If you are using a spinner, a spoon or a plug made of plastic, metal, wood or rubber, you’ve got to work hard to make the predator think you are offering them a real fish. So you’ve got to know how the predator thinks. (more…)

The goal here is to fool the predatory fish into thinking your plug is a real, living creature. This means you’ve got to work it right: you’ve got to pick the correct plug for the situation and you’ve got to cast it into the right kind of areas. Here’s just a few tips to get you going.

Know your plug
Learn how the plugs work. Drop them into clear water where you can retrieve them and analyse their action. Sometimes plugs work best retrieved fast, sometimes very slow. Sometimes they’ll look good just hanging inert without you imparting any movement at all. Get to know your plugs like friends. Know how fast they sink. If a plug is buoyant, how fast does it rise back to the surface when you stop the retrieve? All of these factors are important to your success.

Visibility
Be sure your plug is going to be seen. This is more important if the water is at all murky. It’s at times like this when neon orange plugs do great. Or try black – in very clear water, in bright sunlight, a black plug can often outfish every other color.

Size
Perhaps you’ll have to use a bigger plug, which will be more easily seen and will send out more vibrations through the water. Possibly choose a plug that has a sound chamber in which ball bearings rattle, once again sending out enticing signals. (more…)