Category: Fishing Gear

My wife rolls her eyes when she sees me head off to the tackle shop to purchase more gear. She’ll remind me how fishing doesn’t have to be that expensive of a hobby, as her uncle used to catch fish just fine with a simple rod, reel, hook and line. She doesn’t understand why I think expensive fishing rods are worth it considering that any old pole will catch a fish.

She just doesn’t get me.

My wife is right though – Fishing is only an expensive hobby if you make it one. You can catch fish all day long off of $10 worth of equipment you pick up at at tag sale. On the other hand, you could easily spend thousands of dollars each year traveling to exotic locations in search of giant fish.

As with all things in life, there’s a balance. In this article, I hope to give beginners some insight into how to strike that balance. I hope to help you avoid the “bait monkey,” and make some informed decisions about how to spend your hard-earned cash on one of life’s great necessities: fishing lures.

What is “The Bait Monkey,” Anyway?

The “Bait Monkey” is a term used to describe how fisherman will run out to the tackle shop to empty their wallets each paycheck. It’s almost like there’s some enchantress on our shoulders, singing a magical tune like the Sirens who tempted Odysseus towards the rocks. Fishing wouldn’t be half as expensive of a pastime if it wasn’t for this critter.

Thanks to the Bait Monkey, we just can’t help but spend more and more money on the latest lure! Our tackle boxes become lined with a hundred different crankbaits even though we only ever throw three. We also outfit our bass boats with the latest electronics even though we know we’re just going to cast towards the same familiar shoreline!

We are enchanted by this Bait Monkey and beyond all salvation, but it’s not too late for you!

I would implore you to do your best to keep fishing economical. Do buy quality items that will last. Don’t let the Bait Monkey guide you towards the rocks of mortgage foreclosure, divorce, or (gasp!) defaulting on your boat loan.

What Fishing Equipment Do You REALLY Need?

What, pray tell, are these quality items you so desperately need, and how will you recognize them? Well, when it comes to essential fishing equipment, it’s actually pretty simple:

1. A fishing rod. Note, it’s not worth getting an expensive rod to start. The St. Croix Triumph makes a good entry level rod. You can read my review about it here.
2. You need a reel to match the rod. If you start with a spinning rod, the reel will be much less expensive. I recommend either a Pflueger Trion or Pflueger President if you want to splurge slightly. Get it in size 30 or 35. Make sure you only put a spinning reel on a spinning rod. Read my article about why you should never mismatch here.
3. Fishing line of some sort. There’s nothing wrong with the old standard, Berkley Trilene XL. If you’re just starting out at this great sport, you’re going to go through a lot of fishing line, and this stuff isn’t expensive.
4. You need a hook for that line. No need to go crazy here. Just get something light, like an Eagle Claw long shank offset hook. They’re inexpensive, good to learn on, and work well for a drop shot.
5. Bait for the hook. You can most likely find some nightcrawlers at a nearby gas station. If you don’t want to use live bait, I’m a big fan of Gulp! products. Some days they really do live up to their boast that they outfish live bait.
6. You probably need a fishing license, but check your local regulations. Some states don’t require seniors or younger children to have one.

That’s about as complicated as it needs to be, folks. If you own, beg, borrow, or steal these six items, you can be a fisherman. I wouldn’t recommend the stealing part though. Karma is a dangerous mistress and you’re about to play with hooks.

How Much Should You Spend On Fishing Gear?

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I know your financial situation. Only you can make the decision as to how much you want to spend on your fishing rod, reel, line, or tackle. Some people need to find tag sale steals to complete a fishing setup for $10. I’ve known others to spend over $1,000 for just one rod and reel combo.

It’s impossible for me to tell you how much to spend on your setup. That is far too situation-specific. I will try to explain how you should apportion that money. In other words, I’ll help you understand which of the five items above (rod, reel, line, hook/tackle, bait, and license) you should spend the most money on, and which ones you can skimp on and still get by.

The Fishing License

Unless you’re very young, or in some cases a senior citizen, there’s no getting around the need for a fishing license.

Exact age range will vary state by state, but for the most part, younger children are exempt.

Some states will allow senior citizens to obtain a fishing license for free, but the expectation is often that they actually carry one. In other words, you need to go through the hassle of getting one, but won’t pay for it. Government, eh?.

Most states offer fishing licenses that last the entire season or shorter periods (3,5, and 7 days are common). States vary in what types of fish they’ll let you target, or even what waters you can fish in. Some states require you to pay extra for certain trout rivers or to fish in the ocean, for example.

Some states have “Free Fish Days” where they’ll let anyone try the sport without a license. This is a one-time deal and might not fit well with your plans. It’s hard to imagine any other equipment (rod, reel, etc.) that would make sense to buy if you were only going to use it once.

There’s an age old saying that “It’s called fishing, not catching,” and this saying is there for a reason. Even if your state has one of those “Free Fish Days,” I wouldn’t plan on catching something the first time out, so you should probably invest in a license so you can give this a real try.

Fishing Line

I’m a bit torn on what to recommend here. One part of me says, “If they’re new, they’re just going to get a ton of tangles or birds nests and go through a lot of line,” but the other part of me says, “They’ll have less line memory, tangles, and potentially birds nests if they get better line in the first place.” My goal is to help you make fishing less expensive of a hobby, but this is one of those darned if you do, darned if you don’t moments.

Best Fishing Line for Beginners: Monofilament

As I mentioned before, I think you should find a happy medium by sticking with Berkley Trilene XL while you’re getting started. It is a monofilament line that has been around for ages and is battle-proven. It is fairly easy to work with and reasonably priced, so you’re less likely to have trouble with it, but even if you do, you won’t waste much money if you need to respool.

Monofilament is also great because it’s safer to use around kids since it is less likely to cut them than braid, so if you’re reading this trying to learn how to take the whole family out, you can’t go wrong with Berkley Trilene XL. If you’re concerned with fishing on lighter line, read this article for some tips on helping prevent fish from breaking it.

Another Option: Braid

If you did want to use braid, I have Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line spooled on most of my reels. I’ve been using it for a few years but I do have to admit that when I first started using it, I had a lot of trouble with it because I wasn’t reeling it onto the reel appropriately. It was an expensive learning curve!

(The trick to save you this same hassle and expense is simply to put on a backing of monofilament before you tie on the braid. Just reel on some monofilament first, then connect it to the braid and continue going. You won’t have an issue of your line slipping and will save yourself some cash).

Fishing Rod

If you want to prevent fishing from becoming too expensive, you need to choose your fishing rod carefully. While expensive rods are certainly worth it over time, you really don’t need anything fancy if you’re just getting started. Instead, you could use whatever you can come up with in a tag sale, or whatever you can find on sale at Amazon or elsewhere.

I do feel you’d be better off starting with a spinning rod. There are some who will tell you that only a baitcaster can cast large lures but this is only partially true. While you would probably want a baitcaster if you were going to toss huge muskie lures all day long, just about any bass lure will do perfectly well on a spinning rod and reel.

Spinning rods tends to be less expensive than baitcasting equipment, for what it’s worth. You also need to consider that entry-level baitcasting reels can be very hard to use. A $40-$60 spinning reel will serve you perfectly well, but it can be hard to find a baitcaster in that range that would work well for beginners without giving you fits.

What Spinning Rod Should I Buy?

I’d recommend that you look for a medium-heavy power, fast action spinning rod about 6’6″ to 7′ long for your first rod. I’d purchase one that has a reputation for durability as you’ll be making many mistakes as you start. A Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite would make a good choice for a beginner.

As you’ll see in that link, the Ugly Stik Elite comes in many sizes and powers. If this was your first and only rod, I’d recommend a medium-heavy power and fast action as that will work well for spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Although not the best choice, it would be passable for crankbaits and topwater lures (including hollow-bodied frogs) as well. This makes this type of spinning rod an all-around good choice.

If this does become a hobby that you could see yourself having for life, it would eventually make sense to upgrade to a better rod, but you don’t need to do this immediately. When you’re ready, consider checking out my post where I discuss the differences between the St. Croix variants I own. They’re great rods for every price point and have never let me down. As stated above, the St. Croix Triumph is also an excellent rod for beginners.

Fishing Reel

If I only had $100 to spend on my entire fishing rod/reel combo, I would invest more money in the fishing reel than the rod (Note: this advice only pertains to a parent’s fishing rod. If I was buying for a child, I’d reverse this advice, as reels don’t hold up well to children).

A rod is a rod is a rod, frankly. A more expensive rod is only really worth it if you’re using techniques that require great sensitivity and precision. For most techniques (especially those a beginner will use), a regular rod will do just fine to hook a large fish. A reel, on the other hand, is the item that’s going to help you land that trophy.

A quality reel will work better, retrieve smoother, and come with a better drag system that will help you land larger fish. Slightly more expensive reels also tend to weigh less, which makes a big deal if you’re using it for several hours.

Trying to fish with a low-end reel isn’t much fun. They don’t have as many ball bearings, are more prone to breaking, and often have unsophisticated drag systems that can cost you fish if a big one makes a sudden run.

I can fish with a “lower end” rod (in fact, one of my favorites only cost about $50) all day, but I hate fishing with entry-level fishing reels. I don’t care if it makes my hobby a little more expensive, it isn’t as much fun fishing with a cheap reel.

This doesn’t mean that you need to break the bank, as quality companies like Plfueger offer reels in reasonable price ranges that are smooth, powerful, and will last for years with a modicum of care. The workhorse in my arsenal is the Pflueger President. It equips about 80% of my lineup.

Inexpensive Fishing Lures and Techniques to Try

If you’re not careful, you can quickly run out of money buying fishing lures. You would think that a $5 fishing lure wouldn’t be the most expensive aspect of this sport, but they add up quickly. I remember one year I headed to the local sporting goods store for their Black Friday sale. By the time I was done, the clerk asked with some trepidation: “Sir, are you ready for your total?” Never a good sign!

If you’re just getting started, or want to keep fishing inexpensive in general, I’d recommend a minimalist approach. You don’t need to purchase a dozen different types of lures, and if you did, you’d probably just find that you bounced between them too frequently to give any a chance to work, anyway.

You could minimize things to such an extent that you’re only using three types of lures and find success:

Spinnerbaits

A spinnerbait is a very simple lure with a bent wire frame that is a great lure for beginners because it is so simple to use: cast it out, and then reel it in. Spinnerbaits come in a variety of colors and sizes and price. If you’re just starting, don’t feel as though you need to buy an expensive model as an entry level spinnerbait will catch fish just as well. A Strike King Bleeding Spinnerbait is a good choice. They catch many fish, they are fairly durable, and they don’t break the bank.

An argument could be made to purchase a Terminator titanium spinnerbait (pictured below). While they are a bit more expensive, they’re made of titanium that springs back after being bit. An issue with steel spinnerbaits is that larger fish tend to demolish them and bend the frames terribly. Sometimes they can be bent back, other times they can’t. You don’t have that issue with the Terminators titanium spinnerbaits. They will, however, eventually snap from becoming brittle. It’s hard to tell when this is going to happen.

Drop Shot Hooks and Sinkers

The drop shot is hands-down my favorite rig for taking kids or beginners out and putting them on a fish. If you’re just starting and want to build your confidence, learn how to rig one of these up and fish them.

I wrote a fairly detailed post talking about this technique (as well as other basic skills you need to take kids fishing) in my post here. I’d suggest reading through it to help you learn how to use this rig.

The only issue with this technique is that the hooks and especially the sinkers can get expensive as you’ll lose many of them. If you find them on sale, you’ll want to buy them in bulk as you’ll go through many. I can’t link you to some in good conscious because you’re going to lose so many of them, you really just want to grab whatever is on sale at the moment. The brand really doesn’t matter.

One thing you will need to consider is if you want to purchase lead sinkers or tungsten ones. Tungesten are more expensive, but I think the way the world is going, lead may not be available forever. There are already some states, like Massachusetts, that ban lead fishing sinkers.

Plastic Worms

A plastic worm is a great compliment to spinnerbaits and drop shots. You can rig these in several different ways and make them weedless if necessary by burying the hook into the worm via a method called a “Texas Rig,” or just rig them “Wacky Style” and let them sink enticingly in open pockets between weeds.

You can buy many types of worms for wacky rigging, but my favorite is the ubiquitous Yamamoto Senko. They’re pricier than some competitors, but they’re supple and just work amazingly well. I prefer them in the 4″ and 5″ sizes, and tend to buy them in various shades of green, brown, and black. You can catch some really large bass on these and they’re very easy lures for kids to use – just toss them out and let them sink. Then raise them up with a few twitches and reel in slowly before letting them sink again – most hits will come as the worm falls.

One concern with plastic worms is that they can get very expensive if you’re wacky rigging them as they tend to pull out easily from the hook. A solution is to invest in little plastic o-rings that push onto the worm as shown in the photo below. This small investment will let you get substantially more use out of the worms and will save you a lot of money in the long run. The product I linked in this paragraph comes with a handy tool for putting the o-rings on your worms as well. I carry one and recommend it.

Bait

Remember that uncle I was telling you about who never bought anything expensive to support his fishing hobby? He used bait. Bait can be free. Assuming you have a garden shovel and live anywhere near wet dirt, you can find worms and night crawlers to fish with. You can also make use of your leftovers from lunch, assuming your area doesn’t consider that littering.

You need not spend any money whatsoever on bait, and doing so would be a luxury. Of course, $2 for a box of 12 night crawlers will spare you the trouble of searching for worms on your hands and knees. I think it’s an easier pill to swallow than a $6 coffee you could make in five minutes for thirty cents.

You can also buy worms in bulk. I use Windsor Wholesale Bait and have been very happy with their service. Just make sure you have enough room in your fridge!

If you do buy worms in bulk, you’ll need to come up with some sort of carrying case for them. I like the Zebco Lil Wormcooler as it is insulated and has a handy loop that you can attach to your belt with a clip (which isn’t included). This means it’s one less thing you need to carry in your hands while you go beat the bank.

Conclusion: Fishing isn’t an Expensive Hobby… Perhaps.

Truth be told, I’ve been bitten by the bait monkey pretty badly in my life and as a result have way more tackle than I could ever use. I’ve turned fishing into a very expensive sport–much more expensive than it ever needed to be.

Fishing can be very inexpensive and you should be able to get everything you need to have a good time out there for less than $100. In fact, if I was starting, that’s exactly what I’d aim to do – get into the sport for less than $100 and then see how I like it.

So, to summarize, if you want to keep fishing inexpensive, remember that expensive rods, reels, and other gear aren’t always worth it. Instead, find an inexpensive spinning rod, match it with a decent spinning reel, put on some decent line and buy bare-bones tackle to start (or dig up your own worms).

This is what you need to go fishing. Anything else is gravy. If you keep it simple and stick to what you actually need, fishing can be one of the least expensive hobbies out there.

Hopefully this article kept a few dollars in your pocket. If you think it could help others, please consider sharing it. You also might consider purchasing my book, Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide, for other advice on items you do (and don’t) need to go fishing successfully.

Thanks,

John Paxton

There has always been a big debate over what catches more fish: live bait or artificial lures.

The answer depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Live bait is better when fishing with young children, or when conditions are tough. Artificial lures are better if you’re able to move around to “power fish,” and are required in most fishing tournaments.

I’ve spent many days fishing with both and decided to write this article to help you understand the difference between the two as well as when you should consider using each. Let’s get started.

The Difference Between a Fishing Lure and Bait

A fishing lure is essentially a man-made object that was invented to try and entice a fish to bite. Bait, on the other hand, is something that lives (or lived) and is an actual food substance.

You might think that live bait would always be better than artificial lures, but there are times when this isn’t true.

Types of Bait

You can put just about any type of prey or food substance on the end of your hook that you’re comfortable with and the law allows for, but the most common bait are probably worms, minnows, corn and bread.

Worms

The classic nightcrawler is probably the bait everyone started with (it certainly was for me, and for my kids). For some reason, fish love worms, and are quick to eat them.

Worms make a great bait to bring along with the kids because they’ll attract every fish in the lake. When you’re just trying to catch something, it’s hard to beat them.

While worms do pretty well in storage for a few weeks, they will die if you let them get too warm. I recently wrote an entire article on using dead worms vs. live ones. In it, I reached the conclusion that you’re better off trying to keep them fresh.

One great thing about worms is that you probably have them right in your yard and garden. Kids love digging for them and will have fun gathering their own bait. With that said, they are worth buying at the store if you can’t find big, plump, juicy ones on your own. You can also buy them in bulk from retailers such as Windsor Wholesale Baits, which saves a lot of money.

Minnows

Minnows are live bait fish that you can purchase by the dozen from many tackle shops. They come in a range of species and sizes and make fairly good bait. They aren’t as hardy as worms and tend to be “big fish bait.”

I spent many summers on Lake Champlain fishing with these as a kid. They certainly work when you can find fish, but don’t expect magic. If you’re able to locate a school of bass, your kids can have a day for the ages, but if you can’t, in my opinion it’s not that different than throwing lures.

Some people will tell you to go catch your own minnows. I would urge you to check local regulations before you do this. You should also only use fish from the same waterway you intend to fish. You don’t want to introduce a non-native species by fishing. If it is legal and you want to catch your own, consider using something like a Frabill Minnow Seine.

Some places, like Lake Champlain along the New York and Vermont border, regulate which species of minnows can be used. They insist on proof of purchase to confirm that they were sourced appropriately. Make sure you know the local laws and regulations.

The bottom line is you can get in a world of trouble if you’re not careful using minnows. I am not a lawyer and cannot give you legal advice, so please call your local game warden or ask the owner of your local tackle shop for insight into the laws of the waters you intend to fish.

Corn

I used to have a lot of fun as a kid at a local pond fishing for sunfish with corn. Two or three little kernels seemed to be all I needed to get fish to bite on the right day.

If you don’t have access to nightcrawlers, or simply don’t want to use them, corn can work pretty well as a substitute. Just make sure that you check your local regulations. I’ve heard of certain places considering it littering, or “feeding the animals” which is banned in many waters.

A lovely couple with another fishing website wrote a state by state guide detailing their research on fishing with corn. Just bear in mind that laws change frequently, so you’ll want to double check their work.

Bread

Bread can work very well for bluegill and sunfish. What you do is take some and ball it up so that you can pierce it with a hook. As the water softens the bread, you’re going to need to replace it as it will eventually fall off.

As with corn, you should check your local regulations. There is a chance that this could be considered littering, for one. Secondly, some places don’t want you feeding the ducks bread, so don’t be caught with a loaf.

Chicken Liver

This stuff works great for catfish, bullhead, bowfin, and other exotic species. It is very hard to keep on the hook, but if you manage to it is hard to beat. If you present this in an area where these large fish can find it, they’ll eat it.

Chicken liver’s downside is it smells horrific and makes a terrible mess. I definitely wouldn’t recommend using it from a brand new boat if you’re partial to how the carpet looks and smells. It also attracts flies and other insects quickly and so it isn’t always the most pleasant way to fish.

Leeches and Other Critters

There are a host of other types of bait. Basically, anything that a fish would normally eat can be attached to hook and used to entice a bite. Walleye anglers love leaches, a lot of trophy bluegill hunters swear by crickets, and many large catfish have been caught with cut up bluegill.

You can use just about anything but I would, once again, urge you to check your local regulations just to make sure you’re fully compliant with the law.

When It is Best to Use Live Bait Instead of Artificial Lures

I would recommend using bait of some sort when it is legal and you absolutely need to catch a fish quickly. Thus, it is my number one choice when fishing with kids. Once upon a time, I envisioned teaching my son how to fish without ever using bait, but this didn’t last very long.

I owed it to him to help him learn how to fish and to do that I had to make sure he had fun his first few times out. You do that by putting fish on the hook, not by teaching high-brow “artificial only” fishing techniques.

Bait is also great for a more leisurely fishing approach. It can be very relaxing to sit on the bank with a rod and enjoy the sunset while waiting for a catfish to swim by, or to play catch with your kids while a few rods rest on a forked stick waiting for a bluegill.

With all that said, fishing is only going to be as good as the fishing spot. It’s impossible to catch a fish that isn’t there, after all. I find that a lot of the fishermen who are using bait don’t seem to catch many fish. This is likely because they tend to wait for the fish to find them rather than going out in search of them. If you’re in the wrong spot, fishing with bait can be pretty boring.

Types of Artificial Lures

There are far more types of artificial lures out there than space to write here about them. They come in a host of different shapes and sizes, each designed to approach or address a slightly different situation. Some of the more common ones you’ll find are as follows:

Plastic Worms & Other Creatures

Probably the most famous artificial lure is the simple plastic worm. Some are designed to directly mimic worms, bugs, fish, rodents, and apparently alien life forms not from this earth. Some look very realistic while others make you wonder what the designer was doing when he thought of it.

They can come from the factory pre-scented, or you can apply your own. I would recommend trying to buy worms with some sort of scent to them or a high salt content.

A great worm that works very well is the Senko by Gary Yamamoto Baits. You can purchase them pack by pack, or buy a Yamamoto Senko Kit that comes with several colors so you can see what works best in your lake.

Plastic worms can be rigged them many different ways, including weedless, which makes them very versatile. Wired2Fish has a great article that discusses five of the more common ways to rig them.

They make a great lure for kids and beginners as they’re so simple to use. You’ll often find people (including me) recommend that you tie on before you leave the dock. These lures will catch any fish large enough to bite it.

Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits

These lures are designed to be cast and retrieved at speed repeatedly. Spinnerbaits are retrieved under the water while buzzbaits ride along the surface spitting up bubbles as they go.

These are both designed to catch active fish as they require the fish to attack aggressively. While you can vary your speed and slow things down when times are tough, they are often fished very fast and are outstanding lures for power fishing.

Believe it or not, but spinnerbaits actually make great lures to troll with, especially if you’re with your kids. I wrote an article about trolling for pickerel with my four-year-old this year that you can read here.

Bass Jigs

These might be one of the more popular lures among tournament bass fisherman. They’re certainly responsible for some of the larger catches of all time. These are relatively simple lures, with a weighted head matched to a skirt of some sort, but they give off such a large profile that large bass tend to love them.

There are a host of options out there on the market, each with a unique design to accomplish different goals. Jigs are usually used for crawling over rocks, inching over laydowns, and swimming through weeds. There are some monster sized ones for fishing very deep and tiny, “finesse” applications for when you can’t buy a bite.

Speaking of the bite, it can be very hard to detect. I always struggled with jigs until I picked up some better equipment that was more sensitive. If you’re also struggling, check out my article on whether or not expensive fishing rods are worth it for some recommendations.

Crankbaits

These are an awesome lure for power fishing, and as soon as you know how to cast accurately and safely, you can start loading up the boat with fish by tossing crankbaits.

They’re very simple lures that have been around for some time. They’re essentially little wood or plastic plugs that have some treble hooks attached to them and are designed to dive to a certain depth once retrieved.

Even though they have treble hooks, many are designed with a large bill in the front that serves two purposes: (1) it allows the lure to dive when retrieved; (2) it allows some protection from the hooks as the bill shields them and deflects the plug off of cover.

Because of the treble hooks, I don’t like throwing these with my son in the boat. I’ll save them for when he gets older and I have more confidence in his casting.

Swimbaits

Swimbaits are a fairly new type of artificial lures, and quickly becoming one of the best. They can either be soft plastic or made from a hard material and are designed to look like live bait fish. Some of them are quite expensive (too expensive for me to risk in pike and pickerel-filled waters) but folks swear by them.

These make a good search bait and are good for beginners as you just cast and retrieve them, but they aren’t as weedless or tooth-proof as spinnerbaits as there is no bent wire frame to protect the hook from the weeds, or the line from some teeth.

Jerkbaits

These are some of my favorite lures. They look like long, skinny crankbaits and will either float, sink, or suspend at rest depending on the model. You work them by giving your rod a series of jerks in various patterns and rhythms until you find one that the fish like.

This is a very good cold water technique because it can be fished very slow and subtle. This allows you to keep the plug in an area where you expect fish to be stacked, such as in the pre-spawn.

Jerkbaits have been responsible for most of the 100-fish days in my life. If you get a few friends together during the pre-spawn and find the right rocky points, you can really clean up with this technique.

Topwater Plugs

Topwater plugs includes any type of lure that looks somewhat like a crankbait or jerkbait and is intended to float. What you do is toss it out (especially during low light conditions), wait for the ripples to subside, and then give it a little twitch or two. Wait for the ripples to subside again, and twitch it again.

This drives fish crazy, and can lead to some spectacular blowouts as fish burst through the water to attack it.

Unfortunately, the hook up rate can be low at first. It takes time to learn to make sure the fish actually got the lure before excitedly setting the hook. Many a fish got away because someone was too excited and set the hook too soon.

Frogs

This artificial lure is meant to look just like live bait. Frogs are a weedless topwater lure that are commonly thrown into very heavy vegetation, such as lily pad fields. You hop or crawl them across the top in the hopes of enticing giant bass to bite.

Frogs can be very frustrating lures. I’d never recommend them for kids or beginners. Nonetheless, they are very effective at drawing a strike at least, and visually impressive. They are plenty of fun so long as you can deal with plenty of failure.

Purchasing proper gear will improve your success rate with these lures. You’ll want a very heavy rod paired with very heavy braided line. Most folks recommend 65lb braid, though I tend to use 50. These sizes are far too heavy for most spinning reels, so you’re going to need baitcasters, which is another reason this is a poor technique for kids.

Spoons

Spoons are an older design that are still used today and catch a ton of fish. Essentially, they’re a piece of metal with a hook attached. They can be relatively flat, or curved like the business end of a spoon. Some are painted, while others are bare metal.

Spoons are popular lures to troll as they have an enticing, wobbling action while dragged through the water. They can also be cast and retrieved with a stop and go method that allows them to flutter down each time you stop reeling.

While they’re most popular with pike and salmon fishermen, bass will also take these lures.

When It Is Best to Use Artificial Lures Instead of Live Bait

I’d argue that you use an artificial lure any time that you want to get better at fishing. Every time you cast one out you’re practicing with it and building experience that you can apply later (especially if you decide to fish tournaments someday).

I also find artificial lures to be easier to use around heavy weeds and other cover. This is mostly because live bait tends to leave the hook exposed and will foul easily in such conditions. There are certain artificial lures and ways to rig them that are ideally suited for fishing in slop or laydowns and will come through without much issue.

Artificial lures are also very useful when you want to cover a lot of water by “power fishing.” This technique involves rapidly casting and retrieving to search for the active fish in an area. While there’s nothing that says you can’t also power fish with live bait, it probably won’t hold up to repeated casting as well and you may find it often flies off the hook. Also, most live bait is fished fairly slow. With power fishing you want to cover a lot of water quickly.

Finally, you should use artificial lures if you are in a bass fishing tournament. Chances are if you don’t, you’re in violation of the tournament rules!

Berkley Gulp vs. Live Bait

There is a third option. While Berkley Gulp is technically an artificial lure and not live bait, it almost comes across as a “hybrid.” It is a very supple lure with great action that comes absolutely doused in scent and attractant. The minnows especially are one of my all-time favorite dropshot lures.

Berkley Gulp can be used in fishing tournaments, though if you’re the co-angler you’d better be careful not to spill the juices all over your boater’s carpet. This would not endear you to your fishing partner!

Berkley claims that Gulp outfishes live bait and I’ve certainly had days where it seemed that way. If you get small enough minnows that panfish can fit in their mouths, you could actually go out with kids, leave the nightcrawlers at home, and do just fine.

This product is a great alternative if you have moral or philosophical objections to using live bait while fishing, but still want your kids to have a good time.

One thing I don’t like about the product is that it’s really hard to keep fresh over time and doesn’t seem to work as well if you buy it in the bags than if you purchase it in the big plastic tubs. The tubs keep the lures submerged in attractant and I find these work much, much better.

If you buy the tubs, make sure you keep them out of the sun as the liquid heats up quickly and tends to make the lures even softer and more likely to pull from the hook.

The Verdict: What is Better, Live Bait or Artificial Lures?

For years, I was a bit of a “purist’ and would only fish with artificial lures, but this all changed the second my son was born and I knew I had to put him on as many fish as possible, as quickly as possible.

If you’re just teaching your kids to fish, or even learning to fish yourself, you’ll have more successes and smiles if you bring along some nightcrawlers for the trip.

That’s not to say you can’t also fish with artificial lures, but one of the maxims I try to follow (especially when fishing with children) is to put a fish–any fish–into the livewell as quickly as possible to “get the skunk out of the boat” and just ensure that something was caught. As with everything else in life, much of your success while fishing will boil down to your morale, so catching something quickly is key.

With that said, if you’re going by yourself (or even with a little more patient children), bring those artificial lures along. Fishing with them will make you a better fisherman and you can apply what you learn with artificial lures when you’re fishing live bait as well.

In sum, there is a place for both.

I hope this article helped reduce your learning curve a bit. I wrote a book that aims to help reduce it even more. Consider purchasing your copy of Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide today!

Thanks,

John Paxton