What Is a Fishing Lure and What Fish Are Attracted to It?

When it comes to fishing, there are many different opinions on the best way to catch a fish. Some people prefer to use bait, while others believe that lures are the way to go. So what is a fishing lure, and why do fish like them?

Reading about fishing is one thing, but learning about the different types of fishing lures and what fish they are intended to catch is another. Understanding what these lures look like and how they work will help you to select the right one for your needs.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, read on to learn more!

What Is A Fishing Lure?

Fishing lures are artificial baits used to attract and catch fish. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, and wood.

Fishing lures can be divided into two main categories: hard lures and soft lures. Hard lures are solid, often metallic baits that resemble natural prey such as fish, frogs, or insects. Soft lures are made from soft plastics and are designed to look like live baitfish.

Both hard and soft lures can be rigged with hooks to catch fish. Some fishing lure designs incorporate one or more built-in hooks, while others require the angler to attach a separate hook before casting.

Some lures are designed to resemble the natural prey of fish, while others are made to produce sound or vibration that mimics the movement of baitfish. Meanwhile, topwater lures mimic the action of insects or small animals on the surface of the water.

Regardless of their design, all fishing lures are intended to create a false sense of invitation or temptation to lure fish close enough for the angler to cast a line and catch them.

Does Fishing With Lure Better Than Bait?

It depends on what you’re fishing for. In general, bait fishing is better for larger fish, while lure fishing is better for smaller fish.

Lure fishing can be more fun because you get to see the fish bite your lure. Bait fishing can be more productive because the bait smells like food to the fish, and they are less likely to spit out the bait. It also helps to keep your tackle box lighter since you don’t need as many lures as you do different types of bait.

Lures are often more versatile than baits since they can be used in a wider range of conditions and can be retrieved at different speeds. In addition, lures typically last longer than bait and don’t need to be replaced as often.

What Fish Are Attracted to Lures?

Northern Pike

There are many fish that are attracted to lures, but some of the most popular are as follows:

• Bass
• Trout
• Salmon
• Walleye
• Pickerel
• Crappie
• Northern Pike
• Muskellunge

Each type of fish has its preferences when it comes to colors and styles of lures, so it’s important to do some research before you start fishing to know what kinds of lures will be most likely to attract them.

Many factors such as water temperature, time of day, and type of water will affect what kind of fish are most active and therefore more likely to bite at a lure. Experimenting with different types of lures in different conditions is often the best way to figure out what works best in any given situation.

Why Do Fish Like Lures?

There are a few reasons why fish might be attracted to lures. One is that the lure resembles something that the fish would normally eat. Many anglers believe that fish love lures because they resemble the real thing – a juicy minnow or a wriggling worm.

While it’s true that lures can trigger a feeding response in fish, there’s more to it than that. Fish are ambush predators, meaning they typically lie in wait for their prey to swim by before attacking.

Another reason is that the lure may make some kind of movement that looks like an injured or easy-to-catch prey item. Finally, some lures give off a scent that attracts fish even when they can’t see the lure itself. All of these factors can make a lure an attractive option for fishing.

This means that they’re used to seeing prey items coming from a distance. Lures provide fish with this opportunity, giving them time to assess the size, shape and animation of the bait before striking.

Suggested Reading: Best Surf Fishing Lures

Pro Tip

If you love fishing, you’ll definitely want to try your hand at surf fishing. This type of fishing is a lot of fun, and it can be quite rewarding.

To increase your chances of success when surf fishing, you will need to use the right lures. We’ve also discussed what the best trout fishing lures are in this post: Best Surf Fishing Lures

Suggested Reading

Pond Bass Fishing Lures

Kayak Fishing Lures

Best Trout Fishing Lures