Negative Positive Angler Episode 4 — Lure Fishing

Negative Positive Angler episode 4 touched on one of the most contentious topics in fishing: lures and how to use them. Anyone new to fishing would assume there’s a consensus on lures, but like a backwater marsh, it’s murky at best. That’s not to say there’s not some major agreement, and the show did an excellent job of showing some of the nuances associated with lure fishing.

Negative Positive Angler Episode 4 Summary

After receiving a new lead on life, Hiro seems to be easing into it quite well. While he struggles with fishing-related tasks, normal convenience store tasks are a breeze. His bonds with the rest of the staff, especially Takaai and Hana, are growing.

We discover that the convenience store where the show’s cast often gathers is owned by Hana’s grandmother while also serving as Hana’s home. At this point, I couldn’t help but chuckle at how Hana can wake up before her alarm when she’s going fishing but still manages to fall asleep in class. I can relate to that on a spiritual level. But while Hana can fish, she can’t count, which I also relate to.

Luckily for her, the power of friendship prevails, and Hiro steps in to help her when a customer asks her to make a change. Later, to show her gratitude, Hana takes Hiro fishing and gives him a quick lesson on lure fishing. However, as Negative Positive Angler episode 4 comes to a close Hiro realizes that Hana’s true motive was to get him to let his guard down so she could tease him.

The Wonderful World of Lure Fishing

Before we go any further, let me share some wisdom with you. Lures catch more fishermen than fish. I say that as someone with boxes of unopened lures but who only uses the same eight lures. Another tidbit that will save you a lot of grief in the future is to replace the treble hooks (three-pointed hooks) on your lures with single inline hooks. Not only does that help you catch more fish, but it will be way less painful to pull out when you hook yourself. Because, like it or not, you will eventually hook yourself.

So, what’s a lure? Without getting too technical, it’s any piece of gear that you can use to catch a fish. Some lures don’t visually mimic fish and instead rely on vibrations to induce bites. If you notice people using an odd-looking lure, don’t let its design put you off; many of these lures work wonders! Likewise, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on lures. Don’t hesitate to buy cheap lures; they often perform just as well, and you won’t regret it if you lose your lure when a fish or structure breaks your line.

That said, how to use lures varies. Hana is right in saying that different lures work better at varying depths. You can use lures not designed for a specific depth or environment by adjusting how you rig and fish them. However, mastering this technique requires experience, which is difficult to communicate through writing.

Types of Lures

If I wrote about all the types of lures out there, this article would be longer than the ONE PIECE manga. This is exactly why Negative Positive Angler episode 4 gave such a brief explanation of it. And so, the top five lures that I think are the best to use are:

• Jigs – By far (in my opinion) the most versatile lure out there, jigs are the simplest of the bunch. These are hooks with a metal attachment on the eye of the hook. Some jigs have a plastic or feather skirt around them. You can buy standalone jigs or use them with your own plastic lures. Originally, jigs were made to be used in deeper water and bounced along the bottom. But modern alternatives allow you to fish all types of water with them. I’m a huge fan of Googan Squad products, so I can’t recommend the Grass Hero Jig enough.
• Crankbait – There are two main types of crankbaits: lipped and lipless. The former is meant for deeper waters (the bigger the lip, the deeper the lure goes). Lipless crankbaits are meant for shallow water. You fish these differently based on the length and availability of the lip. I strongly recommend reading this article by Norrik Fishing, which gives a thorough overview of crankbaits. I tend to fish shallower water, so I tend to use lipless crankbaits such as the YoZuri 3DB Vibe.
• Topwaters – Topwater lures, as their name suggests, are designed to be fished at the water’s surface. There are several types, but the main ones include pencils, poppers, prop baits, and darters. The retrieving styles for these vary, but typically you move your rod horizontally with a steady or jerk & pause technique. Again, for brevity’s sake, I recommend this article by Bass Resource for more information. While it explains the lures in relation to bass fishing, the explanations are on point. And I highly recommend the Mini Revolver by Googan Squad; I’ve used it for everything from Bay Snook to Juvie Tarpon. For a more traditional top water, check out the Heddon Chug’n Spook.
• Soft plastics -These are the easiest ones to explain; it’s a lure made out of … wait for it … plastic. These range from micro baits smaller than an inch to behemoths the size of your arm. The shapes, colors, and action of these are as extensive as the stars in the night sky. But one I swear by is BioSpawn’s ExoSwim; they always catch something; everything from cichlids to cobia seems to love them.
• Jerkbaits — These are a fishing favorite and are meant to mimic injured baitfish. They can be easily recognized by their long, narrow bodies and come in both lipped and lipless versions, as well as jointed designs. The lure’s action is entirely influenced by the angler’s retrieving technique. Rapala X-Raps are my go-to easily available lure in this category.

When you’re lure fishing you should always consider lure color, water clarity, and weather. In most cases, a noisier lure tends to be more effective. However, if you’re primarily focusing on color, be sure to refer to the chart below.

Negative Positive Angler episode 4 didn’t fully cover how clarity and weather affect lure fishing, but you can’t really expect it to given the show’s time constraints. Anyway, as always, practice proper angling and remember that fish are wild animals. Angling is an intrusive pastime, so always carry that thought with you.

Screenshots: Crunchyroll
©NEGAPOSI-ANGLER PROJECT