SHORELINES

23 a p c s hor e l i n e s.c om | 2015 Vol :3 Then, select the type. Keep it simple. Fish eat minnows, small fish, bugs, worms, crawfish or some unfortunate creature that ends up in the water. In general, the larger the lure you use, the larger the fish you could catch. Bream and crappie will like the smaller lures, and bass and other larger predators like larger ones. The lures to use would be the ones that mimic these food sources. • Minnow or fish-shaped lures like crankbaits, stickbaits or topwater floating lures are very effective. • Another lure that mimics minnows is a spinnerbait. It has one or two flashing blades that vibrate as you reel it through the water, along with some type of skirt. • Try a jig and chunk combination. A jig is a painted head with a hook and skirt attached, with a trailer added to the hook. There's an endless number of color combinations you could use – stay with the basics, at least at the start. • Another popular and inexpensive type of lure is the plastic or rubber worm. It is available in countless colors and styles. If a certain color or style doesn't work for you, try a few different ones until you find something you and the fish like. • The last lure to have is the top water lure. This could be a buzzbait, frog, popper or any other type of lure fished on the surface of the water. These lures are most effective in shallow water and in low-light conditions. They resemble some type of forage animal that is fleeing across the surface, trying to get to safety. The bites are mostly reaction strikes and can be very explosive (and fun to watch). – CLINT NAIL Above: Photos by Billy Brown — Lures pictured above are essential for any angler's tackle box.

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