Fishing Lures

The lure is an angler's most important tool and the umbrella term for every artificial bait. The same word covers plugs, jigs, spoons, jerkbaits, surface lures, spinnerbaits and many more. The right lure imitates a fish's natural prey, such as baitfish, a crayfish or an insect, and triggers the predator to strike. Happy Angler's range covers lures for every method, from spin fishing to trolling, ice fishing and fly fishing, and for every common species from perch to pike, zander and trout.

How to choose the right lure

The right lure depends on your target species, the water, the season and your fishing method. A few rules of thumb help you get started:

• Size: match the lure size to the fish and its forage. Choose a smaller lure for perch and clear water, a larger one for pike and stained water. Towards autumn, a bigger lure often tempts a bigger fish.
• Colour: natural colours work in clear water and bright sun, while bright, visible colours shine in stained water and overcast weather. Keep a few of each in your box.
• Running depth: choose your lure by how deep the fish are holding. Surface lures and shallow-running plugs for fish near the top, heavy jigs and deep-diving plugs for the deep holes.
• Activity: active fish take fast, eye-catching lures, while passive fish prefer slower and more subtle presentations.
• Action: every lure has its own movement. A steadily wobbling plug and a spinning blade attract on a slow retrieve, while jerkbaits and jigs call for active twitches. Try different speeds until you find what works on the day.

Lures by type

• Plugs are the most versatile lure type and work for almost every species, both when casting and trolling.
• Jigs and microjigs are the first choice for zander and perch near the bottom. For pike, choose pike jigs and pike shads.
• Spoons are dependable classics that cast far and suit many species.
• Jerkbaits are large pike lures for active fishing.
• Poppers and surface lures bring exciting topwater strikes on warm summer evenings.
• Spinners, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and blade baits and spin tails wake up even passive fish with vibration and flash.
• For trolling you will find dedicated weighted lures to reach the right depth.

If you are not sure where to start, our lure assortments put together a versatile starter selection in one go.

Lures by target species

You can choose lures directly by your target catch. The most popular options are gathered in the categories perch lures, zander lures, pike lures and trout lures. If you fish for migratory species, choose sea trout lures and asp lures.

How to build a working lure box

As a beginner it pays to get a few versatile lures of each basic type: a couple of plugs for different running depths, a light jig for perch, a larger jig or jerkbait for pike, and a spoon for long casts. That way you are ready to switch as conditions change without filling your box straight away. You can then expand the selection by target species and fishing spot as your experience grows.

Lures by season

In spring the water is cold and fish are often cautious, so small and slow-moving lures such as microjigs and small plugs work best. In summer the fish are active and hunt over large areas, so surface lures, spinnerbaits and fast plugs produce the best results. In autumn predators feed heavily before winter and readily take larger lures, which is the prime time for jerkbaits and big shads. In winter, during the ice fishing season, you switch to ice jigs and balance jigs.

Lures by fishing method

Almost every lure type works for spin fishing, both from shore and from a boat. For trolling, choose stable plugs together with weighted lures and downriggers and accessories to present the lure at the right depth. Fly anglers will find casting flies and leeches that work for zander, trout and pike alike.

From shore or from a boat

When fishing from shore, long-casting lures such as spoons and compact plugs let you cover a large area efficiently. From a boat or float tube you can reach fishing spots precisely, where vertical jigging and slow presentations work well. In both cases it pays to carry a few different lure types so you can change tactics as conditions change.

Complete your setup

A lure works best as part of a balanced setup. Make sure your rod, reel and line match the lure weight and fishing method: light perch lures call for sensitive tackle, big pike jerks for a heavier outfit. For more species and technique tips, see our fishing tips blog, and if you are unsure, we are happy to help you pick the right lure.

Tips for use and care

Replace dull or rusty hooks in good time, because a sharp hook decides many strikes. Rinse your lures in fresh water after sea fishing and let them dry before storing them, so they last for years. Keep lures of the same size and type in their own compartments, so you can find the right one quickly on the water.