Is a shiny ‘new’ lure more effective than a tatty ‘old lure’ of exactly the same pattern? Here’s an insight into a couple of recent occurrences that have got me thinking...

Back in early June, whilst guiding a client, I recovered a Jim’s Lures Needlefish that I had lost two weeks previously when (for the first time in a couple of seasons) the knot connecting my braid to my leader gave way whilst casting. As it was pitch black, I evidently had absolutely no idea where the lure had plopped and sank therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to literally stumble across it.

The Size 2 trebles that I use on these 150mm lures had obviously rusted into oblivion, but on initial inspection this beautifully crafted, hand-made lure appeared to have survived the rigours of being under the water for 6 hours - then baked in the hot sun, followed by another 6 hours underwater and so on. The main reason I was so pleased to recover the lure, was that for a couple of days I was clean out of needlefish having lost them all on various reefs - always a risk when you’re casting and working a sinking lure in water ranging from 12” to only 6ft over rough ground.

Fast forward to 6 hours later and upon adding two brand new trebles to the lure, I handed it to my client along with instructions on how to use it. Within a couple of casts, the smooth, white outer coating had completely peeled away to reveal a lure with a much rougher,silver inner skin, interspersed with patches of exposed wood. We discussed whether to continue using it and decided to carry on and ‘give it a go’. What occurred in next 10 minutes surprised me for all the right reasons...

What they’re supposed to look like. Jim’s hand-made Needlefish are proven big bass catchers.

Admittedly, we were well within what I considered to be the most opportune period in the tide from this particular mark and sure enough, within a further half dozen casts my client announced that he had “Got one!” On went the main beam of my head-torch, and as he brought the culprit closer to the beach I scoured the darkness in front of me - there it was, a bass that I’d estimate at around 4lb but very unfortunately, at that very moment it ‘spat’ the hooks...

Quite a few expletives followed, but within seconds he was casting away again when, about three casts later, the lure was totally nailed at distance and the reel began to sing with the rod bent right over for about 10 seconds when... it was gone... the fish had somehow managed to escape... “I think that was a big one” I said, which probably didn’t help my client who had his head in his hands... Was it a total fluke that this rather ‘sorry looking’lure had helped to attract those two bass?

Two weeks later and with one of my ‘3 Day Package’ parties in tow, four brand new ‘white’ Jim’s Needlefish tucked away in my lure boxbut with the previous events still etched on my brain, I decided (with this particular client’s permission) to experiment with the beaten up needlefish, at least initially. Guess what happened... Within minutes, he caught a 56cm (4lb) bass and then followed it up 10 minutes later with what is presently the largest ‘client bass’ so far this season at 70cm (around 8lb).

A 4lb bass caught on the recovered Needlefish within minutes of being introduced.

A very nice bass at 70cm for one of Marc Cowling’s clients.

In the next two nights, the same lure caught yet more bass (alongside white needles and Albie Snax) but it wasn’t until a week or so later, this time under the brightest Moon I have ever guided clients at night under - when, over pure sand, in only 12” of water did another client land another 4lb+ bass. Its captor (Keith) was a member of my third ‘taster’ 3 Day Package party(in late June) which makes catching this fish all the more interesting considering he hooked it alongside his friends who were using a Savage Gear Line Thru Sandeel and a white ‘Jim’s’ alongside him respectively (a further bass of around 2lb was caught later in the night on a brand new white Jim’s too).

Although it was caught at night, the overhead Full Moon made for exceptionally bright conditions, yet it didn’t deter this 4lb+ bass from hitting it in 12” of water covering pure sand.

For me, the best was yet to come a week later, when Mark, an angler who had never previously caught a bass on a lure landed (after an epic battle) a fantastic 68cm fish on what I subsequently named ‘The Silver Bullet’. Following this 7½lb beauty he snagged and lost the lure however, within days and following a very sweaty walk, I had reclaimed it from its ‘temporary home’ - it was and is far too valuable to leave it there!

Would a brand new white shiny lure in the same pattern have caught this bass? We’ll never know...

When all said and done, the lure was being used in the right place, at the right time and in the right manner, but the fact that it seemingly out-fished other lures (including a new needlefish) or served to attract the largest bass (twice) when fished during the same session when two other anglers were present cannot be ignored. I certainly don’t head out fishing or guiding without it now, plus I have just taken delivery of four bespoke ‘silver’ needlefish (thank you James Lanfear - aka Jim’s Lures) that will be thoroughly put through their paces in the coming months.

Will I go for the brand new or battered one I wonder...

Marc Cowling is successful shore based, bass lure fishing guide in the wonderful surroundings of South Devon.