Fishing lures are some of the most effective tools to catch fish. As the name suggests, they are artificial bait that anglers use to lure fish. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, giving you the flexibility to choose the most appropriate one.
Of course, what works for one type of fish will not necessarily work on another. That means you ought to determine the best fishing lure for a specific type of fish.
This article delves deep into the different types of fishing lures that you can utilize for a worthwhile and fruitful fishing experience.
Common Types of Fishing Lures
1. Plugs
Plugs, also known as crankbaits, are hard plastic fishing lures. They come shaped and colored to look like real fish. The design of these features a solid or a hollow plastic mold with a metal or plastic hook attached to the front called a lip.
The lip is designed to be adjustable so that the lure can wobble just like actual fish swims. Plugs come with two or more treble hooks that real fish bite on and get caught. Depending on the overall design, crankbaits can sink, float, dive, or hover.
The most common plugs float on the water surface, but they dive sharply when retrieved. This design makes it easy to use, and with a series of reel-and-stop moves, they resemble real fish. On this note, you can change your retrieval speeds and twitching intervals for a variety [1].
2. Spinnerbait Lures
This type is a little different as it moves horizontally through the water. Like other lures, spinnerbait lures come in many shapes and colors to resemble various fish. The shapes and colors they come in match different depths and species of fish.
Spinnerbaits have a skirted hook on one side and another or more metal blades that spin like propellers on the other side. The spinning blades create vibrations and reflect color, which mimics the movement and appearance of fish.
Spinnerbait lures are helpful for fishing Bass, Pike, or Perch. They also work well if you are fishing in murky waters where visibility is compromised. Since they move horizontally, pulling spinnerbaits just beneath the water surface works best.
As the blades spin, the lures make a sudden flash which attracts a lot of fish. But, for this action, you have to keep the rod high and make sure the blades are just beneath the water surface.
3. Jigs
Jigs come with a weighted head on one side and a hook on the other. They feature a feather skirt or a plastic grub, which add to the resemblance to fish. They are the most common fishing lures, thanks to their weight, making them sink easily.
Therefore, they are helpful for bottom-feeding fish that settle at the bottom of the water body. Take advantage of the weight and cast jigs to sink to the bottom for the best results. The line will go slack once the jig sinks to the bottom, after which you have to lift the rod and retrieve the line [2].
Lower the jig again for repeated movements and more chances to catch fish. Experiment with different speeds and big and small movements to see what works best for your fishing conditions.
4. Spoons
Like regular spoons, these lures are curved, concave metal objects. Spoon lures are more like regular spoons with the handles cut off. The concave shape makes them shine and wobble as they move through the water.
The bigger the curve, the wider the wobble, and the more the shine. This design resembles injured fish, which most fish are after and cannot say no to. The good thing is that you can cast or troll these lures giving you more fishing options.
When casting, go for 10 to 20 below the target zone, then retrieve the lure. Pay attention to the speed of the moving lure to determine the speed of retrieval. If the spoon is too fast or slow, it will not deliver a good-enough wobble.
5. Flies
This type of fishing lures ate some of the most traditional ones. They are common for fly fishing, but they can also be used in spin fishing. Flies come in with a single hook and a skirt; they have furs or feathers to resemble insects, crustaceans, or other prey underwater.
They are the closest in resemblance to natural baits, so using them can be mind-boggling. They can be challenging for beginners, but advanced anglers in fly fishing find them interesting.
They work best for areas where fish approach the surface of the water. Some are designed to float on the surface, while others can sink just under the water surface. If you are targeting fish that come to the water’s surface, dry flies that float work best [3].
If you target fish that stay under water but close enough to the surface, use wet flies that sink. These can be nymphs that imitate crustaceans, emerging flies that look like hatching insects, or streamer flies that imitate baitfish.
6. Soft Plastics
These lures come in the shape and form of flexible rubbery baits that imitate a variety of aquatic critters. They can be minnows, crawfish, lizards, or worms, making them suitable for fishing Bass.
When fishing with soft plastic lures, the main thing you need to consider is the size and color of the lure. The color should naturally blend in with the environment, selecting brighter plastics on a clear day and dull ones on an overcast day.
Plastic lures mimic wounded aquatic creatures and can help you mimic the movements accurately. Let the lures sink to the bottom and twitch the rod a few times, pulling the lure up in jerky movements for a fruitful hook.
The Bottom Line
There you have it, the different types of fishing lures. When choosing the most appropriate type, focus on the fishing conditions and the type of fish you are targeting. Pick lures that look closest to what the fish in that environment eat to maximize the chances of catching some.
