So why Lure and Light Game?

Light game or lrf is really just another discipline and part of lure fishing, so why separate it? Well as much as I love casting out hard lures and bigger soft lures for Bass (which I shall also converse with), light game fishing has really found a special place in my life this year. I was first drawn to this style of fishing in 2011, when I joined the Lure Forum and read the variety of catch reports from Scott Hutchinson and Jake Schogler aka “Schogsky and Hutch.” It was then I decided to give lrf a go. I bought myself a Major Craft Solpara solid tipped rod, an Exage 1000fc reel, some braid, a bunch of Jig heads and small soft-lures. Since that day through trial and persistence I have really come to appreciate and enjoy this game for myself.

During an online discussion with Mike Sullivan the other day, it really dawned on me why this is so. Apart from being just plain friggin’ awesome, consistently these days, I hear from anglers this sort of comment; “The thing is about lrf’ers, they are always smiling no matter what they catch.” And isn’t that statement so true?

 Look at these photo’s I took of two friends at a Lure Forum Bumble a few weeks ago;

A small variety of small fish, but very happy faces and it was a cracking time fishing with the guys above, a lot of fun!

I realise that lrf is not for everyone, but if you, like me are seeing these guys get out there and seeing the way they seriously enjoy their sport, I think you will recognise as I did that their attitude and enthusiasm is utterly infectious. It certainly drew me in and I'm totally glad it did.

I am so encouraged and refreshed by the attitude of lure anglers in this country and especially on the lrf side of things for that reason, its pure fun.

I see old trends changing in fishing and thankfully some old attitudes dying. A new breed of angler is springing up among us, a breed that fish ultralight and for what ever is out there. The light game angler seems to have a profound respect for every species that swims our shores. Delights to catch Weever fish, Blennies, Wrasse, Flatfish and any other species that will take their lure. Taking photos of their catch, posing for shots with beaming smiles and releasing their fish healthy, into the habitat from which they were caught.

I buzz off the social dimension of lrf, the competitive side to, where it becomes fun to compete for the number of species caught. I love the tackle talk and variety of technique involved, the innovative attitude that see's no boundaries as to what species can be targeted and caught on lure. In all this and more, I see lrf as being a lure fishing discipline that will continue to grow, be influenced by and influence lure fishing as a whole. Furthermore I think lrf is definitely here to stay, both as part of my personal angling journey and as part of the UK lure-angling scene.

If you would like to know more about the technical aspects of lrf or to just socialise with other light game anglers why not check out either The Lure Forum or the incredibly knowledgable people at Jersey Bass Guides.