Various ways to fish with lures

Spin fishing with lures in the salt whether shore-based or off a boat can be divided into four different categories or types of lures. Top waters, crank and stick baits, irons and plastics.

Top Waters

Top waters can be broken into three different groups. Poppers and Chuggers that float but don’t cast so well, Floating Stick Baits and the third group GT Ice Cream type casting plugs that cast well but sink when not retrieved. Poppers and Chuggers – the only way to really fish this type of lure is to “bloop”, “chug”, or “pop” it, either by a firm pull on the rod (bigger baits) or a sharp crank on the reel (smaller baits). This method creates a large air-bubble type “pop” in the water which when viewed from below is silver in appearance. The only thing that really varies is the length of the “blooping” pull and the period pause in between. One can go from a short, sharp, fast popping type action, to a long, smooth, slow or fast pull. Depending on the conditions, the pause in between should vary. Normally in calmer water, the pause would be longer. In rough, choppier water, the pause would be shorter and the pulls sharper. This sort of technique can definitely pull fish to the surface in deep water and is a lot more productive on a calmer glassier type surface. Floating Stick Baits – the big difference between this and the Poppers and Chuggers is that the bulk of the lure sits below the surface and whilst it does float, it spends more time just beneath the surface than on the surface. As a result it is a lot more effective in a choppier sea condition and also in a strong current where the water is turbulent. There are two ways to fish this lure, the first one being a fairly steady retrieve where the stick bait will swim and wallow from side to side giving a really big broad-side flash type presentation. The other more popular technique is to slash or jerk it in a erratic gliding or sliding type action. Casting Plugs – these surface lures are undoubtedly the top distance and accuracy casting top water and can be fished in many different ways as opposed to other top waters. The most common technique is a long cast (cover more ground / more time on water), starting with a very fast retrieve which causes a lot of splashing and slashing on the surface. Thereafter one should slow down to a retrieve that gives a steady chattering or fluttering type action on the surface. This speed can be varied which will of course vary the action from a very slow almost wobbling type action to a very fast jumping or skipping type action. Should the fish be down deep a very high cast causing the GT Ice Cream to hit the water from directly above and dive deep quickly with the line coming down directly behind it as opposed to having to sink slowly with a full cast of flat line on the water is recommended. A deep-diving cast should always follow with a very fast retrieve to the surface and then slow down once the lure appears on the surface. When conditions are very choppy the cone-shaped GT Ice Cream is a good option when fished at the noisiest retrieve speed on the surface. The Needle Nose shape however and the Skinny Needle Nose can be fished almost sub-surface like a Stick Bait in these conditions. One would let the lure sink a little and then give it some erratic jerks up to the surface before letting it sink a bit and repeating the process. The Needle Nose and long Skinny however are definitely at their best with a glassier surface and when conditions are really glassy, the Skinny comes into its own. This is the only surface lure that can be fished at the fastest speed that you can possibly wind, which is often what it takes to get the strike from your fast moving game fish. Always remember the rod angle has a lot to play in the action of all these surface lures. More often than not the rod should be held at 90 degrees to the lure and either vertically or horizontal. In the horizontal position one would obviously be tending to pull the lure through a chop rather than over it whereas with the rod in the vertical position or with as much elevation as possible, the lure would tend to ride over the chop. When fishing with surface lures and braid, if you are using a constant retrieve with the rod pointing at the lure you will miss most of the strikes. It is far more effective to hold the rod at 90 degrees so that the fish can grab or engulf the lure and turn to go away before you apply the pressure or strike. The next article will continue with various ways to fish with lures…so keep posted.

Barry goes tight with a good sized Dorado in Fujairah, check it out.