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Understanding the behavior of different lures
Soft lures
Mounted on a jig head, soft lures react immediately when the retrieve is stopped: if you let the line go, they will dive while continuing to swim. If you keep the line as it is, a shad, for example, will continue to swim thanks to the boat's drift.
Swimming fish
There are three main categories:
- Floating: at a standstill, they rise to the surface more or less rapidly, maintaining a horizontal rolling action that maintains a passive animation.
- Sinking: they sink as soon as recovery stops, while continuing to vibrate.
- Suspended (suspending): thanks to a density equivalent to that of water, they remain immobile in the water column when paused.
Surface lures
When stationary, they do not lie flat, but are generally positioned at an angle of 25 to 45 degrees. This particular posture contributes to their attractiveness, even without apparent movement.
Why incorporate recovery breaks?
To provoke a predator's attack, several levers are available: retrieve speed, angle of attack, depth, type of lure...
When all these variables have been tested without success, the pause often becomes the trigger.
It is not uncommon to see a fish follow a lure to the bank without attacking. Taking a break allows you to break the regularity of the animation, to modify the depth or direction of the lure. Although there is no precise scientific explanation for this, it has to be said that this break frequently provokes an attack, even in fish that are not very active.
And in practice?
Whatever lure you use, the principle remains the same: during the retrieve, pause for one or more seconds.
Contrary to appearances, the lure is never totally immobile. The drift of the boat, the current, the swell or the agitation of the surface continue to give it life.
Swimming fish equipped with internal beads emit different sounds even when stationary. At sea, the swell is often enough to maintain a natural animation without any action on the part of the angler.
Correct banner management
The pause almost always creates slack in the line. It's essential to keep control of this banner. Without a little tension, it becomes impossible to detect a discreet touch or to strike effectively.
Even when stationary, a surface lure remains fishable. An excessive banner prevents any quick reaction when attacking.
Very often, the attack occurs just as animation resumes. Restarting briskly with a few turns of the crank creates a sudden flight effect, perceived by the predator as an attempt to escape. This reflex then triggers the attack.
So there are many ways to incorporate the pause into a lure animation. It's a simple, universal and tremendously effective technique for unblocking difficult situations.
Although its effectiveness is still partly a mystery, it has proved its worth in all types of fishing, notably with surface lures or when fishing vertically from a boat using the elevator technique.
