic the behavior of baitfish while fishing with a plug lure.
Jigs
Jigs are one of the most popular fishing lures and are especially effective for bottom feeders. Jigs feature a hook on one side and a weighted head on the other side. Thanks to their weighted head, jigs sink quickly.
To take advantage of the jig’s design and weight, let it sink to the bottom. You’ll know the jig lure has hit bottom when the fishing line goes slack. When this happens, use your rod and start jigging by slightly lifting the rod up and retrieving the line as you lower the rod again.
Try different speeds and movements to see what works best, but don’t forget to watch the line. Even the slightest pull on the line can mean a bite when using jigs.
Spoons
Spoon fishing lures were initially made by cutting the handles on the spoons. Made out of metal, spoons have a curved and concave shape that makes them wobble and shine as they move through the water.
Spoons with wider curves have a wider wobble, making them highly enticing to predatory fish as the swaying spoon lure looks like an injured baitfish.
When using a spoon fishing lure, you can cast it or troll it. When casting a spoon, get it 10 to 20 feet below the target zone and then pull it right through it. Keep in mind that if the spoon lure moves too slow or too fast, it won’t wobble properly in a way that entices fish into biting.
Spinnerbait
Spinnerbait lures are slightly different from other types of fishing lures because they move horizontally in the water. Spinnerbaits feature metal blades that spin like a propeller on one end and a skirted hook on the other.
These baits come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the type of fish you want to catch. When cast in the water, the spinning blades create reflection and vibration and make the spinner bait very effective for pike, perch, and bass fishing.
Flies
Flies are an interesting type of fishing lure and are used in fly fishing. Fly fishing lures are made using feathers, fur, or thread to resemble insects, crustaceans, or other prey. They usually feature a single hook and a skirt.
Depending on what type of fish you want to catch, there are different types of fly-fishing lures to choose from. Dry flies float on the surface, and wet flies sink under the surface and mimic sunken insects and minnows. Use fly fishing lures in areas where fish come near the water’s surface.
Soft Plastic
Soft plastic lures are made using flexible rubber. They are designed to imitate a variety of baitfish and other prey. Soft baits can be anything from crawfish, lizards, frogs, minnows, and worms.
Soft plastic baits make one of the best bass fishing lures and are commonly used by anglers. When choosing a soft plastic bait, make sure it’s the right color and size for the type of fish you want to catch.
Is It Better to Fish with Bait or Lures?
Whether it’s better to catch fish with bait or lure depends on the conditions you’re fishing in and the type of fish you’re trying to catch. In some cases, bait is the better option, while at other times, the lure is the best way to go.
Fishing with lures is better when trying to catch predatory fish on a warm day with nice and clear water. On the other hand, use live bait if you’re a beginner fishing at night or in muddy waters.
Conclusion
If fishing is your newest hobby, there’s a chance that you still haven’t had the time to try fishing with a lure. If that’s the case, you’re probably wondering what fishing lures are and how to use them.
Fishing lures are artificial fishing baits designed to mimic prey and attract predatory fish. There are many different types of fishing baits, all of which are designed to attract different fish species and be effective in certain conditions. If you decide to use a fishing lure, choose the right size and color based on the type of fish you want to catch.