How to Start Lure Fishing - The OMC First Cast Guide
Lure fishing has to be one of the most interesting and exciting fishing methods. Not only are you targeting ferocious species with teeth, but you also get to use all shapes and colours of lures to try and trigger a bite. Sounds good, right? Here’s how to do it…
Don’t like getting your hands dirty using traditional fishing bait? Try fishing with lures! This fascinating method has created its own entirely different sector within angling. There’s lots to learn and discover, but in this article we’ll share the basics to get you started.
"Fancy catching a fish with teeth? You need to make One More Cast with lures!"
What is Lure Fishing?
Lure fishing is a little different from the fishing you may be used to in many ways. The first and most obvious difference is that it requires the use of a lure. These aren’t bait, although they may well look like it. Lures can be absolutely anything that resembles, or simply encourages, a predatory fish to eat. They come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Some look identical to live prey, while others look like nothing that exists in the wild environment — but all can work at the right time.
"Lures can resemble real fish or nothing at all - they all trigger a predator to bite!"
The second key difference is activity. Lure fishing requires you to constantly impart action into your lure to make fish want to eat it, while also using that lure to search all the likely-looking areas of your venue where a predator may be sitting. This isn’t a method that needs a lot of time; you certainly don’t need a chair or shelter — you just need to be ready to keep moving.
"Lure fishing is a very active method - if you like exploring, you'll love it!"
What Fish Can Be Caught with Lures?
Lures will attract bites from any fish with a predatory nature, and they don’t always have teeth where you’d expect them either. In fact, lures can catch some of our smallest species and some of the very biggest. It’s a super-versatile tactic with very few limits and can be used in both freshwater and saltwater.
Some popular species to target with fishing lures include:
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Pike
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Perch
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Zander
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Trout
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Chub
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Bass
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Salmon
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Catfish
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Cod
Best Beginner Lure Fishing Tackle
So, what kit do you need for lure fishing? Actually, not a lot! That’s one of the biggest benefits of lure fishing — you can travel light and you don’t need to break the bank to get started.
Best Lure Fishing Rods and Reels
Lure fishing rods and reels come in many varieties, and as you progress you may want to explore more specialised setups. To get started, however, there are some reliable all-round options.
Lure rods are generally lighter and shorter than standard fishing rods, with a responsive tip to help you create action on your lure and feel for bites. Look for a rod in the 6–8ft range with a casting weight of around 5–40g and you won’t go far wrong for most species.
"Lure rods are generally much shorter than the rods you my be used to"
For reels, any standard front-drag spinning reel will do. To balance the rod, choose a reel in the 2500–4000 size range.
In our OMC FC range, we’ve launched what we believe to be the perfect starter lure rod and reel combo, built to handle a wide range of species. The combo includes a 7ft, two-piece lure rod constructed from 24T carbon, with a 15–40g casting weight and a soft abbreviated handle. This is paired with a 3000-size front-drag reel featuring a 6kg max drag and a 5.1:1 gear ratio for fast line retrieve. Even better, the reel comes pre-loaded with 20lb braid, which we’ll discuss below.
"Lure rods and reels don't need to be expensive"
Best Lure Fishing Lines
To get the most out of lure fishing, you need a responsive setup. The stretch in standard monofilament line means it isn’t ideal for this method, which is why many anglers use braid instead.
Braided mainline has virtually zero stretch and transmits every bump or potential hit straight through the rod tip to your fingers — the difference really is remarkable. This direct contact also helps you work the lure more efficiently, which can result in more takes.
"Braided mainline is essential for lure fishing"
Best Fishing Lures
As mentioned earlier, put a hook in just about anything and it can be used as a lure. There are literally thousands of lure types, shapes and patterns on the market, all designed for specific species or situations. Let’s break down some of the most common lure families you’ll encounter.
Spinners
Spinners are metallic lures with blades that rotate as they’re retrieved. The hook is located at the rear of the lure, while the blade and body are finished in various eye-catching colours. These lures need constant movement to keep the blade spinning. They don’t really resemble anything found in nature, but the flash and vibration are irresistible to predatory fish. One of the most reliable lure types for multiple species.
Spoons
At first glance, spoons also look like simple chunks of metal and don’t closely resemble natural prey. However, once retrieved, their curved body wobbles and flashes through the water, making them an easy target for visual predators. They work best with a steady retrieve and shouldn’t be fished too slowly or left static.
"Spoons need constant work, but can really entice a pike to strike"
Plugs
Plugs are typically made from plastic or wood and are designed to resemble prey fish. They come in many shapes and sizes, often identified by the diving vane at the front. The larger the vane, the deeper the lure will dive when retrieved.
Some plugs sink slowly, while others float and need to be pulled down by winding the reel. Most plugs feature multiple treble hooks for improved hook-up rates, and many include internal rattles for added attraction. They’re effective for a wide range of species in both freshwater and saltwater.
"The veins on the front of these lures dictate how far it will dive"
Soft Plastics, Shads and Jigs
As the name suggests, these lures are made from soft plastic, which feels more natural when fish bite down. They’re often some of the most realistic lure options available and can be worked very differently to hard lures.
Soft plastics can be bounced, paused and fished extremely slowly along the bottom, making them ideal when fish aren’t in a chasing mood.
"Soft plastic lures can be bounced along the bottom on harder days"
Check Out Our Lure Kits
To make getting started as simple and accessible as possible, the OMC FC range includes ready-loaded lure fishing tackle boxes. Available in Medium and Large options, these kits contain a selection of lures, plus a pair of forceps and two wire traces — essential items we’ll cover below.
"Our lure fishing kits have everything you need to get started"
Other Lure Fishing Essentials
Alongside your main tackle, there are a few items you should always carry when lure fishing:
- Wire traces – essential for preventing sharp-toothed fish from biting through your line
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Long forceps – for quick and safe hook removal
"You don't need the kitchen sink to go lure fishing"
Best Spots for Lure Fishing
One of the great things about lure fishing is that you can do it almost anywhere. Lakes, rivers, canals, beaches and even offshore marks can all be productive.
When choosing where to cast, look for structure. Predatory fish love cover, allowing them to ambush prey. Undercut banks, rocks, weedbeds, snags, deep holes and pontoons are all excellent places to work a lure.
"You can go lure fishing almost anywhere"
How to Fish with Lures
Lure fishing is one of the most straightforward forms of angling. The basic principle is simple: cast your lure and make it behave like a distressed, dead or dying prey fish. It needs to send one clear message to nearby predators — eat me.
"Lure fishing is so simple - anyone can do it!"
1. Setting Up Your Lure Fishing Rod
Thread the line from the reel through the rod rings, then tie a grinner knot (twice through the eye) or a Palomar knot to the swivel end of your wire trace. Clip your chosen lure to the other end and you’re ready to go.
"Use a twice through the eye Grinner or Palomar knot to attach your line to the wire trace"
"Clip your lure to the quick-change link on the wire trace"
2. Casting and Working a Lure
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Identify likely holding spots and cast as close to them as possible. Each lure behaves differently, so it’s a good idea to test it in the margins first to see how it moves.
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Cast out and retrieve the lure. If a fish takes, you’ll feel a solid thump through the braid and rod — strike and play the fish to the net.
"Lure fishing is all about the retrieve"
How to work different lure types:
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Spinners – Sink to the bottom and require a steady, constant retrieve. You can vary the speed but keep them moving.
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Plugs – Sinking plugs dive faster the quicker you reel. They do very little when static, so a steady retrieve is key.
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Spoons – Similar to spinners, they need a consistent retrieve. Try adding occasional rod jerks to increase action when fishing slowly.
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Jigs and shads – These can be fished almost static. Lift and drop the lure by raising and lowering the rod, reeling in slack line. Hits often occur as the lure falls back to the bottom.
3. Work Your Water
Lure fishing is all about covering water. When you arrive at a swim, imagine the water in front of you like a clock face. Start casting to the left and gradually work across to the right. Once every angle is covered, move on to the next spot.
"You need to make lots of casts when lure fishing"
4. Unhooking Predatory Fish (e.g. Pike)
Once you’ve landed a fish with teeth, safe unhooking is crucial. Use the forceps from your OMC FC lure kit and a suitable unhooking mat.
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With the pike on the mat, slide your hand behind the gill covers (avoiding the gills) and grip the hard bone.
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Use forceps to gently open the mouth and remove the hook by pushing it slightly forward before twisting it out.
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Be aware of head shakes. With larger fish, laying them flat and positioning yourself over them (not on them) gives better control.
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Hooks are often in the scissors of the mouth, making removal straightforward.
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Allow the fish to fully recover in the landing net before release.
Extra safety tips:
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Wear a glove to protect against teeth and gill rakers
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Use barbless or crushed-barb hooks where possible
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Fish with a friend — unhooking is much easier with two people
Enjoy an Epic Angling Adventure
That’s a brief overview of lure fishing to help you get started. Be prepared for plenty of walking and thousands of “one more cast” moments — this is fishing for active anglers. You’re going to the fish, not the other way around. So get out there, enjoy it, and get on the lures!
Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC family in spring 2024, after six years working for the UK’s number one fishing publication, Angling Times. He is a keen coarse and carp fishing all-rounder, based in the South West and regularly fishing venues such as the famous Cotswold Water Park.
