As a beginner, the internet is full of opinions on what lure to use. Lure selection for beginners needs to be simple. Experienced anglers will make good choices. Yet, they often forget a beginner lacks the skills to use some lures. You want to start with easy-to-use lures that are productive where you fish.
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The type of fish influences the choice also. Then additional factors affect a choice in lures. A beginner can be successful with 2 or 3 types of lures. You need to learn how to use these lures as the first step. Then add more types of lures to your tackle.
Lures fall into several categories. Common types tend to fall into reaction, top-water, or finesse presentations. The presentation is the retrieve method a lure uses. A beginner should have a finesse and reaction type to start. Add a top-water if needed based on species and conditions.
Reaction Lure Selection
A reaction lure selection for beginners will include one of the following types. These are the simplest lures to learn and catch fish. The lures require minor adjustments to retrieve rate and depth control as a beginner. You need to buy a few options of the chosen type for depth control.
Also, color choice plays a part in the correct lure. Getting 2-3 colors is all an angler needs to catch fish. Lure makers produce many colors to hook anglers more than fish. Experienced anglers know this aspect and choose colors based on the waterway.
Spinner baits
Spinnerbaits use flash and vibration to attract fish to the lure. There are a few things you need to understand about the lures. The weight affects how fast it sinks and will cast. The blade types produce lift to control depth. Blades produce different vibrations and spin. The different designs spin close or farther away from the shaft.
Fishing a spinnerbait shallow uses a lightweight colorado blade lure. The weight and blades change the running depth and retrieve rates possible. In a short time, you will be able to choose the right weight and blade for each condition. Gaining experience is the only way to learn which blade and weight to use in specific situations.
Crankbaits
A crankbaits are likely the easiest to use lures. The lip design controls the depth and action. Using them is cast and retrieve. The angler needs to choose a crankbait based on the depth it will run. These lures come in shallow, mid-depth, and deep-running versions. Also, some lures contain rattles to add a sound factor for attraction.
When using crankbaits you want them striking and glancing off cover or the bottom of the waterway. The fish hit when the lure glances of the structure or cover. It looks like a fleeing baitfish. Jerkbaits
The jerk-bait is a favorite of many experienced anglers. Jerkbaits are versatile in the retrieve. You can retrieve the lure at a fast pace or go very slow. Anglers with little or no experience tend to reel them in like a crankbait or spinnerbait. The proper technique is to use twitches and short jerks with the rod.
Watch this video by KVD, he is considered the best jerk-bait angler on the pro bass tour. The video explains using jerkbait for high success. Finesse Lure Selection
Finesse lure selection for beginners will get into species-specific rigs or jigs. In this style of fishing, the right rig and size can be critical for success. A few of the rig will cross over to other species. Use one of the crossover types if you fish waters holding both smallmouth and largemouth bass.
In water with only one species, another rig may be more productive. Eventually, several options will become part of your tackle selection. Starting with finesse lures, keep it to one or two at the most. It does take longer to learn a finesse lure. Focus on one to learn, then go to a second rig.
When using finesse lures strike detection is the hardest part to learn. Fish will hit lightly or mouth the lure. They do hit hard at times. But do understand the lighter bites are common. You need to watch the line to see if a fish pulls on the lure. As a result, learning the feel of the strikes takes a few outings for most beginners.
Texas Rig
The Texas rig is the staple of largemouth bass fishing. A beginner’s lure selection should have this rig for largemouth. A simple setup using a soft plastic worm, offset hook, and a bullet weight. The size of the worms varies from 5 -10 inches. A six to the eight-inch worm is good to start.
Top Water Lure Selection The topwater lure selection for beginners has a few highly productive choices. The lures are easy to use and catch a lot of fish. The drawback is they are seasonal. Use this type of lure in the summer and early fall when fish are at the highest activity.
Also, a few people consider the following lures over-priced. I deem the lures a good to great value. You have to decide if a lure that will catch fish is worth more than a lure that might catch a fish. We are talking about paying 10-15 dollars versus 5-10 dollars it is your choice.
Whopper Plopper
A popular and the easiest to use of the lures. The lure cast well and uses a straight retrieve. You do not need to do anything else, then reel it in at the desired speed. The lure comes in several sizes. The 90 and 120 are the common choices for bass fishing. These sizes are 3 1/2 or 4 3/8 of an inch.
the lures work in the summer and early fall, limiting their use to a shorter period of the year. The lures come in an extensive array of colors. Do not be fooled by the number of colors. A dark and bright body version is all you need. Look at the black, bright greens, or yellows. It is that simple to choose a color for topwater lures.
The size is important. Buy a smaller size and larger size to complement each other. At times, a small lure is better and catches more fish of a smaller size. The larger models catch bigger fish but not quite as many. Regardless both are worth having in your tackle box.
Conclusions to Lure Selection for Beginners
Start with the easier-to-use lures. These lures offer a simpler cast and retrieve compared to many other lure types. Choose a lure for the depth you are fishing. Have a couple of sizes starting with a small and larger size. Limit the color choices to mimic natural prey or color making a good silhouette.
Learn how to correctly use the lures. Every lure has a time and place they are effective. This will take some experience but is worthwhile. As a beginner keep the number of lures you buy low. Learn which lures are the best for where and how you fish.
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John McIntyre