How to Identify Fishing Bait
- 1). Recognize spinning baits by the blade that twirls as you retrieve the lure through the water. At some point on the lure, there will typically be a treble hook. Some spinners have a plastic minnow or frog after the blade but before the hooks, while others possess a "skirt" that hides the hooks. The skirt is comprised of plastic strips, rubber or other synthetic materials.
- 2). Match soft plastic bait to the creature it represents. Plastic worms are the most common of the soft plastics, coming in various lengths and a plethora of colors. Other commonly employed soft plastics include such creatures as frogs, crayfish, slugs and mice. You will have little problem categorizing these baits.
- 3). Look for the concave shape of a fishing spoon. This lure acquires its name from resembling the bowl of the eating utensil. The curved lure catches the water and wobbles as you reel it in. Spoons come in different sizes and weights with various colored patterns to fool the fish.
- 4). Recognize a jig by its "head and collar." Most jigs have a hook with molded metal surrounding the top part near the eye, which serves to give the lure weight. Jigs come in many types, with some panted to resemble baitfish, others possessing a plastic creature body and still others having that "skirt" to keep the hook from view.
- 5). Discern a surface plug by its ability to float on the water. Most have a pair of treble hooks hanging from them, with one in the front and the other in the back. Plugs made of hollowed plastic and sometimes wood look like baitfish, frogs, mice or other things that a hungry fish might spot on the surface. Many surface plugs have a chamber that contains a rattle, which sends off noise and vibrations to get the attention of game fish.
- 6). Identify a diving crankbait by its "lip." These lures look like baitfish and anglers use them to fish beneath the surface, making the bait seem lifelike. To keep it down under the water, the crankbait has an angled plastic piece in front that causes the lure to move downwards as you bring it towards you. The depth of a crankbait depends on such factors as the size and angle of its lip and upon how fast you reel it in.
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