Lure Fishing UK

Plugs


Plug Choices - a guide to plug performance


All of the following advice is based on personal experience and the experience of friends I have fished with, and whose judgement I value. I make no attempt to divide the plugs into categories, because if you jerk a minnow is it still a minnow? Or a Jerkbait? If you crank a jerkbait is it still a jerkbait? Or a crankbait? I will offer a guide to how I think the plugs can be used to their best advantage. Bear in mind that I use 100lb test Power Pro braid for casting and 50lb test Power Pro or TUF for trolling large lures, so bear that that in mind when you read the working depths that I ascribe to each plug.

Bill Lewis Supertrap

Body length 4.75"
Weight 2oz
Rattle? Yes
Material Plastic
Working depth 4ft downwards
An fast sinking, long casting, countdown plug with a tremendous rattle. Dreadful, blunt, nickel-plated hooks that should be changed before you use it. Jigged, ripped or cranked this plug will get noticed, it is not a subtle presentation and not for every day but worth having because it is so very different to anything else.

Lureland Spitfire

Body length 5.75"
Weight 2.3oz
Rattle? No
Material Plastic
Working depth 1ft To 20ft+
An unusual countdown plug with a spinning blade in front of the tail hook. Versatility is this plug's strength: jerked, jigged, ripped or cranked it catches pike. A good caster and a fairly fast sinker, with the blade spinning on the fall.

Hooker Seducer

Body length 6.37"
Weight 2oz
Rattle? No
Material Plastic
Working depth To 10ft
Shad-shaped crankbait that is easy to use and a fair caster. Worked hard it will get down to about 10ft but normal speed retrieves will have it running easily between about 5 and 8ft. The finish is poor, it seems really soft and even with a coat of nail lacquer it deteriorates rapidly when it comes into contact with pike teeth. The lips also need regluing. Not suitable for trolling because they don't run true at speed.

Musky Innovations 9" Bulldog

Body length 9" (11" with tail extended)
Weight 4.25oz
Rattle? No
Material Soft Rubber
Working depth From about 8ft downwards
Soft rubber sinking lure with built-in jig-hesd, count it down and crank it back steadily. For pike, the pike's teeth mean this lure needs regular repairs.

Nils Master Invincible 180mm

Body length 7.2"
Weight 1.4oz
Rattle? No
Material Wood
Working depth From about 2ft to 6ft casting
Deeper diving than most minnows and a reasonable caster fitted with VMC trebles. For pike and occasional zander. Some of the colours are a bit er... different!
Drop Me A Line