BLOG: The fast track to lure success

I HAVE a pretty large circle of fishing partners. This ranges from numerous family members to close friends down to associates that pester me for a session here and there.

I don't mind the harassment really as I thoroughly enjoy teaching newcomers to lure fishing how to use them properly and how deadly they can be. No matter how much you tell somebody how effective lures, and in particular plastics are, unless they see it firsthand it usually falls on deaf ears.

In one day I see the transformation occur. Where they approached the day with a little scepticism, if all goes according to plan, and usually it does, it's soon replaced with infinite possibilities and a sense of accomplishment. That is the nature of luring. When the deceit is mastered and a fish is caught it's a rewarding feeling.

While no one can be a master in a day - ten years on and I'm learning every time I fish - one of the most interesting facets of teaching newcomers is the natural ability some have. I have taught people who have never cast a rod to catch fish on plastics in their first outing while others who have fished bait their whole lives can't seem to make the transition.

Fishing lures requires a certain level of feel and to be honest, you either have it or you don't. It can be taught but it's a long road ahead.

Usually with first-timers I get them to spin their wheels on plastics and blades as it's an easier task than other lure types. The onus from my perspective is to ensure they catch a few fish regardless of the size and type and make a big deal of it when it occurs.

I have sat back and analysed the teaching process for some time. Below are four less-publicised features of using plastics and blades that I can focus on when teaching a greenhorn and lay the foundation for a shortcut to success.

Line Control
Taking for granted someone can cast, the most important facet to mastering plastics and blades is line control. You don't often hear it being mentioned but line control for a newbie will dictate whether they are able to sense where their lure is during the retrieve and how to react to it. It's the difference between catching a few tailor high in the water column or a prized bream foraging on the bottom.

Almost instinctively I do it and don't realise it. If wind is present and it usually is; having a belly of line out is detrimental to the visibility needed to assess where your lure is in the water. I make them concentrate on seeing the line slacken as it hits the bottom and it's their cue to take up the slack line and work the lure. Often I see massive bellies of line and the offender looking aimlessly at it, waiting for some detectable sign that never comes.

Good line management means no slack line and direct contact with your lure. This allows you to feel bites better and offers a better hook up rate.

Presentation
Apart from tying knots I usually get newbies to do everything themselves. This means feeding their plastics onto hooks. While at times I see some shonky set ups work, more often than not it's the perfect presentation that attracts fish.

Lure Placement
An important feature to catching fish is to know where to place your lure. While this may rest with the teacher to some degree, reading the environment and deciding where to cast is critical. Fishing can be a game of inches and a cast just short of the mark may not elicit the strike.

Show Patience
This comes in two guises. First, the one feature all newbies share is a lack of patience while working a lure. More often than not I see them working their lure long before they have given it a chance to bounce off the bottom. It's not super critical to hit the bottom for every species but the bread and butter fish we chase in Sydney requires us to fish in this manner. A big part of my day is to getting them into a rhythm. This means counting in between jerks of the rod to make them understand sink rates for given jighead sizes.

The second aspect is patience in between bites. Fish don't bite all day and whether you use lure or bait, you need to dig in your heels and see out the lean times. Eventually it will begin to happen.

So there you have it. Four aspects to luring I consider vital for any newcomer to focus on to streamline their success.

Do you think there are other things to teach a greenhorn when they start out?