how to work artificial lures
Zara, prop bait, popper, jerkbait, shad, jig, spoon and spinnerbait: the right movement for each and how to adjust the rhythm to water temperature and fish activity.
surface: zara, prop bait and popper
Surface lures work best with active fish, warm water and low light. The strike is visual and explosive; the most common mistake is setting the hook too early.
tips
- Zara (walk the dog): rod tip down and short, rhythmic twitches, with the line slightly slack between twitches, taking up the slack. The lure zigzags. Slack is the secret: with a tight line, the zara swims straight.
- Prop bait: rod pulls that make the prop splash and make noise, with short pauses. For speckled peacock bass, fast and steady work; in calm water or with wary fish, slower.
- Popper: sharp twitches with the rod tip down, so the concave mouth pops and splashes water. Pause 1 to 3 seconds between twitches; longer in cold or still water.
- At the surface explosion, don't set the hook at the noise. Wait until you feel the weight on the rod. If the fish missed, keep working: it often comes back.
mid-water: jerkbait and spoon
Lures for fish that don't rise to the surface but are active in the water column.
tips
- Jerkbait (twitch and pause): reel in a few turns to let the lure sink, then give two or three sharp twitches with the rod tip and pause. Most strikes come on the pause. In cold water, pauses of several seconds; in warm water, a faster rhythm.
- Spoon: cast and reel steadily, feeling the lure vibrate. Vary the speed and let it sink now and then. Good for golden dorado, bluefish and peacock bass in open water.
- Use a swivel with the spoon: it spins and twists the line.
- The spoon also works for vertical fishing: let it reach the bottom, lift the rod and let it fall with the line under control.
bottom: shad and jig
The shad (soft plastic with a vibrating tail) and the jig (leaded head with soft plastic, feathers or hair) work near the bottom. The strike usually comes on the fall.
- Cast and count seconds while the lure sinks, until the line goes slack when it touches bottom. The count tells you the depth.
- Take up the slack and give two or three short hops, lifting the rod tip.
- Let the lure fall again with the line almost taut, following with the rod. Watch the line: the strike shows up as a tap or as the line moving sideways.
- Take up the slack and repeat until close to the boat.
- The shad also works with a slow, steady retrieve just above bottom, with the tail vibrating.
- Set the hook firmly at the first unusual tap. A single hook needs a hard set.
tips
- Use the lightest jig head that still reaches bottom in that day's current.
- Snook, peacock bass in deep water, croaker and weakfish respond well to this work.
spinnerbait
Wire-frame lure with one or more blades and a skirt. It vibrates, flashes, and passes through branches and vegetation with few snags, because the wire protects the hook.
tips
- Reel steadily just below the surface or slowly, bumping bottom and the timber.
- Colorado blade (round) vibrates more: murky water and low light.
- Willow blade (long) flashes more: clear water and active fish.
- Good for black bass, peacock bass and trahira.
rhythm by temperature and activity
The right lure at the wrong rhythm won't get bites. Adjust to water temperature and the fish's response.
tips
- Warm water and active fish: fast, noisy surface lure. Cover a lot of water.
- Cold water, the day after a cold front, or wary fish: smaller, slower, deeper lure with long pauses.
- Clear water and bright sun: natural colors, lighter line and leader, and longer casts.
- Murky water or low light: dark or bright colors, with more vibration and noise.
- If the fish follows but won't strike, change the rhythm (speed up or pause) before changing lures.
- Change one thing at a time. Start with depth and speed; then size and color.
setting the hook and common mistakes
Each type of hook needs its own set.
tips
- Treble hook (surface and mid-water): firm sideways set, taking up the slack. A violent jerk tears the mouth.
- Single hook (jig, soft plastic): hard, fast set.
common mistakes
- Setting the hook at the surface noise and pulling the lure out of the fish's mouth.
- Working the zara with a tight line.
- Using the same rhythm all day.
- Keeping original treble hooks and rings that are weak for a strong fish.
- Fishing without a leader for toothy fish or fish around structure.
checklist
Check off what's ready. Saved on this device.
sources and references
- technical Take Me Fishing (RBFF) — How to Fish with LuresIndex page of techniques with artificial lures (surface, popper, retrieve). Promotional material from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (USA).
keep reading
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Overhead, sidearm, pitching, flipping and skipping: when to use each, how to aim at structure, and why the first cast to a spot is the one that gets the most bites.
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weather and moonhow weather affects fish
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