Why Can’t I Catch Fish On Lures?

Many beginner anglers start off fishing with bait, but are soon attracted to lure fishing. I love fishing with lures. It’s a more active way of fishing, and can also be more rewarding. However, many anglers struggle at first to catch fish on lures. Here are the steps you should take to catch fish with lures.

Quick answer:

You may not be catching fish on lures because you are either using the wrong lure, retrieving the lure incorrectly, or targeting the wrong kind of fish. When choosing the right lure, you need to consider the species of fish, the water temperature, the time of year, as well as the water color. 

Now let’s go through the process of choosing the correct lure to get you catching more fish on lures!

What Fish Are You Targeting?

Fish can be put into one of these three categories: carnivores (meat eaters), herbivores (plant eaters), or omnivores (eat meat and plants).

This is helpful to know because a lure is designed to mimic a minnow. If you are fishing for carnivorous fish like trout or bass, then a lure should work well since these fish regularly eat minnows.

However, if you are targeting a plant eater like the grass carp, your chances of catching one on a lure are very low. 

Hopefully you know what fish you are targeting. Here is a table with some of the most common fish and which ones can be caught on a lure as well as what’s the best method.

Some fish just aren’t interested in lures and that may be the reason why you can’t catch fish on lures. Sometimes you just have to give the fish what they want.

What Time Of Year?

Another reason we struggle to catch fish on lures sometimes is because we are using them at the wrong time of year.

During the winters, fish can become lethargic. This is especially true with warm water species like bass, bluegill, carp and catfish. These fish usually find the warmest parts of the lake and hunker down until spring comes around.

However, if you are fishing for cold water fish like trout, grayling, whitefish, salmon or steelhead, then you can catch them year round on lures.

Water Color and Lure Selection 

You may have a hard time catching fish on lures because you are using the wrong colors.

I like to try to match my lure with the water color. For example, I’ll start with a gold blade for muddy water, and a silver blade for clear water. If that isn’t working, then I’ll be quick to change colors until I find one the fish like.

My go-to colors are usually silver or gold. These colors are more natural and mimic the colors of small minnows and baitfish.

Choosing the right lure color also has a lot to do with what the fish eat naturally. If they eat a lot of crawfish, then use red and orange lures. If they eat perch, use yellow lures. If they eat leeches, use black lures, and if they eat baitfish, use silver or gold.

Sometimes fish react better to what we call attractor patterns. These are colors like chartreuse, blue, or purple. They aren’t very natural, but they really catch the fish’s eye. Some days these attractor patterns work and some days they scare off the fish.

Lure Retrieve (How to Fish With a Lure)

You might not be catching fish with lures if you aren’t retrieving them correctly. Different lures are designed for different types of retrieves, and to swim differently in the water.

On top of this, different species of fish prefer different types of retrieves.

Steady Retrieve

The first and most basic lure retrieve is to just reel in at a steady pace. This works well for trout, salmon, and steelhead.

Reel and Pause

Another type of retrieve is a reel and pause. This works best with crankbait type lures for caching bass. Just reel in 2-3 turns then pause for a second then reel in a few more turns and repeat. You can add more action by jerking the rod tip a few times.

Jig Retrieve

The jig retrieve is where you reel slowly while lifting your rod tip up then lowering it to let the lure freefall. This mimics a crawfish trying to escape, or a dying minnow. This should be used with lures designed to be jigged, because they have a fast sink rate.

Jigging can also be done vertically off a boat, a dock, or while ice fishing. Lower your lure down and bounce it up and down. if you aren’t getting bites, reel in a little and jig some more.

Here is a table based on my fishing experience showing which retrieves generally work best with which lures.

Your retrieve also depends on the conditions. Generally speaking, in extreme heat or cold, use a slower retrieve.

Use The Correct Lures

Maybe you can’t catch fish on lures because you are using the wrong type of lure.

As you know there are many different types of lures at the store. This is because different fish have different preferences.

For example, trout like smaller lures than bass do. Many lures for bass have big profiles with multiple blades and make lots of noise. These lures are likely to detour trout from biting.

The table below is a guide to help you get started.

Hunt the Fish

You may struggle to catch fish on lures if you are fishing in the wrong spot.

Here is a pro level tip for lure anglers. Often times beginners look for a place that is easy to stand and fish from. Maybe there is a nice open bank without trees to get your lure stuck in, and it’s clear of any underwater snags. It may be a nice spot for the angler, but it isn’t necessarily a good spot for the fish.

Take some time to learn where the fish like to be. This will be different across species, and rivers vs lakes vs ponds. There is way too much for me to try and cover everything. However, I’ll tell you where to look for a couple of the more common species.

Trout

If you can’t catch trout on lures, make sure you are casting near the types of cover that trout like. This could be rocks, drop offs, and sunken trees.

When fishing for trout with lures in a river, look for places there the current changes speed. These are called seams. Trout usually like to be in slightly slower water right next to faster water where the food is. Cast your lure behind rocks, at the top and bottom of pools, and near sunken trees.

When lure fishing for trout in a lake, I like to cast out and reel my lure in right beside sunken trees. Trout like to hangout under and around these trees. I do the same thing with rocky areas and weed beds.

Bass

If you can’t catch bass on lures, then make sure your are casting to the right spots. Bass like to sit in cover, and ambush their prey as they swim by. The closer you can get your lure to the cover, the better.

If you have ever played with a cat, you’ll no how they like to hide behind something, then wait for the toy to get within pouncing distance. Once the toy is within range, they jump out and attack. Bass can react in a very similar way.

Conclusion

Lastly, I just wanted to provide a few lists to make sure you are using the right lure for the fish you are targeting. There are no hard rules here, and there will always be exceptions and more species I haven’t covered. This is just to get you pointed in the right direction.