How many tackle boxes stuffed with fishing lures do you own? Two? Three? Even more?
You're not alone. Most anglers think they need the latest and greatest lure to hit the shelves of the tackle stores.
But truth be known, three lures are all you need to get the job done.
To cover the water column, you need one plug for the surface, another for middle depths and one to cover the bottom. That's all.
Surface lures are many anglers' favorite because the actual strike is visible. It's a thrill to see a huge fish crash a topwater plug. Baits with propellers or a walk-the-dog action are great choices. Lure patterns are a matter of preference, and natural colors are always a good choice.
To cover the water below the surface, it's hard to beat a spoon. These hunks of metal can be cast a long way, which means they cover a lot of water and produce more bites. Gold is the choice of many pros, and silver holds its own.
For the bottom, nothing works better than a jig. Some guides use only jigs when clients want to throw artificials. Jigs are versatile, they're easy to use and they catch fish. Dress up a jig with a soft-plastic tail and you're ready to go. Tails come many colors, but try a light color in clear water and a dark color in dark or stained water.
- Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at 727 510-4376 or by e-mail at captainrick@luckydawg.com
