As anyone can see from the many pictures I’ve posted of fish and the lures that caught them, lure action is key ; poor action = fewer or no fish caught. As I’ve discovered in the last few years, there are parts of every lure that causes it to act in a certain way. Between lures of the same type but from different sources, there is usually something that sets them apart for better or worse.
Shape is a key ingredient to how a lure acts / moves. Lure shape can be broken down into dimensions (diameter, length), body shape and tail shapes. Depending on angler imparted action, a combination of shapes can work like magic. Take the Senko for example.
- the ends are blunted
- the thicker than usual body gives the lure weight
These simple shapes plus the material used to make a Senko account for the large number of bass caught.
Another example is the Slider Worm.
The body has a small diameter but more important has a paddle tail that tapers to two sharp edges - similar to a spear. This allows a phenomenal body/tail action no other worm design is capable of.
The Kut Tail worm isn’t striking to look at, but rig it on a 1/32 oz jig and see how amazing the action - all due to design. Unlike most plastic worm sold, the body tapers from front to back and has a tail in the shape of a Turkish sword. When I first looked at it I didn’t see what the big deal was until I used the rod to twitch the lure back and forth on a light jig head in weed pockets. Bass when nuts taking it down!
For both the Senko and Kut Tail, Gary Y has invented a certain plastic mix/ composition that makes those lures incredible. Not so with his grubs - average curl tails that rarely outperform other curl tail grubs.
When I make plastic lures in new designs, I pay attention to the above especially when a lure exhibits a unique action and catches fish. All of it makes a difference to a fish that hunts it’s prey using its lateral line and keen vision.
Just a thought on a cold winter’s day.