Lures & Spoons

Ultralight fishing requires the tiniest of lures. This is why it is so great for trout and other salmonids, with their little mouths. The small size of the tackle makes it easy to put your lure where you want it, presented in the best manner to catch the fish. I like to use 1/8 oz or smaller spoons, spinners and crankbaits, and I just about always use silver and gold. Lately, I have been noticing that anything with red dots seems to wok very well. Silver in clearer water and gold in darker root beer water. When I do deviate from this pattern it is to go to a more exact match with the baitfish. Especially to match a pattern like red dots for brown trout, something they don't seem to be able to resist. Looks like baby browns and they are known cannibals.

Remember, lakes, unlike streams and rivers, have no have current to add action to the lure. Be sure to watch and see what is happening to the lure on the retrieve. Casting across or down stream it can be possible to guide your lure through the rapids, riffles, and pockets past waiting fish. Often times just holding the lure in the current near a fish will trigger a strike. Fish living in rivers and streams tend to be much more opportunistic feeders and not as fussy as their lake or pond dwelling brethren. Deep pools should be handled pretty much the same way you would fish a lake or pond. Try casting under branches and close to or just behind rocks, these are a few of the places fish will be found.

When you want to fish minnow replicas try the small yo-zuri pin minnows. They cast well and are extremely life like. The finish is too realistic. They have great action and I never go out with out them. I bought some lure paint and I add slashes and red dots, or all sorts of different marks to the body of the lure. The little flashers that come on some lures are a sign that this method works. Experiment and I am sure you will find success. If you are looking for low priced lures, look on the links page and you will see a couple of companies I like, with great prices. Washington Lure & Bait sells the best lures I have ever seen for a buck. Go fishin.com also has some great prices on brand name stuff. I put a little color on them and then go out and catch fish!

Some of the lures I like to use, again keeping in mind that you have to match the bait where you are fishing. I love the Yo zuri's, especially the silver patterns. I like the Rapala, in husky jerk, countdown, and floating models. They make a great brown trout pattern, and pretty much every predator likes to eat baby browns. Even bigger browns!

Some of my favorite ultra light lures are: mepps 1/18 oz comet minno, swedish pimple in the 2G size, acme thunderbolt in the 1/6 oz red dot pattern, small kastmasters,and the 1/32 oz gold and silver daredevles, Kennebec Lure Company Inlines , especially the gold one with red beads.