When it comes to fishing, there are many accessories which you will need to become accustomed to before you get started. If you are an absolute beginner, then you may not yet understand what everything is. Not to worry though as we will explain one of the most key essentials to any fishing experience: the fishing lure.
Fishing lures are what bring your catch to the shore, and without them, you could be fishing for long hours. Thus, we aim to help you out by exploring what is a fishing lure in a bit more detail.
What Is a Fishing Lure?
Generally, a fishing lure is designed to attract fish and bring them to you. When fishing with a lure, it is similar to hunting and bringing in the catch. Therefore, it is important that these lures are made to be attractive and as lifelike as possible in order to do the trick!
Many fishing lures come in a range of different styles, shapes, and sizes and can be found with various lifelike skin designs. There are also those which can include LED lights which are said to increase chances of a fish going for the lure. That is because the light-loving fish are biologically programmed to go for light whether hungry or not.
Other specific types of lure come with certain benefits. This can include rattling lures which rattle through the water and make more of a presence to predators, making them feel more anxious and eager to bite.
All-in-all, there are many lures which can provide different results. Many people, though, will sometimes become confused with the difference between bait and lures, and so we will take a look at this next.
Differences Between Bait and Lure
When it comes to bait and lure, many people confuse them for the same thing, when in fact, they are not. As we have already mentioned, lures are used to attract fish to the rod, in order to take a bite and be reeled in. Therefore, when fishing with lures, it can be similar to the act of hunting.
Bait, on the other hand, is more like trapping than hunting. That is because when using bait, the angler sets out their traps prior to fishing and wait for the prey to stumble upon them.
This bait type is often hooks that are baited with things like live bait, including worms or other forms of bait which fish are likely to feed upon. Some bait types can also be dead with a strong odor that still attracts in fish.
Lure Advantages
There are many benefits when it comes to using lures such as:
- Fun to Use
In general, lures are a more active way of fishing. Whenever you do get a strike it can be exciting to set the hook. This is because it’s a gamble whether or not you will catch a fish unlike when you use bait.
- Covers More Area
When using a lure, you can actually cover a lot more water than when you use bait. This means you are free to fish in different areas without any worries!
- Catches Larger Sized Fish
One of the main advantages of fishing with lures is the ability to catch larger fish and at the same time attract less unwanted fish. This is thanks to the size of some lures which are better for wider mouthed fish.
- Reusable
Another great advantage of using lures is that they can be used over and over again. This can help to save money as you will no longer need to buy fresh bait every time you go fishing, which can be quite expensive. Plus, if you invest in good lures, you may more success in the long run.
Lures Disadvantages
Although many lures do the trick, sometimes the best ones are usually expensive. Similarly, many small, smarter fish may be able to detect the fakeness of the lure, which means your desired fish might just not go for it at all.
In terms of being in the water, some lures have a habit of getting caught on rocks, weeds, and even trees, so caution is necessary. Cutting off tangled bait will lose a couple of pennies while losing a stuck lure which was costly might be a little more expensive to replace.
What Lures to Use for Fish
When you plan to purchase your first lures, you should know that not every lure will get you the same result. In fact, there are several types which suit different fish types. Here are three of the most popular:
1. Crankbait
If you are looking to imitate a fish, which will better attract strikes, then the crankbait is the type of lure that will do just that. This style of lure comes in many sizes and colors.
They also feature treble hooks and bill-shaped protrusions. The crankbait style hooks tend to reach deeper waters and are especially effective for bass fishing.
2. Spinnerbait
Spinnerbait is a fishing lure that has an oval-shaped spinner blade made of thin metal. This blade spins just like a propeller as it’s pulled through the water and this helps to attract fish with movement.
Usually, blades on spinner bait feature a reflective coating which resembles the appearance of swimming baitfish such as the shiner and minnow.
3. Spoon Lures
This is one of the oldest fishing lure types and known to be very reliable. Spoon lures are designed with a piece of metal and treble hook at one end and grommet at the other. Most are very colorful and they wobble through the water to attract predators.
Summary
Overall, when it comes to what is a fishing lure, it is a specially designed item to attract fish. Fishing lures are essential for you to have a successful fishing trip. Having a better idea about fishing lures and their types can help you have a successful fishing trip.