Big lure, big fish? Untangling myth from reality

Big lure, big fish? © Benjamin Le Provost

In the fishing world, there are many beliefs, and one of the most popular is: "big lure, big fish". According to this idea, an angler using large lures would be statistically more likely to catch nice-sized fish than an angler using smaller lures. But is this really true? Let's take a closer look and find out.

Why would a big lure favour a big fish?

According to theory, big fish often feed on large prey, which makes the idea of a large lure quite logical: a "big bite" would attract predators capable of gobbling up large prey. Presenting a "big bite" could therefore attract the finest specimens.

Another advantage of the big lure: its volume and silhouette displace a large quantity of water and generate fairly intense vibrations. This sensory stimulus can be detected by the lateral line of the fish, which can be an advantage.

Un gros leurre comme un Black Minnow 160 sélectionne souvent des poissons plus gros, mais cette règle n'est pas valable dans toutes les situations !
A big lure like a Black Minnow 160 often selects bigger fish, but this rule doesn't apply in every situation!

What's more, using an imposing lure often has the effect of "filtering" the fish: subjects that are too small, unable to ingest such a mass, will be less inclined to bite, which mechanically increases the proportion of catches of a more correct calibre.

Finally, big fish are generally older and more economical in their movements. As such, a bulky lure representing a "profitable" energy meal may arouse their interest more than a small one.

Why isn't this always true?

Although "big lure = big fish" makes sense in certain circumstances, the reality of fishing shows that it doesn't always work, and several factors can render the strategy ineffective or even counter-productive.

Le parfait contre‑exemple : un très joli lieu pris sur un Crazy Paddle Tail en taille 12 cm. Ce leurre de « petite taille » aura eu raison de ce beau poisson !
The perfect counter-example: a very nice pollack caught on a Crazy Paddle Tail in size 12 cm. This â??smallâ? lure got the better of this beautiful fish!

The main thing to consider is the size of the prey hunted by the fish present in the area. If the fish are hunting small prey, for example 5 cm, it makes little sense to offer them a 180 mm shad. This disproportion could be counter-productive and alert the fish to the artifice in front of them.

Tenez toujours compte de la taille des proies chassées pour sélectionner votre leurre.
Always consider the size of the prey you are hunting when selecting your lure.

Neither big nor small, just the right size to fitâeuros¯!

In practice, the best advice I can give is to adapt your lure strategy to the reality of the moment.

If you're looking for a big fish in a favourable environment, i.e. rich biotope, possible presence of big predators, voluminous natural prey, then don't hesitate to use a big lure.

On the other hand, if the environment or fish population doesn't justify it, opt for a smaller or intermediate lure: the frequency of hits, and sometimes the surprise of a beautiful specimen, can then become your ally.

Décliner le même leurre en plusieurs tailles permettra de proposer différentes combinaisons aux poissons et de trouver la taille qui les fait réagir.
Using the same lure in different sizes will allow you to offer different combinations to the fish and find the size that makes them react.

Vary approaches by alternating lure sizes and shapes

A "standard" lure to test, then a bigger one if nothing bites, or vice versa.
Last but not least, give priority not only to size, but also to volume, behavior and adaptation: swimming, vibrations, discretion... These are the factors that can make all the difference.

Variez les formes, tailles et coloris pour trouver le pattern !
Vary shapes, sizes and colors to find your pattern!

What's more, big lures stir up a lot of water and are often noisy or highly visible.
Under certain conditions (clear, shallow or calm water, precise positions) this agitation caused by a large lure will be anything but effective: it can scare off fish, both large and small.

Jouer la discrétion avec un leurre de type finesse, comme ce Shad Impact de Keitech, permet de toucher de jolis poissons assez farouches.
Playing it safe with a finesse lure, like this Shad Impact from Keitech, can hit some pretty shy fish.

In such situations, a more discreet, more natural lure will often produce better results.

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