Have you ever wondered why lures work at times and are ignored other times? It’s all about who is the predator. Since Wal-Mart or your local grocery do not exist in the world of fish, they need to forage for their own food. Many insects are on the diet for fish such as Trout and Steelhead. But they also eat smaller fish and that green slimy stuff on the bottom of the river or lake. So there is always a predator vs. prey relationship at work.

Spinners tend to make sounds like a wounded fish or struggling insect in the water. Other lures make a swimming motion like a fish. These various actions look and sound like a nice snack for a hungry fish.

As the population of fish increases, so does the competition for food. That is why a lure is one of the best choices when fishing in a large school of fish. Reeling it quickly through the school will often be met with a strike.

A similar situation exists during spawning runs. The anatomy of Steelhead and Salmon will change as they re-enter freshwater. The throat of the Steelhead will close to just 20% of normal capacity, thus limiting what they can eat. Salmon stop feeding in freshwater. The males develop a hook like nose preventing the mouth from closing.

At this point you may be wondering how these fish are caught with a hook. Think of it like a fly buzzing around your head. You can tolerate it for a while, but sooner or later, you are going to swat at it. Salmon are the same, except they use their mouths. They may slap at the lure with their head or bite it, either way you could get a hook-up.

So make sure you have an ample supply in your tackle box.

See You At The Dock!

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear LLC