Catch Bait – with Plastic Skirted Lures  – Trolling For Australian Salmon. How To  Rig For Baitfish Collection

How To Catch Bait – Rigging fishing lures skirted lures are an awesome way to catch smaller Pelagic fish. Not only do you get the satisfaction of rigging the lure itself and how it trolls, I believe they are far more affective then trolling other surface lures such as hard bodied lures or metal slugs. For example they will not foul up if trolled through weed and also it’s a lot harder for a fish to throw a single hook then a treble when trolling for Salmon, Tailor, Bonito and other smaller Pelagic fish. This is just my opinion and my approach when trolling surface lures. My favourite brands are still Shimano, Daiwi, Rapala, Penn and many of the other big name companies. But I tend to stay away from the big priced ” lures” when it isn’t necessary. I have learnt over many years that these more expensive lures are not as good for surface trolling for small Pelagic fish, although I still stick with the big brands for other things like reels, rods, combo’s and lures (when needed for other applications e.g. diving lures, etc).How To Catch Bait

How To Selecting a fishing  Lure (skirt ) colour’s and size’s for Bait .

How To Catch Bait – I am no expert but when I select a lure colour I tend to keep it simple. I don’t see the need to do it any other way as I feel it’s just over complicating the whole process and I know there would be plenty of fisherman that disagree with my way of thinking, but until I stop catching fish it will stay this way. I believe there are generally two things that smaller Pelagic eat and that’s bait fish or squid. Then the next thing you take in to consideration is the water colour (e.g. if it’s clear or dirty). I could sit here and write many things about colours and times of days to use different colours but I won’t because I don’t feel the need, but feel free to research it yourself on the internet. When I think of Salmon, Tailor, Bonito or Barracuda and all Pelagic fish, I tend to compare them to grey hounds at a race track chasing a rabbit on a lure!! They’re stupid and so are most smaller Pelagic fish, the more respect you pay them the harder they are to hook. If you’re not catching fish, chances are it’s something else, like you’re in the wrong area or the fish are simply not feeding. I tend to believe that you are in the wrong area as the Pelagic are natural predators and take most opportunities to get a feed. So after all my mumbo jumbo I would opt to select some bright colours for when the water is murky and some natural colours (such as blues, whites, brown’s) that look like a pilchard, or other baitfish or squid when the water is clear. If I am unsure of the size of the baitfish/squid in the area I am fishing, I would generally choose a 7cm to 10cm skirted lure as a good all rounder for small pelagic fish. It will just depend on the size of baitfish or squid in your area you fish as to the size of the lure you need. Keep your eyes open and you will see the baitfish if you look hard enough. Once you spot them, estimate the size and select your skirt, if you can’t see any just refer back to the 10cm size.

How To Catch Bait.

 Final thoughts on Trolling  skirted lures & How To Catch Bait  .

When you look at skirted lures or any lure for that matter you may think to yourself skirts or some other lures look nothing like a bait fish or squid? But the fact is when the lure is moving or trolling at speed past a Pelagic, the fish will only see it cruise by and get a glimpse only seeing a blur and in that split second the predator pelagic has to make a decision and choose if it wants dinner or not. With mother nature’s gift to all predatorily pelagic fish its natural instinct will be to eat your lure more times than not. How To Catch Bait With Trolling Lures is Easy .

Rigging Fishing SkirtsThe Lures For catching Bait .

what you need to rig up these lures . skirted plastic squid lure, Ball sinker size 1 , some leader around 1.5 long 40lb , a hook that’s will suit the size of fish you are targeting .

step 1- How To Catch Bait

Cut some leader/Trace( fishing line ) about 1.5 meters. Around 40lb should keep you out of trouble and  be strong enough for most fish , it will also track better behind the boat with thinner line  . next tie your swivel to one end of leader .

Step 2- How To Catch Bait

Stuff the ball sinker up the lure .

step 3 – How To Catch Bait

lumo beads to keep the hook back near the tail of the lure by adding as many lumo beads as you require you want the hook gap to be just sitting just out of the back of the tail  .  the skirt should slide up and down the fishing line and swivel will stop it  at the other end .