Artificial baits - bringing rubber to life

Blinkers, spinners, rubber fish or jerk baits - there are many ways to land a big fish. The various bait types react very differently to varying speeds of presentation.

It all depends on presentation
Spinners, blinkers, rubber fish and twisters run flatter when you increase the speed. This is how you can avoid a branch in the water by simply speeding up. On the other hand wobblers and jerk baits dive deeper at higher speeds and with more frequent tugs. Each type of bait fits a specific task but they all have one thing in common - presentation is paramount. We will show you how to make the best of your artificial bait.

Spinners
Metal lures on wire are a great discovery and loved by all anglers. There is a fool proof system of presentation of the lure: simply throw the line out and wind it in. If you want to take the spinner in more slowly it is important to play with the line from the outset. Start with a retrieval of line after the cast. The spinner starts to turn steadily. A plaited line is easily spotted straight away and can be rectified by a sharp tug. The spinner soon starts to spin again. Versions with little weight on the axis are best suited to the stillest waters. After you have cast the lure retrieve it as quickly as possible so that the bow wave of the lure can be seen on the surface. You sometimes see another bow wave coming to the rod tip if you are lucky enough! The lures spin by water resistance on the fins. In muddy waters it is best to use the bigger and more brightly coloured lures. For extra strong waves use a tandem spinner with 2 parallel fins. An additional tip for the fussy fish - sometimes pike only nudge the lures. It is better to increase the pace of the wind in so that the fish really concentrates on the lure. Changing the speed of the wind makes the whole spinning experience better. The disadvantage of spinning is that it does not net the biggest fish. The bigger finned lures are of course useless in high winds.

Jerk baits
The wobbling lures without fins are slowly becoming more popular with pike anglers. Apart from the huge models of over 100g there are a series of more cast-friendly lures on the market. Along with the main types of glider and diver there are models which jerk like a wobbler. Jerky line retrieval is the art of jerk fishing. Gliders need less strong jerks in order to move from left to right. It's harder with divers. Each pull on the line makes them dive deeper and they float up between pulls. More importance is placed on the rhythm of the pulls and the pauses than the direction of the jerk. Gliders are more precise and operate only with the correct control on the line. Practice makes perfect and it's best to try out the lures first in clear water.

Wobblers
Artificial bait with diving fins exists in thousands of formats. One could spend an age trying them all out. Even with the most pig-headed line retrieval a wobbler can seem the most seductive type of bait. Add to that the powerful movements of the rod tip and the bait becomes even livelier. Many models flash the side pattern or dart to one side. Combining the simultaneous winding in with jerks and spin stops you can make the bait seem very lifelike. Wobblers work just as well if they are trawled or used on the bank. Pay attention to the fact that wobblers only work at a certain speed. If it is too fast many simply drift off course and skid along the surface of the water.

Blinkers
This classic will never disappear from the pike angler's box. Blinkers have always been good value and available in a wide variety of types. The slim but heavy iron part in them enables a good cast. Presentation of the bait is child's play. A simple wind in has the bait offering its most luring qualities to the fish. It is with the variation of technique that its true qualities come to the fore. Wagging the rod tip has the bait acting in its eponymous fashion - blinking and flashing. Yet more fun can be had simply keeping the lure on a taught line - it flashes to one side. Skilled American pike fishermen use this technique to attract the fish at the back. If a pike follows the bait they let it come to within 2 meters of the tip. The pike dashes at the bait often biting straight away near the water's surface. There is a wealth of blinker types - the thinner tin models especially for the winter pike. They do have a speed limit though when it comes to trawling with them. Best to try them out first on the boat or on the bank before fishing.

Rubber fish and twisters
What began years ago as single tailed twisters for bass is now a fertile field - rubber fish. Shads (imitation fish with a paddle tail) are popular with pike fishermen now. Their great plus is their versatility. One bait with a variety of heads can be used for a variety of uses. The basic rule is skill in lifting and sinking the bait. Lift the rod tip to raise the bait and then lower to allow it to sink. Use the rod to control the movement of the bait keeping the rod position steady. Shads rock on the belly and back from side to side. Fishing with this bait requires concentration. Pike often go for the bait from the side and tension on the line is required at all times in order not to avoid a fluffed take.

Rubber fish
No other bait does quite the job of the rubber fish. In medium depths the bait can be problematic as it is difficult to work out the depth. Try out the bait in waters you do know the depth of and work out the timings for the bait to drop. If you know that it takes three seconds for a meter you'll know that 9 seconds will be 3 meters. Allow this timing for all subsequent take-ins of the line and you'll keep to the chosen fishing depth.

What about the wind?
In the wind many rubber fish anglers drop the rod. Regardless of which direction the wind is blowing one keeps to the normal routine. You can keep the bait on track with sideways movements of the rod and feeding the line on the reel. Best to fish using the heavier headed lures so that you know exactly when the lure is grounded. Best of all when the lure is taken dropping back - that's when the real test of a soft lure comes into action.

Source: angling magazine Rute&Rolle