The Benefits of Artificial Lures

October 28, 2025

Artificial lures are popular with anglers across the U.S. (including here in Michigan) for good reason. They offer several advantages over live bait depending on your target species, season, and fishing style.

Here are the key benefits:

Reusability = Long-Term Cost Savings

Unlike live bait (worms, minnows, leeches), artificial lures can be used again and again. A single crankbait or jig can last multiple seasons if cared for properly.

  • No need to constantly rebuy bait
  • Less mess and storage hassle
  • Great for frequent anglers

Better for Covering Water

Artificial lures allow you to actively search for fish rather than waiting for them to come to you.

  • Cast and retrieve quickly
  • Target multiple depths
  • Fan-cast large areas

This is especially helpful when fishing for species like bass, walleye, or pike where locating active fish is key.

Designed to Trigger Reaction Strikes

Many lures are built to imitate injured baitfish or create vibration, flash, and sound that provoke instinctive strikes—even from fish that aren’t actively feeding.

Examples include:

  • Crankbaits (vibration + wobble)
  • Spinnerbaits (flash + vibration)
  • Topwater lures (surface disturbance)

Reaction strikes are common with species like smallmouth bass and northern pike.

More Durable in Tough Conditions

Artificial lures:

  • Stay on the hook better
  • Don’t die or wash away
  • Hold up in current and heavy cover

In cold-weather fishing (like Michigan spring or fall), lures also avoid the hassle of keeping live bait alive.

More Selective for Target Species

Lures allow you to:

  • Control size
  • Control depth
  • Control retrieve speed
  • Match forage more precisely

For example, when targeting walleye in inland lakes versus Lake Michigan, lure style and action can be fine-tuned to match conditions.

Cleaner & Easier to Transport

  • No bait bucket.
  • No aerator.
  • No refrigeration.

Artificial lures are simple to store in a tackle box and require minimal preparation.

Conservation & Regulation Advantages

Some lakes restrict the use of live bait to prevent the spread of invasive species or disease. Artificial lures eliminate that concern and reduce the chance of introducing unwanted organisms.

More Engaging & Skill-Based

Many anglers enjoy the strategy involved:

  • Choosing color and profile
  • Adjusting retrieve speed
  • Matching seasonal fish behavior

Using artificial lures often makes fishing feel more interactive and dynamic. At Slowen Outdoors, we have a great selection of artificial lures that are sure to produce results no matter what species of fish you are going after. Stop in and see our selection today.