I've always found fishing lures to be fascinating, often beautiful little things. With their colorful and shiny designs, it can be easy to ignore the purpose of such lures. Yet they do have a purpose, one for which they are named, and that is to lure and catch fish on their hooks. Lures are attached to the ends of fishing lines and are designed to mimic the appearance and movement of something a fish might like to eat. Once the fish bites, it is caught, and the lure has done its job. What is amazing is the sheer variety of lures on the market. There is a reason fishermen carry huge tackle boxes-it is to store and convey the wide variety of lures considered necessary to the pastime.
Fishing lures have been used for thousands of years. The Chinese and Egyptian cultures were using such lures as much as 4000 years ago. Ancient fishing lures were often made of bone with hooks of bronze. Over the past few millennia, fishing lures have come a long way, evolving and mutating into the vast array of models available to the modern fisherman. The first modern commercial fishing lure was developed in the United States in the early 20th century. Since then, the product and its market have expanded exponentially. It would be impossible to cover every kind of fishing lure available today, so only a few of the more common will be discussed here.
A jig consists of a lead sinker with a hook molded to it, accompanied by a soft body that will attract fish. Jigs can be used to create a jerky, vertical motion, as opposed to come other lures, which move horizontally through the water. Jigs are versatile: they can be used in both salt and fresh water and to attract many different species of fish.
A spinnerbait is characterized by one or more metal blades shaped like propellers. When the lure moves horizontally through the water, these blades spin and flash. Such movements mimic those of a small fish, which attracts larger ones.
Surface lures are different from those mentioned above in that these lures are designed to rest atop the surface of the water. There, they waddle, pulse, twitch, pulse, and perform a number of other small motions, all of which imitate fish's surface prey. Such prey includes mice, lizards, frogs and insects. Surface lures usually have wooden bodies and carry one or more hooks.
Spoon lures are a simple design of lure, consisting of an oblong, concave piece of metal that resembles the bowl of a spoon. The metal reflects light, and when pulled through the water, the lure moves randomly in the manner of a small fish.
Artificial flies, as their name implies, are designed to resemble the insects that fish prey upon. Flies are used in fly fishing, or angling. While most forms of fishing rely on the lure's weight to pull the line from the real, artificial flies are not heavy enough to do this. Angling, therefore, relies on the weight of the line to cast the fly.
Fishing is not just something you do, it is the ultimate rite of passage. When you feel the spray of saltwater on the boat, hear the rustling leaves around the lake, or feel the cool water rush past your boots while you stand in the stream, you truly become one with nature and your surroundings. No complications, no stress, no tedious day to day hang-ups - just fishing.
However, your fishing experience is elevated when you actually catch some fish. Although it is fun to fish and bond with other fishing enthusiasts, fishing really improves with every catch (especially when you catch the most). Several factors go into the success of a fishing trip, but one factor in particular is completely controllable and very easy and affordable to change. You cannot control the weather conditions, but you can easily change out your lures.
Every lure is made to move a certain way in the water (often similarly to the creature after which it's modeled). Available in a plethora of colors, shapes, functions, sizes, and much more, choosing the right fishing lures can be a daunting task. Invest in a few quality "go-to" lures that will help you be successful. Here is a list of the essential lures every tackle box should have.
Jig Lure: This term encompasses a huge variety of lures, but most are used for saltwater and game fishing. The jig has a single hook and a weighted head that requires movement from the fisherman's, such as quickly pulling up on the jig and then allowing it to slowly drop. The weight allows the jig to reach deeper waters and catch bigger game.
Surface Lure: A surface lure is designed to skim across the top of the water to imitate surface prey like lizards, moths, and small fish. The line usually attaches to the front of the lure to perform the dragging motion which attracts the fish to the top of the water. Surface fishers enjoy watching the fish strike its prey at the top of the water and the spectacular show it creates. These lures are ideal for still, calm water where the fish can easily detect the disturbance, and work best in low light.
Ideal for: any variety of fish, depending on the lure you purchase, its size, and whether it's meant for salt or fresh water.
Spoon Lure: Shaped like a spoon, this lure is flashy and makes quick and random movements that resemble a small minnow or bait fish. Versatile and easy to use, spoon lures are some of the most popular lures used in fishing. They are a staple of every tackle box because the lures function well in a variety of environments.
Ideal for: fish that hide in areas with a lot of vegetation cover like pike and bass, as well as Salmon, Musky, and Trout.
Spinnerbait: This is another lure popular for its versatility. A spinner usually consists of a lure on a wire that is bent at an angle and contains a spinning mechanism on the end that shoots into motion as you pull the lure through the water. The quick and flashy spinning portion of the lure works in a variety of settings and appeals to many fish.
Ideal for: almost every species of bass.
This is a very general overview of the necessary lures to have in every tackle box, but your preferred method of fishing and the conditions under which you normally fish dictate a more specific list of lures. Live bait is almost always the best way to catch fish, but when you put live bait on the appropriate lure, you are almost unstoppable.
Learn the different methods for using lures, which lures appeal to which fish, and which live bait is the best for the fish you want to catch. Soon, your friends will be cooking pine cones and sticks for dinner while you're having the fish feast of a lifetime.
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