James RickardTHE lure
May 9th 2010 01:35
The quest for the perfect artificial lure is like searching for the Holy Grail. Suffice to say, it's one project that will keep you busy!
Countless lures have been developed by big and small companies in just about any shape, color, or size. AND for me, the worst part is when you think it's all out there, something new comes out. (That was really driven home to me last year when I saw a lure idea I had dismissed about ten years ago advertised on Angling Fish!)
As I've often said, the selection is mind boggling and often confusing. I threw together this list of popular lure categories that may help you if you venture down to the bait shop.
Crankbait: This is probably the type of lure I use the most. They can dive, wobble, and vibrate like a real fish and are available in any color imaginable.
Rattlebait: also called lipless crankbaits, these are hollow-bodied lures that make noise because of shot and/or slugs inside the lure body.
Swimbaits: These are often rigged on a jig which will be explained later. Swimbaits are designed to imitate real bait fish.Swimbaits are available both hard or soft.
Topwaters: This broad category is designed to be worked on the surface and is often thought of as a morning or dusk bait.
Prop Bait: A topwater plug with propellers at the front, back or even both. The accompanying photo is a lure I've made so, it shows you don't have to be very artist to make an effective lure.
Chuggers and poppers: Another example of topwater plugs that have a cupped face which produces a splash when pulled sharply.
Buzzbait: A topwater lure composed of a lead head, rigid hook, and wire that supports one or more blades which churn in the water and cause a commotion.
Jigs: These can be either plain and used with various soft plastics or dressed up with their own skirts and plastic accessories. The possibilities are enless but, if you get something that works in your waters, stick with it!
Softbaits: A soft plastic or biodegradable bait with a shape intended to imitate food for the targeted fish. Some popular examples include worms, frogs, lizards, grubs, craw crabs, or several other creatures fish call "food."
Spoon: This is a wide variety of metal lures that have a general spoon-like shape and a single treble hook hook at the back. These can be small lures for trout or very large for salt water applications.
This category is a bit confusing. The big lure in the picture is a spinner bait. The smaller bait is an inline spinner. What sets them apart is a spinner bait has a metal head and usually a skirt in addition to the blade or blades found on either lure.
Countless lures have been developed by big and small companies in just about any shape, color, or size. AND for me, the worst part is when you think it's all out there, something new comes out. (That was really driven home to me last year when I saw a lure idea I had dismissed about ten years ago advertised on Angling Fish!)
As I've often said, the selection is mind boggling and often confusing. I threw together this list of popular lure categories that may help you if you venture down to the bait shop.
Topwaters: This broad category is designed to be worked on the surface and is often thought of as a morning or dusk bait.
Remember to take the hooks outta yer pocket before ya sit down!
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