Hi guys....as a keen fisherman of the imitative patterns I can't say I've used many lures at all. I wouldn't mind trying my hand at this as the brown trout season comes to a close and the rainbow season remains open. Can anyone suggest to me some good lures to get....Ive heard of cats whiskers but a bit ignorant to the rest......

A minkie! Great back end fly/lure!

Your ordinary trout flies will be 'Good to Go To' for rainbows you do not need to fish lures.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Do rainbows only go for lures?
This is a common assumption within certain circles and a one which is totally untrue.They will take bibios,kates,drys,buzzers just like any other fish.
Nailing down specific lures with so many variants about depends on area.
cats whisker,dancers,damsels,fritzs of black,lime and white,blobs are also good.Bunny leeches,zonkers,the list can go on.Buzzers like the bloodworm will take just as many fish all year round than a lure as would the kate mclaren.They all have their place,but defining a fly to one specific fish thinking they wont catch another species is presumptive.

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Kevin

Absolutely - getting lures out is usually my last option for Rainbows (usually on deep lochs)....much prefer dry tactics or buzzers....although when the rainbows are chasing fry - stripping lures can be brilliant fun (huge JAWS like bow waves coming up behind your damsel or fritz) - in fact the fry bashing should be commencing pretty soon.....bring it on !!!!!!

I'm quite aware that Rainbows will take natural patterns, be in wet, dry or nymph as I fish all season with these. My point is that I don't own any lures and hence don't know how to fish them......so that wouldn't be an option for me at all never mind a last option. I see that some companies sell "packs" of lures and they state that they are the most common or best lures etc......I just really wanted a bit of advice on what to pick up

Cats (black,white) Blobs,Tadpoles, Dancers ,Boobies, Minkies, Zonkers.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

fully understand james and as far as lures go I refer to my previous post with some examples.As for fishing them same retrieves same lines floating,intermed or sinking depending where you fish and sometimes slow retrieves will be needed sometimes faster which will depend on weather,temperatures and time of year.Boobys will work,zonkers,minkies,dancers,damsels fritz patterns,nomads,cats whiskers,consett budgies all prime patterns.Okey dokeys and blobs are excellent through the winter and take more fish than lures in certain waters.
Hope this helps you out.

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Kevin

Its not big and its not clever !

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" If you stand by the river long enough the bodies of all your enemies will float by"

James,

where do you go fishing? this information may help others to help you target the lures best suited to the waters you fish, as others on this thread have stated there are 100's to choose from.

Robbie