Fishing is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. It provides the perfect antidote for the stresses of modern life. There is the opportunity to get out into nature and simply relax in wonderful surroundings. It is also a hobby that provides endless variety with the individual choosing which type of fishing they would indulge in and what methods they would prefer in order to target the species of their choosing. One of the most popular types of fishing uses lures to land that prize winning catch or to provide the basis for a fantastic basis for a delicious meal.
The attraction of lyres is plain. they are not as messy to use as natural or even artificial baits, they are more ‘fish friendly in that they allow more catch and release due to the fact that lures lead to less ‘gut hooked fish (where the fish swallows the lures leading to fatal injury) they are easy to change and can be used to target specific species.
The challenge of effectively using lure lies in choosing the right lure for the job at hand. Here is a quick and simple guide to some of the lures that are available.
1. Jigs.
Many fishermen believe that jigs offer the most choice when it comes to targeting different species in different sub aquatic environments. They are available in a wide variety of forms and dressings making them suitable for almost any conditions. They do require some knowledge of the prey species that they are imitating due to the ‘action’ that imitates prey in the water being supplied by the fisherman during the retrieve.
2. Spinners.
Spinners are great for novice fishermen as they work even with a slow and steady retrieve. The action that attracts fish is caused by the blade of the Spinner rotating – which it does automatically when moving through the water. A great choice when water visibility is not the best.
3. Spoons.
Another great choice for the novice or intermediate fisherman. The action (side to side movement) is caused by the concave/convex design of the spoon. This action allows the spoon to resemble an injured bait fish. They are available in a number of sizes and finishes. They will reward a number of different retrieval methods.
4. Plastic Baits.
Soft plastic baits are designed to imitate prey items extremely closely. The material used allows them to imitate the movements of prey items such as freshwater crayfish, frogs, large aquatic insects, juvenile fish or with the classic design – worms. There variants that do not closely resemble the prey item but rather employ ‘trigger’s such as movement, scent or color to provoke a reaction from fish. Retrieve will depend largely on imitating the behavior of the prey item that the bait resembles.
There are a wide variety of other fishing lures that can be employed – all dependent on conditions and the species of fish being targeted. these include the double or treble hooked Plugs, the Spinners and Buzzbaits and even flies. Each has unique properties and each will provide the fisherman with new challenges and new opportunities . Get out on the water today and start experimenting.