This instructional book by Julio C. Silva is a good reference for deciding on lures for working any depth range or for stocking your bag to work the entire water column from top to bottom. This is an important strategy that too few surfcasters really consider when packing their weapons of bass destruction for the night… or the day.
In Part 1, Julio, a member of the Connecticut Surfcasters Association and past President of the Plum Island Surfcasters, elaborates on lures starting with surface plugs such as spooks and poppers and ending with deep water lures like bucktails and soft plastics. Some are commonly found in all our bags, but there were several I’ve never heard of. With each, he gives a nice description of the lure’s physical characteristics, castability, ways to work the plug and the lure’s action when doing so. He tells us whether the lure is made of plastic, wood, metal or resin, through-wired or not, and the hooks and hardware attached. With many, he includes a little story about one of his experiences with the lure that sticks in his memory for a particular reason. Julio includes teasers and casting eggs in this section. He told me this past weekend on Cuttyhunk that the only time he doesn’t use teasers is when it’s too weedy.
Part 2 deals with strategies for choosing plugs. He elaborates on the effects of physical characteristics such as length, width, weight, wood or plastic, lip design and more. Julio explains how each trait affects the depths at which our lures will swim, their casting range and abilities to attract fish. There is a second subsection to Part 2 that Julio names “Parameters”. Here, the author explains how he chooses his offerings based on tides, current, moon phase, and other factors that vary from trip to trip… or hour to hour. He also tells the reader how he uses these parameters to choose the locations he fishes. Many will find that information very helpful.
Part 3 deals with modifying plugs. While talking about the common changes most of us make to our fresh purchases, such as changing out hooks and split rings, he elaborates on considerations in choosing the hardware to install, such as how they affect casting distance, avoiding tangling, effects on the lure’s running depth and action and how to reduce harm to the fish. He also talks about different scents and scent products of different viscosities, including the peculiarities of each. Adding sound and the use of light finish off this chapter, with a few techniques that I haven’t seen elsewhere.
Part 4 was a nice addition that other books about plugs don’t include, and that’s information about many of the plug builders who make the lures described throughout the book. Julio enlightens us on some facts about the lures each is known for, a bit about the history of their plug building and the tools they use for constructing and even testing the lures. He even includes the reasoning some of the builders used in developing some of the lures they were best known for. This added a little information that gives us a little more familiarity with the builders, on a more personal level.
The book concludes with three appendices (it makes me shudder when people say “appendixes”). Normally, I wouldn’t include this information, but I think they’re worth mentioning here. Appendix A elaborates on five fishing organizations of which Julio is a member. He gives us a little info on each club’s history, geographical range of membership and activities/offerings that make those clubs valuable to a surfcaster and worth joining. Appendix B provides a list of plugbuilders, hooks, scents, etc. that you can Google and check out possible additions to your Christmas wish list. Appendix C is a bibliography of books and articles that contributed knowledge and information that was helpful to the author.
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I was impressed with this book, as it added some angles that other books just don’t. If you’re new to this sport then this book is mandatory reading. It’ll shorten your learning curve like a golf match shortens my attention span. If you’re a seasoned surfcaster it will add some plugs to your arsenal and some tactics to your attack plan. Any fisherman reading this book will get a greater understanding of lure construction, how different features affect the performance of that lure (and how they SHOULD affect your lure choices) and how to better plan your night out in the suds.
