Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/606672
ARTIFICIAL BAITS (LURES) Lures are designed to resemble and move like prey, and will often mimic fi sh or aquatic animals. Even if they don't look like fi sh or critters to our eyes, their color patterns, refl ections and movements in the water are designed to mimic living things. Lures in natural colors that resemble prey, like silver and white, are useful for clear-water conditions. In murky water, brightly-colored lures can be a good choice. Some baits are designed to attract fi sh with scents and tastes and are effective when targeting fi sh that don't feed by sight. The rigging and design of different lures determine how they move in the water, and at what depths. Movement and depth of the lures can also be manipulated by the angler. Modern fi shing lures were fi rst manufactured commercially in the United States in the early 1900s by the fi rm of Heddon & Pfl ueger in Michigan. These were designed from lures handcrafted from old kitchen spoons or whittled from pieces of wood. SPINNERS Spinners are a great beginner lure because they are easy to use and will attract many sport fi sh. Small spinners can be used for crappie and bluegill. They are essentially a metal shaft with spinning blade. Often the shaft is decorated. The hook can be bare or dressed with hairs or feathers. Dragging a spinner through water causes the blade to spin and the spinning motion of the blade creates sounds and vibrations that attract fi sh. This makes spinners an excellent choice for murky water. The purpose of the bait is to attract the fi sh to your hook using movement, vibration, color and/or scent. BAITS OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SPOONS Spoons are among the most widely used of all fi shing lures and will attract many species. They are effective, versatile lures and easy to use. The spoon shape of the lure causes it to rock back and forth like an injured fi sh as it is retrieved. Casting spoons (e.g., Daredevle) are oval-shaped and have cupped bodies. Their thickness and weight dictate where and how they should be used. Thin, light spoons sink slowly, so they are better for fi shing in shallow water, over the top of submerged weeds or Thread the worm onto the hook like an arm through a sleeve. Poke the worm onto the hook in loops. LIVE BAITS An option for many sport fi sh species is live bait. This category can include earthworms, minnows, crayfi sh, tadpoles, grasshoppers, etc. Earthworms are an excellent choice for new anglers and will attract a wide variety of fi sh, including bluegill, catfi sh, crappie and largemouth bass. Some water bodies have regulations against using live fi sh as bait. If using minnows, make sure that the regulations where you are fi shing allow for their use. Never transfer fi sh that you caught in one water body to another to use as bait. Transporting live fi sh to another water body is illegal in Nebraska. How to fi sh with spinners: Fishing with a spinner is simple; just cast and retrieve, testing different speeds while retrieving to fi nd the action that gets a bite. When rigging a spinner, always use a ball bearing swivel to prevent the line from twisting. 11 CHAPTER 2 ● EQUIPMENT