Tips for luring them in

I’M often asked what to do when a fish follows your lure in but doesn’t strike.

Obviously, our aim is to get the fish, whether it is a trout, salmon or perhaps kingfish.

When fish baulk at a retrieved lure, it means that one of two things isn’t happening: the instinct to strike at a fleeing food object isn’t there or the lure isn’t doing what’s intended.

By putting more action into your lure, it might just turn the corner for an interested fish. Or perhaps downsizing — changing the size and the shape of the lure — may do the trick.

You have got the fish interested and that’s the main thing. If it sulks at the back of a pool or keeps having a go at your lure, chances are you are going to get it.

If you are using a soft plastic lure, take the scissors to it — perhaps the tail may be too big or the body too long.

The size of the lure just may be too daunting to a fish that sees your lure as a prey object. Smaller lures may be more susceptible to an attack.

In saying that, I have had fish refuse all manner of lures, so much so, that I have been left very frustrated on shore bank watching the fish patrolling up and down.

I have been through a whole tackle bag, throwing lures at fish to no avail. I figure the fish didn’t get to that size by being stupid. There’s always another day.

Many years ago, I won a fishing competition as a 14 year old and was really chuffed with my prize.

This was made really special as I had stalked the fish from the Macquarie River for three days and he finally fell to a red celta lure (there were only two types of lures back then, celtas and redfin wobblers). The 2kg weight of the fish in my bag at the weigh-in was good, but at the same time I felt a little heavy in the heart, for this fish had fought a good fight.

Squid captures are going well in the South, with some big calamari coming from around the Eaglehawk area, one I saw recently was 45cm — and that was just the hood.

Some other areas in the state are closed for squid fishing and you should check the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website for areas that are open and closed before going fishing.

Trout angling is also going well with most rivers and dams at good levels.

Reports in from Woods Lake tell of anglers using pumpkin-seed coloured lures doing all right.

Lake Leake is giving up some good rainbow, mainly to anglers using pearl-coloured soft plastics with glitter.

A seasoned angler told of some good dun hatches on Four Springs recently and the fish “came on” while the hatch was occurring.

Those who chose to drift down the waterway with wind among the hatches and using imitations were the ones who bagged out.