Author: JE Bait

Reel Drag Management 

• Setting Tension: Use a scale to set drag to 25% of line breaking strength (e.g., 2-3 lbs of drag for 10-lb line).

• Lever Drag: Set to “Strike” position for normal fishing, which is typically 30% of the line strength.

• Star/Spinning Drag: Turn clockwise to tighten, counter-clockwise to loosen (check specific reel).

• Tips: Reduce drag during long, fast runs to prevent breaking.

Artificial Baits (Lures)

• Jigs/Spinners/Spoons: Mimic small fish or insects.

• Soft Plastics: Worms, grubs that imitate natural forage.

Saltwater & General Baits

• Shrimp/Squid: Versatile for many saltwater and some freshwater species.

• Cut Bait: Small pieces of herring, mullet, or other fish for catfish.

When to Use Fishing Lures

For better or worse, the effectiveness of lures relies on just the right conditions. Lures are best used when:

• The water is nice and clear
• The weather is warmer
• You’re dealing with aggressive, predatory fish
• There are a lot of undersized or non-target fish present
• You’re in a catch and release area
• When signs are deeming the waters “artificial only” or “fly and lure only”

The Cons of Fishing with Lures

• With so many varieties of fishing lures out there, it can take some trial and error to find the best ones for what you’re trying to catch. This means you might end up with clutter in your tackle box.

• No matter how fun lures are to collect, lures can get expensive if you’re not careful, and they won’t all work.

• Lures can get stuck in weeds, branches, and rocks. And they won’t be all that effective in murky waters or at night time.

• Fishing lures work best when they are cast where an abundant amount of fish is present. Unlike bait, lures won’t attract fish from far and wide, so you might be waiting a while for a bite and be required to move around to different areas.

• Lures require the right combination of weight, hook sizes, and colours to work effectively for what type of fish you’re trying to catch, so they aren’t as straightforward as bait. In short – the number of options can be overwhelming for beginners.

The Pros of Fishing with Lures

• Lures are one-time, reusable purchases.
• Lures don’t require special storage like dirt or water tanks, which significantly reduces the weight of your tackle box.
• Lures are not dirty or smelly.
• Lures are fun to collect and actively engaging and satisfying to use.
• Lures often lead to bigger catches and fewer unwanted fish on your line.
• Lures help increase the survival rate of fish in catch and release fishing by reducing deep hooking – an occurrence that leads to higher mortality rates in fish.
• Lures reduce an angler’s use of bait, which helps maintain populations of bait species from being overharvested.

Fishing with Lures

Fishing lures are small, artificial objects often shaped like a fish’s prey that are attached to a hook and tied to the end of a fishing line. They are used to attract fish to your line.

There are many different types of lures on the market such as jigs, spinners, spoons, fly lures, crankbaits, and plugs. Some lure manufacturers have even added LEDs to the mix.

Whether they are made from rubber, plastic, metal or a mix of such materials, fishing lures are often weighted and use a combination of movements, vibrations, colours and shiny reflections to entice fish to bite.

Lure or Live Bait? 

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Each.

When it comes to catching fish as quickly and effortlessly as possible, the question of which is better – artificial lures or real bait – depends on what you’re trying to catch and in what conditions you’re trying to catch it. Sometimes a lure is best, while other times, bait is the way to go. However, there are some general pros and cons to each method.