Why do fish strike lures - unnatural-looking/moving manmade objects?

[SenkoSam]

Over many decades of having bought way more lures than I could ever use in a lifetime, plus making my own, one thing finally occurred to me - it's not what a fish thinks a lure is, it's the combination of a lure's shape, action or both that a fish's senses are very sensitive to. Recognition of a lure implies knowing what a moving object is supposed to represent versus simply feeling its vibrations via the lateral line and swim bladder. Seeing how the lure moves and reflects light throws all caution to the wind and it attacks it.

Fish imagining what lures are supposed to be i.e. prey animals, has been around since lures first hit the market. The media has commercialized lures giving anglers logical reasonsto buy them such as matching-the-hatch and other food/hunger validations. Problem is, fish can't validate anything except what is real when it comes to real prey animals. It senses the difference between a minnow and a bug, but what does it sense when a spinnerbait passes by?

The spinnerbait, for example, with its flashing rotating blade and pulsating skirt is not something I would attack if I were a fish. But then again fish don't have a clue what a spinnerbait is or is supposed to be. It is what it is - the combination of a shiny metal blade, wire, clevis, hook, lead, rubber or silicone skirt. The combination has caught millions of bass since it was first introduced in 1917.

Just about every lure made looks nor acts like a real animal, but a lure figuratively catches its sense's attention on splash down and holds it long enough for it to go into and aggression-mode. 99% of a fish's life is spent conserving energy suspending while watching the world go by - including the presence of trolling motors and oars. Logically if I sensed a boat coming towards me, I would scoot out of there fast and faster yet after seeing a lure pitched or flipped right at my head! But while fish can sense danger, it's usually too late to avoid getting eaten or hooked. It doesn't have a clue what a hook is when it attacks a lure but tries to avoid being netted once hooked.

Alright, so what provokes fish to strike lures - unnaturally-looking and moving manmade objects?

Not all lures do well all the time or even some of the time. We all have our favorites based on a history of consistent catches over many years. I won't change my preference when it comes to lure colors. Besides, it's not what a fish sees when it comes to color(hue) but rather color brightness which enhances a lure's action and shape in a liquid background dependent on the amount of light reflecting, absorbed or transmitted off a lure. Note: other than in spring or winter when the water is  clearer, low light vs bright light and suspended algae or mud affect a lure's color under water.

When a fish sees a flashing blade, does it take note of a spinnerbait's skirt color? Doubtful. But the skirt's flutter and constantly changing shape gives the fish a target to attack. But what about a Mepps spinner? The flashing blade by itself is enough regardless of the bare treble hook clicking and clacking behind.

To sum it up (thank God! right?) - lure action defines good lures from crap but only when matched to the right presentation(s). I've caught fish on most lure types imaginable and have noted what it was that made a lure stand out from the rest. When I make hybrid soft plastics by melting parts together from two different lures using a flame, I consider what combinations might do well when worked slowly - the speed of which most soft plastics are used. Believe it or not I've found over 100 unique shapes and actions never sold that consistently catch fish. They simply push a fish's buttons, making it p.o.'d enough to bring out the bully in it.

So in conclusion, ask not what a lure simulates but what a lure does.

Thanks for reading - (at least if only the first sentence. 

[BASSCATLILDAVE]

The guys fishing the Fuzzy Dice baits prove they will bite anything.

[D.W. Verts]

They are BASS. There you go.

Dale

[SenkoSam]

They are BASS. There you go.

Dale

...and what about all the other fish caught on lures vs live bait? The thing about live bait is that fish have all the time in the world to eat it. Not so with most lures except dropshot and super slow retrieves in general. Fish sense live bait are animals - not so lures. A wiggling, rattling, trolled crankbait puts up a racket as it moves past a bass or other fish, which, in its quiet, peaceful world is unacceptable. A thick Senko wacky-rigged waddling to the bottom is out of place and prone to being attacked for no other reason except to stop the thing from killing the mood.

Humans and animals in general do not like things out of the ordinary taking them by surprise. Things such as sudden loud noises, bright flashes, high wind gusts,  being bitten and other super annoyances provoke humans and animals in general to act. Fish being the super-sensitive creatures they are, are no different. But key to getting fish to attack a lure is lure action/size/shape/speed in-combination. All the other crap we've been told fish strike lures leaves out the simple reason to chose certain lures - that almighty combination!

When I help a partner learn about finesse lures, the biggest part is the type and speed retrieve that will make the most of a finesse lure's subtle motion.
When I introduce them to the Zara Spook, they watch how the lure walks-the-dog swishing back & forth. When a lure catches fish for the first time, I take note of the lure's action in the water especially one of my own creations. That action is key to provoking a fish to attack. A lure's versatility is also a plus when chosing a lure.

If you want to help a newbie catch fish on lures - especially a child that doesn't have a clue, make sure they know the real reason(s) specific lure types catch fish. Telling them the thing resembles what fish eat is a useless generalization or IOW - a book title with blank pages inside.

[D.W. Verts]

Man  buddy, I just don't think that much. It hurts my head.

Dale

[bowhunter63]

Steve Parks wants them too