Q: I am looking at having a go at fishing with lures. Can you tell me if it’s okay to use them as an alternative to lug or ragworm? SCOTT WILSON, EASTBOURNE, EAST SUSSEX

AK & DS say: You may have come across artificial worm replicas before, like Marukyu Isome and Berkley Gulp. Both these products are marketed as replacements for livebait, although here in the UK they are far more likely to be adopted by LRF anglers as flavoured lures.

After using these products extensively for six or seven years now, we wouldn’t say these artificial worms attract fish as well as good-quality livebait, but there are many advantages. They're readily available, they store well, and you can take home what you don't use. In addition, they are of a uniform shape, come in different colours and sizes and are easily mounted on a hook – and they catch plenty of fish.

There's one key factor to making these 'lures' successful, and that's movement. Fish them in such a way that they move and you will catch. Which is exactly why we believe they've been so popular with LRF anglers.