Why is Lure Fishing, Known as “Water Golf,” So Popular?

Fishing has many different methods, but if we’re talking about the most expensive one, it has to be lure fishing. After all, it’s often called “water golf.” There’s also another saying you might have heard: “Fishing ruins a life, lure fishing ruins three generations.” Since lure fishing is so expensive, why do so many people still love it? In reality, for many people, money isn’t necessarily the issue. The main concern is access to resources. For example, those of us who fish with pole fishing methods often pay around 100-200 yuan in a paid fishing area like a black pond. Some people go there even if they catch nothing, but with lure fishing, catching nothing is a common occurrence. The probability of catching fish in natural waters is much lower than in paid ponds. Despite these conditions, many anglers are still willing to learn this method and even spend large amounts of money on gear. Why is that?

I am also a fan of lure fishing. Although I don’t invest a lot, I fish quite frequently and often communicate with other lure fishing enthusiasts. So, in this article, I’ll share my thoughts on this method of fishing. Of course, I want to clarify that I’m not trying to “encourage” anyone to get into lure fishing. I’m just a fishing enthusiast answering some common questions.

Lure Fishing Isn’t as Expensive as You Think

“Lure fishing is too expensive, the barrier to entry is too high” — this is the reason many anglers hesitate to take the first step in learning lure fishing. In fact, besides sea fishing (which I don’t know much about), other forms of fishing don’t have such high barriers or require a lot of money for gear. If we must point out one exception, it might be some paid fishing areas (like black ponds), where the fees can range from hundreds to thousands of yuan. If you don’t catch anything, that’s a guaranteed loss. For salaried workers, going there multiple times in a month can be unaffordable, and in that case, the barrier is indeed high. However, if we are just talking about wild fishing or fishing methods, it’s very possible to do it on a budget.

Lure fishing is similar to pole fishing in terms of gear selection. To catch different types of fish, you need different rods, lines, and baits. However, if you want to use one rod to catch everything, you can. Simply buy a versatile rod with a PE line of size 1 or 2 and a few lures, and you can fish for many species. This set of gear can be bought for around 100-200 yuan, and there are many beginner packages online. Although I don’t highly recommend these packages, they will still allow you to fish. Whether you catch fish depends on finding a good spot, technique, and luck. A lure rod costing 100-200 yuan is not great, but the same price for a pole rod won’t be much better either. However, with lure fishing, you’re buying a whole set, whereas with pole fishing, you’re just buying the rod. Even if you manage to put together a full pole fishing kit for 100-200 yuan, the bait is still a consumable, and you need to buy it regularly.

When people say that lure fishing is expensive, they are usually referring to high-end products. For example, a rod costing 2,000-3,000 yuan, or a reel for 4,000-5,000 yuan. If you buy a set of gear for bass, another for perch, and another for snakehead, that can easily cost tens of thousands. However, high-end products exist in pole fishing as well. A hand pole can cost 4,000-5,000 or even 7,000-8,000 yuan, and the gear for pole fishing is more complex, with more areas where money is spent. Another expense in lure fishing is the bait. High-quality lures can cost 50-100 yuan each, and if you get stuck on the bottom, that’s a lot of money wasted. But we can’t calculate the costs in such a straightforward way. If the lure doesn’t get stuck or lost, it can be used for a long time. On the other hand, wild fishing might look like it only costs a few yuan for a bag of bait, but once you cast, whether or not you catch fish, you still have to use it, and you also need to buy groundbait.

What Lure Fishing Enthusiasts Appreciate

The main attractions of lure fishing are its two key advantages: convenience and exercise.

For pole fishing, the longer you fish, the more gear you accumulate. Going out to fish can feel like you’re moving house, carrying 10+ kilograms of equipment. If the fishing spot is far, it can be exhausting. Once you get there, you have to carefully choose a spot and test the water depth. Pole fishing isn’t suited for frequent moves. Once you settle down, whether you catch fish or not, it’s often a whole day’s work. After finding the right spot, you still need to adjust the float, find the bottom, prepare the bait, and set up the groundbait, which can take up to half an hour. And waiting for the fish to come to the bait can take even longer, anywhere from half an hour to an hour. If the fish don’t show up, you might feel like you’ve wasted a whole day.

Lure fishing, on the other hand, requires much less gear. You only need one rod and a small bag with a few lures, pliers, and a fish controller. Once you reach a spot, you can start fishing right away. If there’s no fish after a few casts, you can quickly move to another spot. It doesn’t matter how often you change spots in lure fishing; unlike pole fishing, constantly changing positions in pole fishing usually reduces your chances of catching anything.

Most anglers have jobs, so weekends are precious and might involve house chores or taking care of kids. It’s hard to fish well with pole fishing if you don’t have a few hours to spare, but with lure fishing, you can just drop by the river on your way to or from work and cast a few times. Back when I lived in Hangzhou, at first, everyone was into pole fishing. But as a few of my friends had more kids, their free time shrank. They only had about 30 minutes to fish, which isn’t even enough to get the fish into the baited area. Worse, they would have to reel in right when the fish were about to bite. So, some of them turned to lure fishing, and once they started, they couldn’t stop.

Lure Fishing is a Healthy Sport

Pole fishing is also a sport, but it involves sitting in one spot for long periods, mostly moving your upper body. Because pole fishing requires extended fishing sessions, many people fish from dawn to dusk and stay in one position for hours, which can lead to conditions like arthritis. For those who fish in black ponds and like to use landing nets frequently, improper reeling techniques can lead to tennis elbow, a painful condition that’s hard to cure.

In contrast, lure fishing is a more active sport. While you may feel exhausted from walking long distances and constantly casting, it’s a healthy form of exercise. Last year, I fished intensively for over 10 days, starting at 8 or 9 in the morning and fishing until 4 in the afternoon, with only 4-5 short breaks each day. By the end of the day, my feet had blisters. And since lure fishing often involves violent techniques like “lightning strikes,” the gear can be heavy. The first day is the hardest, and I couldn’t even raise my arms to sleep. But eventually, I got used to it.

Lure Fishing Has Less Environmental Impact

Lure fishing doesn’t produce as much waste as pole fishing. For example, when a lure gets stuck on the bottom and the line breaks, the lure—usually made of plastic or metal—remains underwater, causing pollution. However, compared to pole fishing, the trash left on the shore from lure fishing is minimal. In pole fishing, you often have bags of bait, bottles of groundbait, containers of additives, and lead weights scattered around the fishing area. And since pole fishing takes longer, many anglers bring food, which leads to more trash like food containers and drink bottles.

Of course, personal responsibility plays a big role. Regardless of the fishing method, we should all protect the environment and avoid littering. It’s a good idea to carry a few plastic bags in your fish bucket or rod bag just in case.

Final Tips on Lure Fishing

In my opinion, lure fishing is a great sport, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. When buying gear, I recommend purchasing according to the local fish species and your budget. Don’t feel like you need to buy top-end gear right away. Lure fishing, like pole fishing, doesn’t require you to go all out from the start. Even if you buy the highest-end gear, once you start chasing the ultimate feel and top-quality products, you’ll be tempted to buy the latest models, so it’s still going to cost money.

Lure fishing also heavily depends on available resources. This method targets predatory fish, so if the fish resources aren’t sufficient, even the best gear won’t make a difference. My advice is to start with simple and inexpensive gear. Once you’re sure there are enough fish in the area and you truly enjoy it, you can then upgrade your gear.

Finally, regarding safety: Lure fishing can be more dangerous than pole fishing because you often need to change spots. Each time you move, you should check for any overhead power lines or other hazards. Always be mindful of your surroundings