Still Using Live Bait Only For Inshore Fish? Watch This.
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
If you’ve always relied on live bait, switching to artificial lures can feel like a gamble.
Why mess with something that already catches fish?
One Salt Strong Insider felt the exact same way.
He’d watched our videos, heard what we had to say, and still wasn’t convinced artificial lures could compete with live bait.
Then one fishing trip gave him the perfect chance to finally put it to the test.
And what happened completely changed the way he looks at fishing.
By the end of this video, you’ll know a simple way to test artificial lures for yourself and gain confidence fishing without relying on live bait.
Featured Gear
- Lure 1: Slam Shady 2.0
- Lure 2: Prawn Jr.
- Bundle and Save: Inshore Slammer Bundle
Start Somewhere You KNOW Has Fish
This angler wasn’t struggling to catch fish.
Quite the opposite.
He had spent around $100 on live bait for the day, and once they got to one of his spots, the fish were feeding like crazy.
But they were burning through shrimp almost as quickly as they could put them in the water.
Eventually, he looked down and saw a pack of Slam Shady 2.0 paddletails he had never used.
So he rigged one up and gave it a shot.
That’s what makes this such a good way to start experimenting with artificial lures.
You don’t have to completely change the way you fish.
Go somewhere you already have confidence.
Let the live bait prove the fish are there.
Then pick up an artificial lure and give it an honest shot.
Artificial Lures Help You Cover More Water
This was the big aha moment.
Once he started throwing the paddletail, he could cast farther, retrieve faster, and work more water around the boat.
And instead of constantly replacing stolen shrimp, he could just keep fishing.
Before long, he was actually catching more trout than the anglers still using live bait.
That ability to cover water is one of the biggest advantages of artificial lures.
Luke learned the same lesson years ago.
He used to spend huge chunks of fishing trips searching for live bait before he would even start fishing.
Once he was forced to use artificial lures from a kayak, he quickly realized how much more water he could cover and how much faster he could learn where the fish were actually holding.
That’s the bigger lesson here.
Artificial lures aren’t just about replacing live bait.
They can help you become better at finding fish.
You DON’T Need A Tackle Box Full Of Lures
This is where a lot of anglers make things harder than they need to.
If you’re just getting started with artificial lures, keep it VERY simple.
Start with:
A 3.5-inch paddletail
and
A 3.5-inch shrimp imitation
That’s it.
If you’re seeing baitfish, a paddletail is an easy choice.
If shrimp seem to be the main forage, such as when you’re seeing wading birds feeding on them, go with the shrimp imitation.
And if you just want one lure that can handle a huge variety of situations, the Slam Shady 2.0 is a great place to start.
You can always get more specialized later.
First, build confidence with a couple of proven lures.
Final Thoughts
The coolest part of this story wasn’t simply that an artificial lure caught fish.
It was what happened afterward.
This angler no longer felt like he HAD to find live bait before he could go fishing.
No worrying about the marina selling out of shrimp.
No spending the morning throwing a cast net.
No livewell required.
He knew he could grab a couple of lures, hit the water, and still have confidence that he could catch fish.
That’s a pretty big change.
And if you’ve been hesitant to try artificial lures yourself, you don’t have to quit live bait overnight.
Bring a paddletail or shrimp lure to a spot where you KNOW fish are feeding…
And see what happens.
Do you still primarily fish with live bait, or have you already made the switch to artificial lures? Let me know in the comments!
FAQ
Are artificial lures better than live bait for inshore fishing?
Not necessarily in every situation. One major advantage of artificial lures is that they allow you to cast repeatedly, cover more water, and search for actively feeding fish without constantly replacing bait.
What artificial lure should a beginner start with?
Keep it simple with a 3.5-inch paddletail and a 3.5-inch shrimp imitation. Those two lure styles can cover a huge range of inshore fishing situations.
When should I throw a paddletail instead of a shrimp lure?
If you’re seeing baitfish, start with the paddletail. If shrimp appear to be the primary forage, a shrimp imitation is an easy choice.
Do these lures only work in Florida?
No. These same lure styles have been successfully used for inshore species throughout the Southeast, including Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia.
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Spot on. I start 95% of my marsh sessions around Jax with three combos in my 11′ kayak; one with a 2.0 paddletail, and another with a Prawn Junior. Both can be fished “wrong” and still catch a few fish (as long as you get it down near the bottom). But with the wealth of tutorial videos the Salt Strong coaches have posted, you can learn things that move you along the learning curve.
Good stuff,guys.🤗🎣🙏💯
Great video
Thanks guy this video sounds like me!
I have lived in Florida on and off since 1979. I moved to the West Coast in the mid 90’s, and began fishing in the skinny water. I met a native Floridian guide with a friend, and began my saltwater experience. He was the kind of guide who was a lure fisherman only, and said “if you need live bait to catch fish you are not a true fisherman:)” Except for bobber fishing for mangrove snapper with my Dad when he visited, I have been a lure fisherman ever since…and catch fish 99.9% of the time. Yesterday I caught 31 fish and a 25-inch trout. Thanks for clarifying the advantages lures…and tight lines to all of our Salt Strong friends.
I fish North Florida and the spots I’ve had the most luck with are marsh tidal feeder creeks on a falling tide. The water whips through a small feeder creek over oysters. I can catch a lot of fish with live bait just off the main flow of water. When I throw an artificial if I come down with the flow the lure moves so fast it doesn’t have any action. If I cast and retrieve against the flow I have a very unnatural prey coming from behind the fish that is facing towards the flow. Do you have any videos that address that scenario, fishing artificials in a strong tidal flow.
The Slam Shady 2.0 is my go to confidence lure! – Wes
Your pod cast is right on. I’ve been a member for several years and have learned tons about saltwater fishing. The slam shady paddle tail and power prawn work everywhere. Not only in saltwater and even up north in Lake Erie. I’ve caught walleye, bass, perch, sheep head on both the paddle tail and even on the power prawn. We even use artificial crawlers on a worm harness for walleye. Artificials work. Keep it simple. Fish on!
That’s cool to hear that this works in Lake Erie. I’m in Ohio and need to use these lures here instead of waiting for my salt water vacations.
Awesome report guys! Cindy and I just moved back to the west side of Ocala, no more east coast, and closer to Yankeetown. We have been 86’d for a long time, but now ready to get back into it. It hit me when you said 66 thousand members. We as you know became lifers when there were only 4000. We knew then where Saltstrong was going. What a great investment…..thanks brothers Joe and Luke. We are excited to get back into what we love.