In practice and application, some of
the more sophisticated soft plastic baits can attract a fish via sight, movement or scent, have that fish bite something that has a natural taste and then hold on to the bait longer due to a texture and feel that replicates a real food source. That is an unbeatable formula. Anumber of manufacturers are now
aggressively marketing baits referred to by the industry as “reaction baits.” Fundamentally, and as the name implies, those baits are designed to act as a stimulus that triggers a response. That reaction can come in the form of attraction, more aggressive strikes, greater holding power once a bait is mouthed, and ultimately putting fish in a feeding frame of mind when they would not naturally be inclined to eat.
This is achieved is by engaging the
various sensory receptors of fish; phys- iology drives lure design. An example of high-level sensory stimulation is best described by Mark Fisher, Director of Field Promotions at Rapala. “All fish secrete many different types of pheromones and their behav- ior is, in part, controlled by combina- tions of pheromones. Big fish eat little
fish, and little fish secrete fear phero- mones when big fish are around,” he says. “Big fish can smell those fear pheromones and use them to locate food. When fish are feeding or chas- ing prey they, in turn, secrete aggres- sion pheromones, that can be sensed by prey, causing them to panic. As a result, they secrete even more fear pheromones that attract more preda- tory fish. The larger fish will move to investigate the source of what may be an easy meal or to engage in territorial defense.” Fisher adds that from that point
on, the rest is all about baits that are presented to fish and how the angler can use those baits to trigger a bite response.
Angelo Peluso is an outdoors journalist and book author whose work has appeared in numerous local, regional and national magazines and newspapers. He has authored several fly-fishing books includ- ing Fly Fishing Long Island; Saltwater Flies of the Northeast; and soon to be pub- lished Saltwater Flies of the Southeast and Gulf Coast. For further information visit
www.angelopeluso.com.
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