There are many fishing lures out there, which can confuse those unfamiliar with the territory. There are hard lures, soft lures, and a wide variety of materials, colours and sizes, so it can be challenging to figure out which one will fit your needs the best.
So, this blog will look at how to choose the best fishing lure.
What Makes a Lure Appealing to Fish?
Many things can make a lure appealing to fish, depending on an equally wide range of factors, one of the biggest being the kind of fish you are targeting. So, there are many different fishing lure types.
Some species hunt near the water’s surface, so any lure mimicking an injured baitfish, bird or mouse could attract these fishes.
Others can be found about 1-2 metres below the surface and prefer lures that imitate injured or swimming fishes by jerking, splashing, suspending or sliding. And for the fishes that like to stay at the bottom of the river or lake, lures imitating worms, grubs, or other fish are the most appealing.
The same goes for the colour, which should correspond with the depth or clearness of the water you are fishing in. Bright colours, such as red, orange or yellow, work best in shallow, well-lit waters. Blue works best in deeper, murkier waters as it maintains its colour even in reduced visibility.
Depending on the kind of fish you are trying to catch, the finish of the lure also can play a role as it is supposed to mimic your target’s favourite prey, so the lines, colours or dots may not work as well as a more natural finish for different species.
Spoons or spinners generally are the best fishing lures for beginners as they require less “science” behind them. While they are not necessarily the best lures, they are an excellent all-purpose choice. Or, as another example, if you are looking for a fishing lure for bass, it’s recommended to go for light or dark shades of lures instead of the intricate options.
Tips For Picking the Best Fishing Lure
It depends on which kind of fish you are trying to catch or in which layer of the water body you are fishing in. Let’s look at the different types of lures out there, which should help you narrow things down.
Top Water Lures
These are lures that are used on the surface of the water. They often make noise to attract whichever fish you are targeting. While some mimic smack birds and frogs, they generally imitate injured baitfish.
Subsurface Lures
Going one level lower in the water column, subsurface lures hover around the upper levels, imitating injured or swimming animals. There is a wide range of actions, such as splashing, sliding, suspending or jerking.
Suspending Lures
For the mid-section of the water column, suspending lures are a great choice. They never float on the surface or sink to the bottom while mimicking baitfish. They attract predators by movement, which can vary widely depending on the specific lure.
Diving/Sinking Lures
These are designed for deeper waters and, depending on your retrieval speed, will sink deeper.
Now, let’s have a look at the different available designs.
Spoons
Spoons are shaped so that when you retrieve the line, they dance and dart in the water, imitating a fleeing baitfish. They are generally shiny and catch the light to create the same kind of flash in the water that a swimming fish has. They are also one of the easiest to use and great for beginners.
Spinners
Another very user- and beginner-friendly type are spinners. Compared to spoons, they rotate around a wire, creating a constant motion that mimics small swimming fish.
Crankbaits
These are some of the most varied lures in various shapes, sizes and designs. Many of these are designed and painted to resemble bait fish. Typically, these kinds of lures have a lip on the front that will cause movement when retrieved. Depending on the sort of lip, it will create different types of movement.
Topwater
As the name suggests, these lures are designed to mimic dying baitfish, frogs or mice to attract fishes that prowl along the surface. They generally generate noise and movement to entice the predators to go for them.
Jigs
These are primarily designed for bottom fishing. Jigs often resemble crayfish or grubs to lure the fish from between the rocks and take your bait.
Plastic Worms
These are not a lure per se but are often used with sinkers or jigs to resemble live worms and attract your target fish.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of factors that influence how to choose the best fishing lure. It depends on the type of fish you are trying to attract and the water column level you would like to fish in.
Ascent Gifts’ Fisherman Gift Lures are an excellent choice for any angler as they combine various lures for every occasion. Or if you want to go for a range of different spinners, Ascent Gifts has you covered.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the right lure?
It depends on many factors, such as the depth you are trying to fish in or which type of fish you want to attract. There are lures for every depth and also designed for the different kinds of fish.
What type of lure catches the most fish?
This greatly depends on which fish you are trying to attract. If you aim for surface feeders, topwater lures will get you the most fish, while jigs are designed to attract fish that live near or at the bottom.
How do I know what size lure to use?
Generally, lakes and ponds will hold larger fish, so you should choose a larger, heavier lure. In a small trout creek, the average size of fish is between 9 and 11 inches, so that a smaller bait would be more beneficial.
Does the colour of a lure matter?
Yes, the colour will make a difference depending on which fish you are trying to attract. Bright colours, such as red, orange or yellow, work best in shallow, well-lit waters. Blue works best in deeper, murkier waters as it maintains its colour even in reduced visibility.