How to Rig a Rod for Lure Fishing

By Robert Thornton

When setting up a rod and reel for lure fishing, there are different considerations. Lures can be fished on just about any outfit, however tailoring your approach a little more will help the lure to work the way it was intended, and in turn attract more fish to your lure.

For most light inshore lure fishing, braided mainline and monofilament leader are the weapon of choice. Braid allows for longer and more accurate casts, which is a huge advantage over using mono mainline with lures. Not having any stretch also means that working lures with braided mainlines is easier, as the lure will respond quicker to any movement imparted through the rod tip.

The limited stretch of braid also allows the angler to set the hook more effectively. Bait fishing requires the angler to let the fish bite on the bait for a while before striking, and monofilament lines will reduce any resistance felt by the fish. When fishing with lures, the anglers needs to apply pressure to the fish pretty much as soon as the fish bites – they won’t stick around once they taste the plastic of the lure!

Graphite rods will further reduce the stretch of a lure fishing rig, and are therefore preferred for lure fishing over fibre-glass rods. The Aird XT Pre-Mounted Combo range is perfect for the beginner lure fisho, especially if spooled up with a braid such as J-Braid Grand or J-Braid 4. J-Thread FC and Finesse FC work great as leader material for lure fishing, and will ensure that your line down the lure end of your rig is almost totally invisible to the fish.

Set Yourself Up Right

By making small adjustments to how you set up your fishing outfits, you can ensure you’re getting the most out of your gear, and in the process, you will become a better angler. Many of the adjustments are what some anglers call ‘one percenters’ – little things that seem insignificant – however they all add up, and once you’re doing everything you can to utilise the full capabilities of your tackle, you will definitely catch more fish.