Beginners guide to sea fishing with lures
With so many weird and wonderful lures on the market today choosing the right one can be a a daunting task. You'll be pleased to know that despite what some anlgers will say, you don't actually need that many lures to be well equipped. The below information gives you an introduction to each type of lure as well as an overview of where and how to use them.
There is nothing more exciting than fishing for Bass with a popper lure. These plugs float on the surface of the water and get their name from the sound they make when retrieved as water flows against the concave head, spitting water and creating a popping sound. Poppers work well in shallow water especially when worked up-tight against features such as rocks or submerged weed.
The retrieval technique is too apply short sharp twitches of the rod tip followed by a pause of up to 20 seconds. As a rule of thumb wait for the ripples to disappear before working the lure again. Often a Bass will take the lure when it is sitting still, so resist the temptation to keep it moving all the time.
This is a great lure to try when the sea is flat calm. The retrieval style used to bring these lures to life is known as ‘walk the dog’. This will take a bit of practice but when done correctly the lure will slide through the water from side to side. To apply a ’walk the dog’ action, reel in steadily whilst moving the rod tip back and forth about a foot about one second apart. This should cause the lure to skip from side to side, mimicking a wounded baitfish. Practice makes perfect, and remember that every lure will have its own unique way of begin worked effectively. It is worth pointing out that a slider type lure will be very difficult, if not impossible to work in rough water.
The shallow-diving minnow is the archetypal Bass lure, defined by their small steeply angled vane at the font of the plug. These lures will work well in a variety of conditions but as with other lures working them effectively is a fine art. For obvious reasons, shallow-diving minnows are good choice in snaggy or weed covered areas, usually diving up to up to 0.5 metres deep.
In terms of the retrieval technique, there is no 'one size fits all' here, but more a combination of actions that closely mimic a wounded baitfish. To do this combine reeling in at different speeds with short sharp twitches with the rod tip and pauses of a second or two. The pattern should be erratic e.g. fast reeling, slow reeling, twitch, twitch, pause, fast reeling, pause etc
If all else fails give a jointed lure a go. The enticing wobbling action of these two-piece plugs will tempt even the most tentative of bass and are very easy to master. A great lure to try in choppy conditions from the shore or trolling from a boat or kayak.
Jointed lures are a good lure to start out with because the action is imparted from the lure rather than the angler. Jointed lures will generally sit between 0.5 - 1.5 metres deep, with a straight-forward medium-to-slow retrieve working best. As with any lure a few pauses and twitches can be thrown in for good measure. As a rule of thumb retrieve faster during Spring and Summer and slower during Autumn and Winter.
Mid water/all depth lures
There are 2 main types of soft lure: weighted and unweighted. Each type requires a different approach. A weighted soft lure usually resembles a small baitfish or sandeel, and is best worked along the bottom of the seabed using a slow 'sink and draw' style retrieve. To do this, start with a slow retrieve and apply short sharp twitches every 2 seconds or so. This will cause the lure to hop over rocks and other obstacles, sporadically working its paddle tail to mimic a dying baitfish. The beauty of these lures is that the weight is at the bottom, with the hook protruding out of the top or hidden inside the lure 'weedless' style. This set up reduces sang-ups dramatically and enables the angler to work the lure around otherwise risky obstacles.
With an unweighted soft lure it is necessary to attach an additional weight or 'lead' to your line. The most popular unweighted soft lure is an artificial eel, which have a been around for decades but still prove reliable fish catchers today. Due to the length and fineness of the tail, artificial eels work very well at slower speeds or when there is little tidal flow. The best retrieval style for these lures is slow and steady, and they are a fantastic choice for Bass and Pollock, big or small. You can choose the size of your eel accordingly, but remember that you are more likely to catch fish on a smaller eel.
The spinner is a simple but effective piece of mechanical engineering that has been around for hundreds of years. When retrieved, the metal spinner blade spins round like a propeller, creating vibrations in the water as well as flashes of light that will attract all manner of predatory fish. Like a jointed lure, a spinner is very easy to use because the action is imparted by the lure not the angler. A simple straight forward retrieve will work best, with a faster retrieve causing the spinner to work higher in the water. Spinners are the most sporting way to catch Mackerel, which can be fantastic fun on light tackle in the summer.
A wedge or 'dexter wedge' is basically a heavier version of a spinner, but without the spinner blade. The simple but aerodynamic shape of a wedge allows it to be cast into a headwind with ease and causes it to wobble and flutter through the water. Unlike a spinner, a wedge works very well when left to fall through the water, and so your retrieval style should be a combination of quick winding in and short pauses. Remember that a wedge will fall through the water very quickly, so don’t leave it too long or you'll get snagged on the bottom.
Toby spoons are a bit like a wedge that has been flattened and curved. They don’t cast as well as a wedge but they will do a lot more wobbling and flashing, and are a good choice when fishing shallow marks as they will also sink slowly. Toby spoons are best worked with a slow retrieve with lots of pauses thrown in to allow the lure to flutter down through the water.
Don't forget that as with most fishing, the best way to learn is to get out there and give it a go. You'll soon find out what works for you and what doesn't.
