Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
TikTokPosted 14th November 2025
Must have impoundment barra lures
By Robert Thornton
Over the years the impoundment barramundi scene has experienced many ‘crazes and phases’, mostly related to specific techniques and lure types. Every few years, it seems, something new and exciting comes into the fold and is held up as “the most effective lure” or a “ground-breaking technique”.
The truth is, there are many ways to catch barramundi in dams, and many lures you can use to do it. Those ‘crazes and phases’ were simply instances of intelligent anglers discovering another way to target these fish. The trick is knowing when, how and why to use a particular lure or technique.
In this blog, we’ll go through some ‘must-have’ lures for impoundment barra fishing. As we go through them, we’ll also look at when to use them, how to use them, and why they work in those circumstances.
For a comprehensive blog on how to catch barra on lures, you can read my complete guide to impoundment barra here.
A CHANGING GAME
It’s worth noting that impoundment barra fishing is a space that’s constantly shifting as we learn more about this species and their behaviour in artificial environments. Some things that were accepted as gospel now stand on flimsy ground. For example; prominent points in a dam were once thought to be the hub of all feeding activity, however live sonar technology has shown us that plenty of barra are happy to cruise around in open water in search of food at any time of day.
With that said, the preferred impoundment barra lures have more or less stayed consistent for the past 10 years or so. Rather than finding new lures to use in these new situations, anglers have instead found new ways to use the lures they already have. As a result, we’ve seen just how versatile some lure types are, and this has further justified my decision to include them in a list of ‘must-have’ impoundment barra lures.
FIVE MUST HAVE LURES
Let’s now take a look at what I have determined are five must-have lures for impoundment barramundi fishing. Each of these lures has been chosen for its utility, versatility, and effectiveness in common impoundment barra fishing scenarios.
First up is an old classic, with this family of Daiwa lures (in various sizes) considered a must-have for many other species as well, such as bass, flathead, mangrove jacks, and so on.
A deep-diving jerkbait that suspends is a valuable tool in a variety of situations for impoundment barra, and with the right application will catch fish all year round. This particular model is excellent for targeting stationary fish sitting between 3-5m down, especially if they require a slower presentation to commit. This lure can be twitched enticingly, but will also suspend when paused, giving cautious fish time to decide whether to eat or not.
In recent years, deep-diving jerkbaits have become a favourite for anglers targeting fish with live sonar in deep water, as they put out plenty of vibration if needed to get the fish’s attention, but can also sit in the strike zone for as long as necessary to get a bite.
Another pro of this lure is that they make good trolling lures, diving down to where barra will often sit during the height of summer. For barra trolling tips, check out Mark Gercovich’s blog here.
2. Steez Current Master 93SP-DR
While considerably younger than its deep-diving cousin above, the Current Master has also become a favourite for a variety of species other than barra. Fitting into the category of shallow to mid-running suspending jerkbaits, this lure is equally deserving of a spot in a list of ‘must-haves’.
The Current Master is a great presentation to use in shallower water, particularly around weed bed edges, on top of points, through the tops of drowned trees and around any rocky outcrops. Like the Double Clutch, it also suspends on the pause, and its slightly smaller profile makes it more appetising in shallower water where barramundi feel less safe.
Where deep-running jerkbaits are a great summertime option, the shallower models tend to work better in the shoulder seasons when the barra are more likely to be hunting around the lake’s edges.
A little while ago I chatted to Jack Mitchell, who uses jerkbaits for barra in impoundments very regularly. You can check out our conversation where he details exactly how he uses them here.
Next up is the good old paddle-tail plastic. Different versions of this lure type have been a part of the standard impoundment barramundi kit since it all started back in the ‘90s. The sheer versatility these lure offer make them an absolute must-have in not just impoundment scenarios, but all barramundi fishing in general.
These plastics are a great tool for searching a large area at times when barra are moving around a lot, particularly in spring when they become more active after winter. They can be cast a long way, and retrieved at a steady speed to ensure the lure is covering lots of ground efficiently.
With that said, paddle-tail soft plastics can be useful year-round with some adjustment to rigging and technique. During times when the barra are sheltering in weed-choked shallows – usually in the cooler months – they can be rigged on weedless hooks with little or no weight, and dragged subtly through the salad without getting fouled up.
When barra are sitting in really deep water – usually through summer – paddle-tails rigged on heavier jigheads can be sunk to the desired depth, beyond the reach of hardbodies, and swum right past the fish’s nose.
For some handy barra soft plastic rigging tips, click here.
While not known as an essential impoundment barra lure, this soft plastic (along with its 7” counterpart) is fast becoming a must-have lure. With the advent of a technique known as ‘strolling’, fork-tailed style of ‘fluke’ soft plastics are a logical addition to the arsenal.
Strolling involves using live sonar to find fish in open water and presenting them with a lightly-weighted and virtually actionless soft plastic. This very subtle technique has already won tournaments, and no doubt we will be seeing more of it in the future.
Jerkshads have also brought results for those sight-fishing to barra sitting in shallow water. Quite often these fish are simply resting, and won’t respond to anything emitting lots of vibration and movement, which makes a 5 or 7” jerkshad the perfect ‘finesse’ presentation.
5. Bait Junkie Kikker Curly Big
Last but certainly not least, we have a topwater frog. While this lure might not be esteemed for its all-round utility or versatility, their tendency to provoke violent and exciting surface strikes makes them a must-have, in my opinion.
With that said, there are specific circumstances where a topwater frog can outshine other lures. One example is when the barra are actively feeding in the shallows, which is common after a sharp rise in water level. Most impoundments experience lots of rain between January and April, so if you’re heading to one of the dams during this time be sure to have some frogs on board.
Being a weedless presentation, the Kikker Curly is great to have on hand in any situation where thick cover is present, whether it be spindly sticks, lily pads or aquatic weed. They can be worked quickly, making the legs kick and send out plenty of vibration, but they can also be twitched erratically to mimic a real frog.
For more frogging tips, make sure you check out this blog by Jack Mitchell.
THE TIGHT FIVE
These five lures are kind of like the front row players in a rugby scrum, known as the ‘tight five’, and just like the real tight five, the lures usually play an important role on game day. With that said, there are many other lures that work really well in the dams too, and limiting yourself to these particular five lures would be doing yourself a disservice. These lures were chosen as a means of covering the bases, not as an exhaustive list.
Starting with these five lures (or similar lures) and building your arsenal around them is a great way to acquire the tackle you need to become a better impoundment barra angler.
If you’re going barra fishing soon, be sure to take this all-star line-up with you in a few different colours and sizes!
