Everything You Wanted to Know About Artificials 
By CAPT. MEL BERMAN, 970-WFLA

Ever wonder who the first brave soul was to eat a raw oyster, drink cow’s milk or chow down on snails back in the early days of man? Had to be someone very hungry and with lots of what we might call “chutzpa.” That same conjecture goes through our mind as we ponder who was the first ancient to try to fool fish with a lure.

Back in the Dark Ages, the rivers, lakes and seas had to be overflowing with all sorts of baitfish – some that have undoubtedly become extinct. Yet, there was that Neanderthal with enough “chutzpa” to attempt catching fish with a small piece of twig or something he crafted into an imitation bait.

We’ll never know who the father of the original artificial was back at the dawn of man, but several modern day anglers and lure manufacturers owe him (or possibly her) a great debt of gratitude. The lure industry today generates billions of dollars annually in sales, whose products are enthusiastically deployed by countless fishers worldwide.

Why artificials? That’s a question to this day that goes unsatisfactorily answered for a large segment of the fishing public -- those who choose to pursue their favorite fish species with baits that Mother Nature was kind enough to provide.

Yet, there are those in the other camp who would never even consider buying a bait bucket crammed with live shrimp, harvesting a pail full of worms or fiddler crabs, or chumming up a school of baitfish and repeatedly throwing a castnet.

In this argument, we shall remain neutral. Certainly there are advantages and disadvantages to each discipline. However, today it is our mission to look into the use of the several types of available lures, how to work them, and to determine the reasons why folks enjoy using them.

Let’s begin with the latter and learn what it is about using lures that is so compelling to this vast army of artificial bait users.

For one thing, those addicted to these pieces of plastic, wood and metal will tell you that they enjoy a much more interesting fishing trip. With artificials one has the ability to cover a vast area, as opposed to casting a shrimp or other live offering in one spot, then hoping and praying that a fish will come by and eat it.

As a dedicated lure thrower once said, “I like the idea of always doing something, instead of sitting there drowning a live bait.” However, at the core of the “artificianado’s” devotion is the sense that they are “putting one over on the fish” – making the finny critters perceive through various techniques that something good to eat or even annoying is passing by.

Then there is the joy and challenge of experimenting with a variety of lures, working each at varying retrieves, twitches and slurps, even modifying them ourselves with different configurations and colors. We do all this to see what kind of response that plug, spoon or jig will evoke. And one never knows what the results might be.

On the other hand, we know deep down that the most consistent lure fishers are those who doggedly stay with one specific bait. It could be a plug, jig or spoon they know catches fish, and will work it until it produces strikes. Invariably these determined individuals wind up with at least as many hook-ups as any itchy lure-changer.

The fact is that, to be a successful angler, you need to get intimate with that one special confidence bait. It should be one with a proven track record for you... a plug, spoon or jig with which you’ve achieved a consistent measure of success. Stay with it. Put it through its paces. Try various retrieves. Observe what it does in calm or choppy waters.

Once you get a fish to bite, note how fast or how slow you were working the lure. Did you twitch lightly or rip it through the water. Were you keeping the rod tip down, up, or off to the side? Get satisfactory answers to all these questions, making mental, or even written notes of these details. All of these are important snippets of information that can ultimately educate you in the productive use of your one preferred lure. Above all, have patience. Stay with it. Give that bait ample time to work for you.

You might want to conduct a brief experiment: During your next fishing trip, try using that one preferred artificial exclusively all day long. Leave the loaded tackle box closed. Resist the temptation to change. You could very well surprise yourself and wind up with a successful and rewarding new fishing tactic – using your very own confidence bait.

The big payoff for all, however, comes when one observes the huge wake of a lunker chasing down that topwater plug, a hungry fish “binking” a jig, or brutally nailing a well-presented spoon.

Let us now examine the various types and categories of available artificial baits and, most importantly, how to work them for optimum results.

Virtually all the artificials we shall discuss are capable of producing very gratifying results when worked properly and under the appropriate conditions. We’ll describe each type and specifically how to work them. In most cases, you should be able to translate the techniques described for your own favorite brand of lures.

Also, bear in mind there are many factors which can affect fishing conditions and how the various species responds to a given bait. Weather, tides, cold fronts and other atmospheric phenomena could very well be inhibiting factors. Nevertheless, each set of even adverse circumstances present an interesting challenge, and could actually prove to be a valuable learning experience. Experienced anglers will tell you that’s what separates the men from the boys, so to speak. Above all, persistence is the key. Give these artificials half a chance, and we feel confident that you should soon be elevating your fishing ability.

Among the most popular lure styles is the jig. Comprised of a lead jig head with plastic or fiber jig tails, they are among the easiest to work. Simply flip it out, let it drop, twitch it upward, let it drop again. Repeat several times until it is retrieved back to the angler's fishing position. Most of the time fish will strike on the drop.

Several anglers enjoy fishing success by simply casting the jig out, down toward the bottom and then slowly “swim” the jig with an occasional light twitch. Jig tails with some kind of wiggle action work best using this technique.

You can also “Texas rig” a plastic jig tail, placing it on a worm hook and working it on the surface like a topwater plug or, adding a bit of lead weight, reeling and twitching it just below the water’s surface.

Another element to consider when jig fishing is the design of the jig head itself. Most are of the so-called “cannonball” variety – perfectly round, with or without painted on eyes.

Then there are those jig heads that impart some additional action to the jig. These could be flat, oval or other configurations that provides various kinds of enticing action to this versatile bait.

Colors play a key role in the success of any jig and, even though fish cannot perceive the spectrum as humans can, they do recognize dark vs. light, sparkling or reflective tails and certainly the swimming action of each type of jig.

And finally, there is the issue of eyes on a jig head. Many fervently believe that a jig head with eyes attracts fish much more effectively that head without eyes. These days, there are now available jig heads with large holographic eyes built in, which many insist will catch more fish.

In our next installment, we’ll talk about other major types of artificial lures, how they work and how to catch fish with them. Stay tuned.