Fishing lure

A fishing lure is an artificial, inedible bait designed to mimic prey. These tools are engineered to attract predatory fish by imitating the appearance and movement of real food. Lures use various shapes, colors, and vibrations to trigger a fish's foraging or territorial instincts. This often provokes a strike, where the fish attempts to eat the lure. While some lures are purchased from commercial tackle shops, others are hand-made by anglers. For example, fly fishers often tie their own specialized lures by hand.

To use a lure, an angler must first connect it to a fishing line. This is done using specific knots, such as the improved clinch knot or the Palomar knot. Sometimes, a small metal ring called a split ring is used to allow for more freedom of motion. A tiny, pin-like fastener known as a snap may also connect the lure to a swivel. The line is typically attached to a reel, which can be cranked to retrieve the lure. The angler uses a rod to cast the lure into the water or drop it down. Once submerged, the angler creates movement by winding the line, sweeping the rod, or jigging the rod tip. Another method is trolling, which involves dragging the lure behind a moving boat.

Lures come in many distinct types based on their design and intended use. Artificial flies are designed to look like insects and are used in fly fishing. Jigs are weighted hooks with a heavy head, often used to sink to great depths. Some deep-water saltwater jigs can reach depths of 300 meters. Plugs, also called crankbaits, are shaped like fish and use a front bib to create instability. This instability causes them to move in specific ways through the water. Spoon lures are shaped like a concave spearhead to wobble and flash in the light.

There are also soft plastic baits made of rubber or plastic to resemble worms, crabs, or lizards.

Some advanced designs combine multiple lure characteristics into one tool. A Chatterbait, or vibrating jig, is an amalgamation of several different constructs. It features a weighted jighead, a silicone or feathered skirt, and an inline spinner blade. As it is retrieved, it vibrates to alert nearby fish. Combined lures can also be used together in a setup called a rig. A rig is a terminal tackle setup that combines a hooked lure with sinkers, bobbers, and swivels. One specific rig is the daisy chain, which is a cluster of unhooked plastic lures. This mimics a school of forage fish to attract predators toward a hooked lure spread.

History shows that humans have used artificial tools for fishing for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that lures were used at least 12,000 years ago. While early anglers used edible baits on bone or bronze hooks, artificial options appeared later. The ancient Chinese and Egyptians used rods and lines as early as 2,000 B.C. In the late 2nd century, the Roman scholar Claudius Aelianus described Macedonian anglers using red wool and feathers. This was an early form of fly fishing. During the Song dynasty, from 960 to 1279, the Chinese used "wooden fish" to catch large fish like the yellowcheek. Nordic people also produced spoon lures made of iron, bronze, or copper between the 8th and 13th centuries.

Modern lure production evolved significantly during the 18th and 19th centuries. English tackle shops sold tin minnows in the mid-1700s, and rubber bug imitations appeared by 1800. In the United States, the first production lures, such as metal spoons and spinnerbaits, arrived in the late 19th century. Makers included Julio T. Buel and Riley Haskell. By the early 1900s, companies like Heddon in Michigan began commercially manufacturing fishing plugs. This marked a shift from individual craftsmen making lures to large-scale commercial production. Today, lures can even include technology, such as LED lures that use batteries to create flashing or strobing light patterns.

Using lures offers significant benefits for both the angler and the marine environment. One major advantage is the reduction in the use of live bait. This helps prevent the overharvesting of species that are low on the food chain. Protecting these species helps maintain the stability of marine food webs. Additionally, lures can improve fish survival rates during catch and release fishing. Studies have shown that lures reduce the incidence of deep hooking. Deep hooking is a serious issue that is often correlated with higher fish mortality. By using artificial tools, anglers can enjoy the sport while helping to protect aquatic ecosystems.