There was a time in my fishin’ life when I exclusively used lures. I loved getting out and walking the river bank and casting to likely looking spots….I also loved landing a few fish!
Lure fishing can work for anyone…and I gotta say – it can get a little addictive if you start hooking a few fish.
In the early days redfin were the usual target.
The biggest redfin I ever caught was a beautiful 1.8kg fish on super light line. That’s no monster but for me it was a personal best redfin that I never beat on lures.
It “belted” a very small soft plastic lure just as it hit the water. I cast under an overhanging branch into some slack water, exactly like the experts tell you to, and the redfin hit with a big splash…what a rush!
That got me addicted and for a number of years after that I did a lot of lure fishing. Trout, Murray cod, Golden perch, redfin, bream, flathead…I was generous enough to give them all some time…but redfin remained my favorites.
I’m old enough to have witnessed the first steady flow of soft plastics coming into Victorian tackle stores….and these changed my whole outlook on fishing. I was in heaven!!
So lure fishing is a great way to fish and if you haven’t tried it, or are thinking of trying it….do yourself a favour and have a shot…
Why?
Picture this…
You’re at a river with a few mates, looking for the right spots. You walk along and flick a lure out to a likely spot and start winding in. Suddenly, without warning, something smashes your lure and takes off towards a big sunken tree. Your adrenalin kicks in and you react quickly – trying to direct it away from the snag but it pulls hard and your drag starts groaning. You stumble towards the snag and try to regain some line…but you’re not sure if you’ll stop this fish. Luckily, after a few tense minutes, you get control and pull the fish away. You keep winding and after a couple more short runs you net your prize….
…and your mates think you’re a legend – or the luckiest angler alive!
Now that’s fishin’!!!
So what do you need to do a bit of lure fishing?
The right rod and reel are important.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money but you need to decide your target fish before you hand over any cash. I started on the smaller fish, the stuff you find in our local rivers, estuaries and lakes as well as our country waters. I never expected to catch big cod or mulloway or any monsters so I stuck with light gear. If you plan to do the same then a lightweight graphite rod and reel set up able to handle 2k to 5k line is the way to go – something like a 2 to 2.1m rod and 3000series reel will work.
The next thing is the line. I used monofilament for years because I fished among the snags. “Mono” is very abrasion resistant… but these days, if you really want to be in touch with the action, then braid is the way to go.
Braid has virtually no stretch, is very thin and lets you feel everything. It’s down side is it cuts easily on snags, is a bit hard to tie knots in and is very visible so you’ll need a mono or fluorocarbon leader.
As far as lures are concerned….this is a long discussion so I’ll cut is short – there’s more lures for sale than fish in the sea so buying the best one is impossible. My approach has been to buy a few tested lures and use them enough to get comfortable with them. Once you catch a few fish you’ll gain some confidence….and this usually leads to catching more fish.
I use bladed, hard bodied and soft plastic lures but soft plastics are my favourite. I like the fact that they can look exactly like a bait fish, swim naturally, can be coloured and scented and don’t snag as easily as the other lures.
I have a range of different types…and there are plenty to choose from in tackle stores so you can get some help from the store staff. If you still don’t know what to buy find stuff that looks like the fish you are trying to catch….fish are cannibals, and feed on their babies when they get the chance.
I also like the coloured scents you can buy that add the extra attraction to your lures. I always have some with me and really like the red stuff, ‘cos it makes the lure look wounded and an easy meal.
Finally, make sure you have a selection of small lures as well as big lures. When the fishing’s hot and they’re really feeding – big lures will land big fish…
But…
When the fishing’s hard the fish are more likely to hit a smaller target that’s easy to catch….so always be prepared to scale down if you aren’t getting bites.
So, once you have your gear – get to your fishing spot and practice. Concentrate on accurate casting and lure action…
…Try steady retrieves, lift and drop, side to side…even let it fall and lie on the bottom for a few seconds. I’m still amazed at how I can cast to a spot multiple times and get nothing then change my retrieve and get hit straight away….it all adds to the excitement.
Soft plastic lures come with many tail types. Ribbon tails, paddle tails, Curly tails, straight tails…the list goes on.
I like paddle tails and ribbon tails the most. Paddle tails really do look like a bait fish swimming…and ribbon tails keep moving even when you let them slowly drop in the water – this can be irresistible to picky fish.
The subject of lure fishing is enormous and I could go on for ever. The great thing for me has always been about getting out with mates, or my sons, and flicking lures into country rivers, big lakes , seaside estuaries or the surf…
…The heart pounding thrill of hooking an Australian Salmon that jumps high out of the water, shaking its head… or the pounding run of a Murray Cod after smashing a surface lure… or the rod bending excitement of a big bream belting a slow sinking soft plastic…you gotta experience this!
You never know what you might catch and the excitement is second to none.
If you find a few lure styles you like, get in a bit of practice….and catch a few fish, you just might get hooked on lure fishing.
It can be a real buzz!