For the discerning fisherman, the right equipment is very important for that big catch. You don’t need much, but with the appropriate tools you stand a much better chance of catching that dream fish. A quality fishing rod, a strong line and live bait or a good fishing lure will boost your chances enormously.

It is hard to rival live bait when it comes to coaxing a fish to bite. That said, live bait is not always easily available so the next best thing is a good fishing lure. In fact, with the the proper fishing lure you have a great chance of landing a big catch.

A fishing lure basically simulates the actions and colors of live bait to tempt the fish to bite. Lures can have one, two, or maybe three hooks which will catch the fish when it bites.

Fishing lures are generally used with fishing rods. They are cast out by the fisherman and simulate the actions of the prey as they are brought back in. With a bit of knowledge, the fisherman can also use the reel to help make the fishing lure’s movements look more authentic to a potential catch.

There are numerous different varieties of fishing lures for different types of fish, fishing and settings. Here are some of the most popular varieties:

Spoon lures – To humans these simply look like the top of a spoon. But as they move through the water these fishing lures reflect glints of light which recreates the sun bouncing off a fish’s skin.

Artificial flies – These lures are utilized in in fly fishing. The lure looks like a winged insect which the fisherman makes hop on the top of the water.

Plugs – These fishing lures resemble small fish and move accordingly as they pass in the water.

Soft lures – These are a simple kind of fishing lure, made from plastic or rubber to resemble worms, lizards and other kinds of water creatures.

Fishing lures have numerous advantages over live bait. As mentioned, they are easily at hand whenever you decide to go fishing. In addition, they cost less as they can be used more than once, whereas live bait has an extremely short lifespan. What is more, by utilizing fishing lures you are helping the environment. Importantly, you will help save fish stocks by not contributing to the harvesting of live bait. In addition, it is common knowledge that lures cause less harm to fish during ‘catch and release’ fishing, again helping to promote fish populations.

Fishing lures are available in any fishing shop, on the internet or you can simply make your own. They can be made from many household objects, like metal, plastic, string, foil, wire or wood. If it shines and looks like bait it could be all you need to land you your next big catch.