Whether you’re a keen angler or a first-time fisherman, lures can be a fun way to expand your fishing techniques, catch a lot of fish and save yourself the cost of using fresh bait.
We’ve collected a list of some common types of lures and what techniques to use with each.
The aim of a lure is to entice the fish to bite your hook but different fish are attracted to different lures which is why they come in a range of materials, sizes, styles and colours. Surface lures are the most popular lures as they pop, spin, twitch and jig across the water and when a big fish suddenly takes the bait it can make for an explosive fishing experience.
In general, it’s good to purchase a variety of lures so you can experiment with what works best for you and they type of fish you want to reel in.
Popper Lure
This popular surface lure has a hollow fish-shaped body and a cupped face which pushes out a surge of water on retrieval and imitates a fish, bug or lizard swimming.
Technique: The aim is to create a blooping noise as the lure zig-zags along the top of the water by using short jerks of the rod to pull the line tight. Pause the lure often to give the fish time to size up the lure. Most hits will come on the pause.
Spinner Bait Lure
This lure usually features a large single hook covered with a silicon skirt (that can also have hooks) and a blade that spins when the lure is pulled through the water. They are popular as they can catch many different types of fish and can be used from a boat, the beach and the rocks.
Technique: Cast out the spinner bait lure, wait a few moments and retrieve at a fast pace to spin the blade. Vary the speed to cause the skirt to flutter and attract trailing fish.
Crankbait Lure
This lure is recognised by its duck bill or lip on the front which allows it to dive to greater depths and target bottom-dwelling fish such as bass and barramundi. These can also come in lipless versions for shallow water. The crankbait lure is designed to dive under the surface and wobble when retrieved which makes it appear like a real fish.
Technique: Vary the speed of the retrieve (slow to medium fast) and occasionally twitch the rod. You can even let it stop completely and resume at a high speed.
Soft Plastic Lure
This is a highly effective, versatile lure as it resembles the food that the fish like to eat, such as thin worms, small fish and curled grubs. They are usually rigged with a hook and weight. Plastic lures are most successful when they have a tail that comes to life when retrieved.
Technique: Sink the lure to where the fish are holding and steadily reel it back it in a short way, then let it drop again and repeat. This technique is referred to as ‘slow rolling’.