Paper baits

by Mark Schram, Myfishingpartner.com

Every anglers has experienced it….That one lure which catches more fish than any other in your tackle box.

In the tournament world these baits are known as “paper baits.”  Why are they called paper baits?  Simple, they make you money (paper cash or paper checks).

Many anglers will keep paper baits separate from their regular tackle and are used only in the most special situations.  It is common to see some anglers place a mark on the lure to indicate its proficiency to differentiate the lure from all similar lures in the box.

So why do I buy ten of the same exact bait, and one runs slightly different?

Paper baits are special.  Often they have had a slight imperfection (or perfection) inside of the manufacturing process which makes these baits wobble and wiggle slightly different than their counterparts.  While others have been slightly altered by fishermen in the field to obtain the nirvana for fish.

Personally, I have been heartbroken losing one of these baits in a tournament last summer.  It swam away in a giant walleyes mouth.  I’m not sure if I was more upset about losing the fish (and payday) or losing the lure.  This one of a kind Salmo Hornet had a unique paint pattern and an unusual wobble, which will be impossible to replace.

Paper baits can be confused with confidence baits.  Paper baits have a variant in manufacturing, while a confidence bait is just a go-to lure.  I have plenty of confidence baits, which when conditions turn tough, I can put on and usually catch fish.  By contrast, my paper baits only grace my line on a major tournament day, when I am seeking the biggest fish on a lake.

I would suggest to any angler which finds a paper bait – cherish it.  These baits are rare, and infrequently duplicated.