If you have been to a fishing tackle shop lately, you have discovered there are literally thousands of different fishing lures. They have all caught fish on given days, but some are more consistently productive then others. Here are some of the best:

•    Spinners: These lures make sounds in the water, which will either attract or challenge the fish. There are a number of different sizes and colors. Smaller fish tend to bite smaller lures, but that is just a trend. I have caught 5-pound trout on a spinner, which was less then an inch long. You simply need to experiment with what they want that day. Some good brands are Meps, Bang Tail and Rooster Tail.
•    Swimmers: These lures resemble a fish swimming. They should go in a back and forth motion. They need to be shinny, resembling the flash of light off of fish scales. These lures are to resemble bait fish. If you are targeting a spawning fish like a Salmon or Steelhead, the lure will resemble a fish coming to attack the nest and steal eggs. Types Of Swimmers: Quick Fish, Flat Fish, Crank baits, Castmaster Wiggle Warts, Spoons, Crocodile, Dick Nite, Super Duper, … and many more.
•    Tuning A Lure: You may need to “tune” the lure so it swims straight. Check this by pulling the lure in the water where you can see it. You should tie your leader directly to the lure, without a snap swivel. Place a swivel on the other end of the leader, and attach it to your main line. You may need to bend the lure at the connection point to make it swim straight. This will result in many more bites.
•    Enhance the lure: Adding a small portion of a nightcrawler, Powerbait or other type bait can greatly increase the odds of a strike. Make sure the bait does not alter the action of the lure! This will cause the fish to ignore it. Scent is also becoming a very popular enhancement. Pro Cure makes scents, which glow. These are good when fishing deeper depths or in dark water.

See You at the Dock.

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear